The Evanston boys hockey team was in dire need of a goal late in the third period against Notre Dame on Monday, Feb. 22.
The Wildkits hung right with the Dons throughout their 1-0 loss in the opening round of the Blackhawk Cup. Senior Charlie Bailey (29 saves) was excellent in net for Evanston, but a third-period goal by Notre Dame forward Stoli Sarantopoulos was the difference.
Evanston coach Del Morris pulled Bailey late in the third. As the end of the Wildkits’ season approached, freshman Gabi Rodriguez and sophomore Isaiah Harlan-Ricketts were both on the ice in a must-score situation. That was by design, Morris said.
“They’re patient with the puck. They have the most poise with the puck,” Morris said. “With those guys on the ice, we have more control with the puck. We can get the puck closer to the net. Those guys, they’re going to do some big things coming up.”
Rodriguez, the smallest player on the ice, was able to generate the final shot of Evanston’s season with a nifty step-over move and a wrist shot. Notre Dame junior goaltender Jimmie Hall made the save, however, to preserve the Dons’ victory.
While Evanston (29-16-7) will lose several key players to graduation, the program’s future appears bright. Rodriguez and Harlan-Ricketts, who was dangerous throughout the game, are two building blocks. The Wildkits also featured a large group of sophomores this season, including twins Matt and Joe Epler, Quinn Evans, Teddy Lambert, Dylan Rodman and Kofi Hopps.
“There are a lot of good sophomores and freshmen on JV, too, that are going to be good next year,” Harlan-Ricketts added.
The way Evanston played against Notre Dame was a promising sign. So too was its three-game series against Maine.
The Wildkits beat Maine 2-1 in the first game of the teams’ IHSHL North Central Division semifinals. Maine won the next two — 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday, Feb. 20, and 3-2 the following night — to advance, but assistant coach Dave Crews said Evanston’s 2-1 victory was the first time the Wildkits had defeated Maine since he and Morris started coaching the varsity team four years ago.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Morris added, “and the guys realize it.”
Eric Van Dril is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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