The Fenwick Hockey Club shut out Loyola Gold 3-0 to win its third straigh Kennedy Cup on Saturday in Glen Ellyn.
Kyle Dalton kicked off the scoring for Fenwick (50-15-5). Dalton scored a goal just 75 seconds into the game, giving the Friars momentum for securing their eighth Catholic League championship in school history.
Corey Chakeen upped the advantage to 2-0 in the third period off an assist by Tony Flando, who scored Fenwick’s final goal with 1:33 left to play.
The Friars moved on to defend their two-time State title against Marist in the quarterfinals of the AHAI Blackhawk Cup state tournament on Tuesday (after deadline).
Friars no match for streaking St. Joe
Two teams came into the first round of the Morton Sectional title game on March 8 eager to spark sputtering engines, but only one ignited.
After nearly suffering an upset at the hands of eighth-seeded Oak Park and River Forest in the regional title game just a few days prior, St. Joseph bounced back and handed Fenwick, who struggled to edge 13th-seeded Austin in its regional title game, a 75-57 loss, ending the Friars’ season.
Fenwick, who suffered a loss to St. Joseph earlier in the season at the Proviso West Holiday tournament, struggled early. The Friars fell behind by as much as 18 points in the first half, and ended up trailing 36-24 by halftime.
The Chargers (28-1) rattled off a 17-4 run in the third period to close the door on Fenwick, who, despite the onslaught, had three players finish in double-digit scoring. Kelvin Johnson led the Friars with 17 points. Peter Flowers chipped in 13 points, and Blake Neilsen added 11.
St. Joseph’s Tony Freeman led all scorers with 27 points to go along with his 10 rebounds.
The Friars lose six seniors to graduation in reserve guard Sean Okrzesik, starting guard Steve Marifjeren, starting guard Johnson, starting forward Michael Alexander, reserve forward Mark Strauss, and the 6-foot-8 starting center Nielsen.
Wilke breaks school record
Both the OPRF boys’ and girls’ track teams wrapped up their respective regular indoor seasons with wins last week.
The girls’ team won a triangular against Palatine, York, and Mother McAuley with a score of 88.5.
Johanne Verpil won the shot put with a toss of 38-feet 11-inches. Liz Wilke broke a school record with a pole vault of 10-feet 6-inches.
The boys’ team scored 116 points to defeat Montini, St. Patrick, and Chicago Charter.
