Maine wraps up successful campaign

Maine Township's Kevin Paso (right) battles for the puck with Notre Dame's Mike Giangrand during Metro Central action this season. Maine concluded the 2007-08 campaign with a 3-2 loss to Evanston in the quarterfinals of the Blackhawk Cup tournament March 7.
(Ray Luna/for Pioneer Press)

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The Maine Township hockey club concluded a very successful 2007-08 campaign with a 3-2 loss against Evanston in the quarterfinals of the Blackhawk Cup postseason tournament March 7.

Maine -- combining players from Maine East, South and West -- opened Blackhawk Cup action with an 11-0 thrashing of the Wolves, followed by a 5-2 decision over C.O.B.R.A.S. to earn the match-up with Evanston. Junior defenseman Mike Krecker, senior forward/defenseman Mike Neff and junior forward Kevin Paso -- each from Maine South -- tallied a goal and an assist apiece against C.O.B.R.A.S.. Junior defenseman Ricky Anderson (Maine West) scored twice, while senior forward Vinnie DiFonzo (West) and junior forward Kevin Norman (West) added one assist each. Goaltender Jack Rice (South), a junior, earned the win.

In the loss to Evanston, DiFonzo notched Maine's first goal, assisted by senior forward Mark Huber (South) and Neff. Paso scored the second, on a breakaway feed from Anderson. Rice again tended net.

Preceding the Blackhawk Cup tourney, Maine competed in the Scholastic Cup playoffs, notching wins over CCM and Notre Dame but falling to Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge and Barrington.

During the regular season, Maine fashioned a 15-6-1 record in the Metro Central, with Huber gaining all-conference status as the league's leading scorer (30 goals, 14 assists). Neff (6 goals, 18 assists) also made all-conference, as did senior defenseman Gregg Gyssler (West). Senior Matt Gurklis (7 goals, 9 assists), the lone player on board from Ridgewood (Norridge) was an all-conference alternate selection.

Other seniors finishing their high-school careers were forward Ross Gullo (South), forward Pat Byskiniewicz (South), forward Mack Cadotte (West), forward-defenseman Mike Fiore (West), forward Zack Grabijas (South) and senior goalie Chris Rychlinski (South).

In addition, longtime Maine head coach Jim Fitzgerald is turning the reins over to newly appointed skipper Steve Glickman, a former Loyola Maroons coach and current hockey director for the Skokie Park District.

"We want to say thanks to Jim for all his years and service to the program ... to the hockey players of Maine Township," said Maine board member Mike Neff, the father of player Mike Neff. "We're looking forward to building on the club's recent success, and with the hiring of our new coach -- and his many years of experience at the high-school level -- we feel he'll be a great asset to the continued growth. He's well-respected and known throughout the local hockey community, and he has a wealth of experience and knowledge. We welcome Steve aboard."