There are wins, and then there are really big wins. Case in point for the Oak Park and River Forest hockey team: Glenbrook North is in the Scholastic Hockey League, arguably the best in the state, and in fact won it last season. 

So what? The Huskies beat Glenbrook North 4-1 on Nov. 29. 

Simply put, “We outplayed them, outshot them, outscored them,” OPRF coach Mike Murphy said. Yes, it was a nice win, but you know what was really big for seniors Oliver Puntillo and Liam Moroney? 

“We just swept Hinsdale,” said Moroney, a wing, of the Illinois West conference foe Red Devils. “We beat them in OT twice. Those were our biggest wins.” 

Puntillo, a defenseman, concurred. “I’d say GBN was good, but beating Hinsdale was more important to us,” he said. 

Moroney and Puntillo agreed on something else – the season has had its ups and downs, but is moving in the right direction ahead of the holidays, what with a 13-3 record in the Illinois West, which includes its own heavyweights, like Maine, Lyons Township, DuPage Stars, Lincoln-Way and yes, Hinsdale Central. 

“We started off sort of slow, but now I think we can compete with anybody in the state,” Puntillo said. 

Added Moroney: “There have been lots of areas for improvement. The team looks a lot more tough in these last couple of games, and I would say we have to focus on the positives heading into the playoffs.” 

Liam Moroney (left in orange) of the Oak Park-River Forest High School hockey club in action during a game this season. (Provided by Jason Clary and Dylan Clary)

Murphy said goals have been hard to come by this season so far, so his team relies on a defense-first mindset, which features a philosophical bent. 

“At the travel levels, they don’t watch hockey anymore, they watch highlights, and they try to pattern their play like the superstars,” he said. “We capitalize on the tendencies of most youth hockey players. We play traps, we forcibly make them bring the puck up through the middle and they get caught. 

“Most of our offense is causing turnovers.” 

An interesting coincidence for OPRF is its goaltending, manned by twins, seniors Parker and Trevor Moen, of whom Murphy said, “You can’t tell them apart.” 

Oliver Puntillo (#8 in white) of the Oak Park-River Forest High School hockey club in action during a game this season. (Provided by Jason Clary and Dylan Clary)

But non-coincidental is his confidence because his team is winning big games and because of astute leadership from Puntillo and especially Moroney, who’s been on varsity since he was a sophomore. 

“He’s gotten stronger,” Murphy said. “He’s carried us.” 

Fenwick hits the road 

Three blocks south, Fenwick has had its share of big wins as well, what with sweeping OPRF in the Paul Hruby Cup, including a 6-4 victory, Nov. 26, to clinch it.  

But the biggest games might be forthcoming, as the Friars hit the road Friday morning for a six-hour bus trip to Cleveland for the Padua Holiday Hockey Tournament, which includes regional powers, like host Padua Franciscan. 

Again, so what?  

“We’re playing some pretty good teams in Cleveland, but we’re a good team, too,” said senior forward and captain Arden Tantaro, a four-year varsity player who’s been on long trips before. “This is stuff we’re used to.” 

How challenging is it to go on the road and face teams you’ve never seen? Scouting reports and watching film is important, according to coach Nick Fabbrini, but at the end of the day, it’s all about executing. 

“In games like this, it’s focusing on the things we do as well as we can do them,” Fabbrini said. “[We are] just trying to get them as sound as we can on our end. Energy and enthusiasm can overcome a lot of mistakes.” 

Tantaro is the kind of player who has stepped into the limelight for Fabbrini this season, and not just for his play. 

“He is definitely starting to be a little more vocal, which we appreciate and is something this group needs,” he said. “It starts with getting guys to believe in what you’re saying as a leader.” 

Tantaro said that’s what happens when you’ve had good role models. 

“I’ve played with some really good leaders,” he said. “I’ve watched and learned. When I was a sophomore and junior, it’s a little more nerve-wracking going against 18-year-olds. Now I’m that 18-year-old, and I know I put in the work and I let my training take over.” 

He is joined up front by a couple of juniors and Oak Park natives in Cristian White and Aris Vagias.  

“They’ve been playing together for a couple of weeks and starting to create offense for us, five on five,” Fabbrini said. “Cristian is the fastest on the ice in every game we play. Aris plays hard, with physicality and a little bit of an edge.” 

The netminders are another pair of juniors, Sean Imburgia and Auggie Leavy. Their combined expertise “give us the opportunity win games,” Fabbrini said.  

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