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The 2014-15 hockey season was a tough one for Josh Smith.
His DuPage Stars squad, which includes players from four area high schools, endured its share of struggles in a 1-24 season.
It’s safe to say the current season has been much more enjoyable for Smith and his teammates.
“We came into this year hopeful that we were going to do well,” Smith said. “We had some new players that came out this year that have helped us out. The seniors, we improved, and the new kids really added to the team and stepped up when we needed them to step up.”
The Stars are 22-7 on the season and playing for the Cougar Cup title in the Illinois High School Hockey League Hayes Division playoffs. A 7-4 win against the Fox Valley Hawks on March 13 tied the championship series at one game apiece with the third and deciding game tentatively scheduled for March 19.
An infusion of young talent – the Stars have six sophomores and a freshman on the roster – has helped the turnaround, but the leadership of seniors Smith, Brett Bavcevic, Patrick O’Connor, Jake Soukup and Brant Zarnowski has been critical. Jack McGann rounds out the senior group that has put last season’s struggles in the rearview mirror.
“It’s really relieving. After having the season like we did last year, it’s so much more fun to win games than lose almost every single game we play,” Bavcevic said. “It’s just fun being one of the best teams in the league and having a chance to play for the championship.”
Bavcevic, Smith and Zarnowski are seasoned veterans who spearheaded one of the stingiest defenses in the IHSHL Suburban Division this season, along with goalies O’Connor, Laurie Cox and Teddy Morrissette. The Stars surrendered 70 goals in the regular season.
A nice counterpart to the defense was the play of forwards Soukup, McGann and John McCarthy, who led an explosive offense that scored a league-best 141 goals in the regular season. McCarthy had 38 points (29 goals, 9 assists) in 21 games, McGann had 22 goals and 12 assists in 23 games, and Soukup piled up 15 goals and 13 assists before going down with a thumb injury.
Many teams at the high school level are able to bond with teammates in class and at practice on a daily basis. The Stars don’t practice every day, and having a team with players from four different high schools in different communities is unique, but the team chemistry this season might be the best it has ever been.
“Our bond between teammates is a lot closer this year than it was last year. We’re more of a family,” O’Connor said.
Chaz Davis is in his third season as the Stars’ coach, and Joe Koch is a first-year assistant coach. Davis said the character of every player on the team has helped forge the cohesive bond between the players.
“Every single player on our team comes from a good background and they all work hard,” Davis said. “I would say the biggest thing is they persevere as a team together.”
McGann, Morrissette, O’Connor, Smith and Soukup were named IHSHL all-stars, a highlight in a season full of them for the Stars.
“I’ll definitely remember winning these games,” Soukup said. “From last season when we lost so many, going on a 14-game winning streak was huge for us and gave a lot of momentum to make it to the championship.”
The third game of the championship series likely will be the last competitive hockey game for the seniors, though Bavcevic, O’Connor, Smith and Soukup said rat hockey could be part of the future. Regardless of what happens in the final game, the success of this season and the bonds they forged as a team will stay with them for a long time.
“They’re like a family,” Zarnowski said of his teammates. “I don’t think this friendship we’ve created will ever actually end. We’ll definitely get back together as often as we can because once you have a bond like we have, it doesn’t get broken up.”
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Player breakdown
The DuPage Stars draw players from four area high schools. Here is the breakdown:
Downers Grove North
Billy Carroll, so., F; Patrick Kline, jr., F; John McCarthy, jr., C; Jan Podgorni, jr., F; JC Roche, so., C; Michael Schuten, jr., C; Josh Smith, sr., D; Brant Zarnowski, sr., D; Cade Zarnowski, so., F; John Zarnowski, so., D
Downers Grove South
Matt Cipra, jr., F; Laurie Cox, jr., G; Jack McGann, sr., F; Teddy Morrissette, so., G; Patrick O’Connor, sr., G; Anthony Spano, jr. D; Brandon Tomisek, so. D
Hinsdale South
Brett Bavcevic, sr., D; Jake Soukup, sr., F
Lisle
Levi Bollnow, fr., C