Benet’s 26-game win streak ended in overtime Sunday night in the Blackhawk Cup final against Glenbrook North, but the months leading up to the disappointing outcome defined the team more than its final result.
The road to the Redwings’ first runner-up finish began with two losses and a meeting.
The first loss was the season-ending defeat to Providence last spring in the state playoffs. It was the Redwings’ seventh loss to the Celtics, the fifth by one goal and the third in a row after Providence swept Benet in the Kennedy Cup finals the previous week.
After the final loss, Benet coach Jon Grzbek tried to wipe the slate clean. An 0-7-1 effort against a Catholic League rival could be toxic during the offseason if not addressed immediately.
“We’re on to next year,” Grzbek told his team after a 2-1 loss at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
The 2014-15 season began well enough, with the Redwings going 15-7-2 before Thanksgiving. But a disappointing performance against Barrington — Benet rallied from a 5-1 deficit, only to have the tying goal waved off — was the second loss that opened the Redwings’ eyes.
Senior captains Tommy Feldman, Trent Kunas and Daniel Stent called a players-only meeting. The message: No more four-goal deficits. No half-hearted efforts. No turning back.
“That was a tough stretch,” Grzbek said. “We were going to go one direction or another direction. The players-only meeting really brought the team together.”
Benet won its next 26 games, including the Kennedy Cup — fittingly, against Providence — and a state semifinal against two-time defending state champion New Trier.
Assistant coach Drew Tierney transformed the defense into a reliable unit. That, in turn, gave the forwards license to attack without reservation. Senior goalie Justin Davidson also gained confidence from the improved play in front of him.
Sunday’s state final was a microcosm of the season. An average start kept the game scoreless after one period, only to watch the Spartans take a 2-0 lead in the second. Grzbek’s second-intermission message urged the players to focus on each other, not the daunting United Center atmosphere. Michael Prasse and Bobby Ernsting scored in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime.
But Glenbrook North recovered to win its fifth state title on Joe Day’s overtime goal. Benet’s first loss in nearly four months ended its season.
Benet loses 10 seniors to graduation, including both varsity goalies, but the Redwings’ two Kennedy Cups in three years and a second-place state finish might be the groundwork for a program on the rise. Ernsting returns after leading the team in goals, and the JV team finished 42-9-2.
“I don’t know a team that could have come down from 2-0 in that environment,” Grzbek said. “What a great, great experience for our program and our school.”
Twitter: @stainbrook419
More Top Picks Best Booty Band Sets For Home Gyms