Libertyville's Agemura has a head for hockey - and neuroscience
Hockey players are no strangers to hospitals. Or dentist offices.
But if you see Justin Agemura roaming the halls at Condell Memorial Hospital in Libertyville, don't assume the junior just got banged up in a hockey game.
Agemura got a taste of the medical world over the summer as a volunteer at Condell, and he's continued to work there. He is looking at several Midwest schools for college and hopes to major in neuroscience.
"I am very interested in the brain and how it works," he said. "It would be so cool to be able to study and learn about something that I am passionate about. My dream job would be to become a neurosurgeon."
In the meantime, he focuses on high school and the dangerous sport of hockey.
His dad, Dan, is his No. 1 fan.
"I mostly model my game after my dad. He has helped me improve so much both on and off the ice," Agemura said. "He is very smart when it comes to hockey and he knows what he is talking about. He watches every one of my games, so he's able to critique me and help me get better."
It seems to be working, as Agemura is second in scoring on the co-op Libertyville IceCats, a mix of players from Libertyville and Vernon Hills. The center is only 1 point behind junior right wing Justin Vieth.
Agemura is a right-handed shooter at Libertyville, in his third varsity season. He centers the team's top line, with junior left wing David Mattson and Vieth, both of whom also attend Libertyville.
Agemura with 17 goals, 20 assists in 30 games. Vieth has 18 and 20.
"I think I got a lot better at being able to play with new people," Agemura said of his improvements made this season. "Both sophomore year and freshman year, I played with the same linemates, and now that they have moved on to college and other hockey teams, I get the chance to play with new people and learn how they play and read the ice."
Agemura is the team captain.
"As a captain I want to a good leader and a role model," he said. "I also would like to get better in stickhandling and being able to read plays better."
Playmaking is one of Agemura's strengths. In the IceCats' 4-1 win over Deerfield on Dec. 16, he had 3 assists. He also bagged 3 assists in a 3-3 tie four days later against co-op PREP.
His top scoring game this season was in late November, with all 4 goals in the team's 10-4 loss to Lake Forest. He also had a hat trick in a 6-1 win over co-op Niles on Jan. 27.
"I thought we played outstanding (against Lake Forest)," Agemura said, "but it was not enough."
The IceCats are 8-22-3 overall, 7-6-3 in the Sterling Conference of the North-Central Division. After beating Warren 3-1 on Jan. 6, Libertyville lost 4-3 to co-op PREP. The IceCats had a 4-game winning streak in late January.
"(The) team has huge potential to be great," Agemura said. "As we play more and more with each other, the chemistry will start to build and we as a team can become as strong as ever. We had a rough patch at the beginning of the season, as this was the first year a lot of us have played with each other, but, as time progressed we were able to connect better as a team on and off the ice
"If we are able to continue playing this way, I believe we can do very well in both the (league) and state playoffs."
Agemura has 13 goals, 14 assists in 16 league games, placing him eighth among Sterling Conference scorers.
Libertyville coach Shawn Brown said Agemura "has developed into a goal-scorer and has improved on both ends of the ice."
"He is a complete hockey player," Brown said.
Agemura gives credit to Brown as well, along with assistant coach Joe Townsend.
"They are both very knowledgeable of the game and know what to do in order to help not just me but the whole team improve," Agemura said.
While Agemura can score goals, his goals off the ice are more impressive.
"I would love one day to be able to help find a cure for brain cancer," he said. "(Working at Condell) has really open up my eyes to different people and what they are going through."