Once again, the Glenbrook North boys hockey team is a favorite to win a state championship.
But if the Spartans (41-15-2) do defend their title in March at the United Center, they most likely will win the Blackhawk Cup in a different fashion than they did a year ago, according to Glenbrook North coach Evan Poulakidas.
After losing 18 players and almost all of its prolific offense to graduation — including Alex Merritt, Logan Nein and Chris Zhang — Glenbrook North hasn’t been the juggernaut it was last season.
“We are probably a 100 goals off of where we were last year at this point,” Poulakidas said. “We were fortunate to win games by a lot last year. With that said, we are winning close games this year. But our margin of error isn’t as great.”
Senior Kyle Fisher, a three-year varsity player, is aware of the offense’s struggles. He said it’s as simple as the Spartans not being as aggressive as they’ve been in the past.
“We are not taking the puck to the net as often as we should,” said Fisher, a second-line center and captain. “That’s a huge part of hockey. We are not scoring as much as we want to. But we have to look past that and move on.”
While the team is playing two freshmen and two sophomores considerable minutes, attributing the team’s offensive shortcomings to its youth would not be fair.
Sophomore forward Jesse Lowell and sophomore David Rubin are among Glenbrook North’s top offensive players. Lowell, a first-liner, is second on the team in points, while Rubin’s third line has been the Spartans’ most consistent, according to Poulakidas.
It’s not as though Glenbrook North isn’t scoring goals. In their last 10 games, the Spartans have averaged 3.5. But Poulakidas said the offensive numbers for the season are misleading.
“Our power play is running at around 27 percent, which is outrageously high,” he said. “If that’s what you rely on going into the playoffs, it could be a bumpy road. You have to be able to score in 5-on-5.”
Fisher agrees, but he said it’s hard to argue against a team that finds ways to win.
“We are in a slump, and we would like to score more, obviously,” he said. “But we are winning close games, which is a good thing.”
Plus, Fisher said he believes the Spartans will step up their offense when the postseason starts. They will be seeking their fourth consecutive trip to the Blackhawk Cup finals and sixth state championship.
“Once the playoffs get in motion, I think the intensity will pick up with our players, especially the younger ones,” he said. “It’s do or die. Everybody will be giving it their all.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps
