St. Jude Hockey Club

Game #1 Recap...Knights 1...Meremac Sharks..0

The St. Jude Mite Elite Team drove up north to West Dundee, IL and faced the Meremac Sharks (St. Louis, MO).  The Sharks gave us everything they had, but it wasn't enough thanks to the outstanding goaltending and great defense.   The Knights welcomed back Blake Breitzke and Mick Badke from IR.  Both of the boys played very well on defense.  St. Jude's lone goal of the game proved to be enough when #12 Andrew Sobczak found #71 J.J. McCarthy streaking down the ice for the 1-0 game winner.  

Game #2 Knights 5....Leafs..1

The Knights and the Leafs are fighting for playoff positioning in the NIHL Elite Division this season.  After a scoreless first period, the Leafs tallied first early into the second.  The Knights were bound and determined after that to not let this team get a 2nd goal.  Second Period hockey for the St. Jude Knights hasn't been as consistent as the 1st or 3rd throughout the season, but  two minutes after the Leafs 1st goal, St. Jude responded when #71 J.J. McCarthy broke free on a breakaway to tie the game.  2 minutes later, a beautiful goal by #10 Luke Lawrence in the low slot which was set up by #12 Sobczak & #71 McCarthy to put the Knights up for good 2-1.  #99 Tommy Wright set up #12 Sobczak for a one timer late in the 2nd.  9 seconds after Sobczak's goal, #38 Jelani Wilson won the faceoff and streaked down the center of the ice and scored hi 23rd goal of the season to make it 4-1.   In the 3rd period, #88 Jimmy Jurcev took a pass from #39 Blake Breitzke and streaked down the rink and shelfed it to end the game.   #81 Michael Mullarkey was extremely effective this game with his suttle passes to his centerman which made for odd man rushes which benefitted us.  Way to Go Michael!!

Game #3 Knights 5...Ice Dogs...2

Grab your coffee for this 8am battle vs. the undefeated Ice Dogs of Vernon Hills.  12-0 in the Gold Division of NIHL, the Ice Dogs wanted to prove that they could skate with the Mite Elite Knights.  This game was FAST!!!  Wowza!   After about 10 minutes of up and down, save after save mite hockey, #10 Luke Lawrence won a face off and blistered a shot top corner to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.  #71 J.J. McCarthy scored the 2nd goal of the game by using his speed to seperate himself from the ice dog defenders to go up 2-0.  After a Ice Dogs goal, #12 Andrew Sobczak found his linemate #71 McCarthy streaking up the ice and buried home his 2nd goal of the game.   #12 Sobscak scored his 21st goal of the season off a McCarthy shot off the post that put the Knights up 2.  #22 Danny Albanese finished the scoring off a beautiful assist by #88 Jimmy Jurcev.  In closing (this is just my opinion), #1 Richie Haley has solidified that he is the BEST 2003 goalie in the entire state of Illinois this season .  If you like strong goaltending, you need to come see #1 on the St. Jude Knights protect his net.  He is absolutely AWESOME!!.   After this win, the Knights clinched the top seed for the Championship Game...Great Job boys!!

Game #4  Championship Game...Knights 0...Leafs 2

Fast from the start, a highly competitive rematch unfortunately did not go the Knights way.  The Knights battled to the whistle and fell short.  One of the Knights stand outs is #7 Mick Badke is just an absolute beast on defense.  His relentless puck pressure and physicality makes him one of the best defenseman in then Mite Elite Division.  All of the boys should be proud of the effort they put forth this weekend.  This was our last tournament till the Wolves Cup where the St. Jude Knights have a very good chance to finish 3rd overall.  Good Luck the rest of the way!!

Statistics from this weekend's tournament...

#71 McCarthy  = 4G 2A (6 Points)

#12 Sobczak  = 2G 3A (5 Points)

#10 Lawrence = 2G 1A (3 Points)

#88 Jurcev = 1G 1A (2 Points)

#38 Wilson = 1G (1 Point)

#22 Albanese = 1G (1 Point)

#99 Wright = 1A (1 Point)    

#39 Breitzke = 1A (1 Point)

#1 Haley = 5 Goals in 4 games 1.25 GAA

The injury/sickness bug has struck the St. Jude Knights Elite team this week.  Among the victims #39Blake Breitzke (Lower Body), #7 Mick Badke (Upper Body), and #99 Tommy Wright (Upper Body). 

The Knights were going to be playing the Vikings with 8 players and #1 Richie the Great (Our Goalie) till #99 Tommy Wright showed up in the locker room wanting to help his team while battling a nasty cold/virus.  #99 Tommy Wright got the game off to a good start by going coast to coast with a great move on the goalie to make it 1-0.  #88 Jimmy Jurcev scored next with an assist by #71 J.J. McCarthy.  The Vikings battled back in the 2nd periord to make it a 2-2 game going into the 3rd.  

With under 20 seconds to play in a tie game, #99 Wright & #71 McCarthy drove down the ice and completed a tic-tac-toe scoring play to win 3-2.

Great effort by all the Knights today playing shorthanded.  Knights are looking forward to tomorrow's matchup vs. the Winnetka Warriors in Northbrook, IL