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APRIL 2008
Team Illinois U18 Team finishes 2nd in the
United States!!!
Team Illinois ended an amazing playoff run by
capturing the silver medal in the 2008 National
Championships in Buffalo, New York.
The U18 team players lost their first game of the state
tournament round robin back in late February only to go on
an amazing 13 game winning streak that catapulted them into
the National Championship game against defending National
Champion, Shattuck St. Mary Prep from Farribault Minnesota.
In that 13 game winning streak the team won the state
tournament, went undefeated in the Central District
Championship, and went undefeated in the round robin in
Nationals as well as won their quarter final game and
semi-final game.
Team Illinois had to play and beat the top 7 ranked teams
all in succession in order to get to the National
Championship game. “ I didn’t realize until after the
championship game that our team had to play every top rated
team in the country and get by them in order to advance to
the National Championship game. That is really quite
amazing”, said Head Coach Jim Marchi. “ Usually there is an
upset along the way or you might be in a bracket where you
don’t have to match up against all the best teams. Our team
had to do it the hard way. We faced every one of the best
teams in the country along the way and the top five rated
teams in Nationals. Our players should be extremely proud of
what they accomplished. That was an amazing run to end the
season. I am very proud of what they accomplished. Finishing
second at the National Championships is a phenomenal
accomplishment”.
Coach Marchi went on to compliment the National Champions by
adding, “Shattuck was the better team that day. They played
a fantastic game and we just didn’t have enough energy left
to stay with them. They are the defending champions because
they have very talented players and are very well coached.
They had a more experienced team than we did as well. They
had quite a few returners from their championship team from
last year and that really made them the favorites to win
again this year”.
Team Illinois has finished 2nd In Nationals twice in the
past five years. Both times they lost to perennial power,
Shattuck St. Mary Prep. No other AAA program in Illinois has
accomplished this feat. In fact Team Illinois is the only
AAA program in Illinois to have had their U18 team advance
to the National Championship game at the U18 level in the
past 12 years! They have accomplished this feat three times,
having won one Gold medal and two silver medals.
Congratulations to the 2007-2008 Team
Illinois U18 team:
Troy Grosenick, Nick Holmes, Ben Hughes, Frank
Simonelli, Conor Allen, Calvin Reed, Anthony Orange, Marco
Fiala, Freddie Csisar, Chris Bournazos, Garrett Petersen,
Zach Schrotenboer, James Werner, Cody Murphy, Jason McAloon,
Bryan Son, Kyle Meluch, Matt Wiggemansen, Jeff Fehrman,
Anthony Coles, Assistant Coach Dave Thiel, Assistant Coach
Brian Seery, Assistant Coach Jeff Kane, Manager Mickey
SanGiacomo, Head Coach Jim Marchitop.
TI Girls selected to USA Hockey National Camps
Team Illinois congratulates the following players
on their selection to attend USA Hockey's National
Development Camps in their respective age levels. We are
very proud of you.
1994
Kelly Micholson
Cacey Maciejewski
1993
Hannah Bielawski
Giovanna Senese
Kailee Heidersbach
Stephanie Lemke
Taylor Mahoney
Samantha Ratty
1992
Ann Doherty
Claire Santostefano
Team Illinois is Proud to Announce the Following
Girls' Head Coaches for the 2008-2009 Season
19U - Dan Frankfort
2nd year returning TI coach at 19UOver 7 years of coaching
experience (PeeWee AA-Midget AA and Girls 19U)3 NIHL
Championships won3 State Championship appearances as a
coachPlayed for Marian College Sabers (MCHA Division III)16U
-- Andy Chomor
Over 17 years coaching experienceCoached Mite through Midget
Major, levels House through Tier INational Champion at (CYA
14U) 2005State Champion (TI 16U) 2008Central District
Champion (TI 16U) 2008National Competitor (TI 16U) 200814U -
Ray Berens
Over 32 years coaching experienceUSA Hockey Level 5 Coaching
Card (Master Rated)Coached Mite through Midget, levels House
through Tier IEight League Championships (NIHL, Tier I)Eight
State Championships (Tier II and Tier I)12U - Josh
Pettenuzzo
3nd year returning Team Illinois coach13 years girls' &
boys' coaching experience: Ice Company Hockey SchoolsCoached
Crystal Lake Leafs Girls 16U 2005-06, 2006 SpringNIHL
Champion Peewee Bronze 2008 (TI 12U)
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