Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Glenview Stars Bantam Bronze team won the Illinois regional to play in the International Silver Stick tournament in Pelham, Ontario, January 6-9, 2011. A great team effort throughout the tournament resulted in the team recording a 3-1 record and winning the championship game!

The Stars started slowly in their first game as they adjusted to having two players out with injuries – Joey Tangorra and Bryan Slaven. Despite a hat trick from Tim Harte and aggressive play from Griffin Roman (two points), the Stars lost to the Arctic Fury 6-4. Little did the team know they would have a chance to avenge this loss.

The next game against the Wolf Pack was the turning point for the Stars with their 4-1 victory. The defense of Will Fine, Alex Lugo, Michael Fogarty and David Duszynski held the Wolf Pack’s offense down. Tim Harte (2), Griffin Roman and Scott Guittar scored to power the team to victory. Assistant coach Phil Pace turned out to be clairvoyant when he said, "All we need to do now is to win two games and we go to Canada!"

The Saturday evening game pitted the Stars against the host team, the Hawks. With great goaltending from Sam Cohen, the Stars beat the Hawks 4-2. Connell O’Brien, Elliot Cole, Griffin Roman, Jake Bertog and Tim Harte provided the offensive firepower in this victory. Brian Fogarty got his first point of the tournament with an assist on the all-important first goal.

With the win Saturday, the boys moved to the Sunday championship game against the Arctic Fury. The game was close throughout and it came down to the final two minutes. Jay Baker in goal faced a FURYous attack but he was a wall and he iced the Stars 3-2 victory! Head Coach Joe Pace, wearing his lucky tie and his Silver Stick Championship ring, said, "Best team effort of the year." Goal scoring was key as the Stars came back from an early 1-0 deficit. Elliott Cole, Tim Harte and Michael Fogarty lit the lamp in the win.

Congratulations to the entire team as they head to Canada in January. As Coach Pace said, "I went to Silver Sticks as a kid and I know these kids will remember the tournament forever just as I do."