The Oak Park River and Forest Hockey Club’s varsity team will face off against their arch rival, the Fenwick Friars, on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Fifth Third Ice Arena. The crosstown rivalry makes the matchup more than just a regular game.
Playing in a high-stakes game means that any advantage can be the difference between winning and losing. Senior Liam Moroney pointed to a few key strengths of this year’s team, including “our speed and our hungriness.” He added, “A lot of our seniors were on varsity as sophomores, so we have a lot of experience.”
Heading into the matchup, the players feel confident that they have what it takes to keep the Paul Hruby Trophy for the second consecutive year. Senior Oliver Puntillo added, “I think we just want it more than Fenwick.”
In last year’s game, Puntillo scored the game-winning goal in overtime. Because of last year’s victory, the Huskies are entering this year’s game with momentum.
Moroney remembered what it felt like to lose to Fenwick during his sophomore year. That loss added extra pressure for them to win their junior year. “[It] kind of motivated us to come back harder, stronger the next year,” said senior Sebastian Robinson. The goal now is to “hold onto that trophy to keep it, cause you know, it’s easier to get it once, but it’s harder to keep it,” he said.
The pressure is on for this highly anticipated game, according to Robinson. “I think it brings more energy to the team,” he said. “Guys feel more hyped than they would in a normal game.”
Moroney continued, “It’s a big private versus public school rivalry.” The game means a lot to the fans, he noted. “We appreciate the support so much,” he said. “I think we do have the best fans in the state.”
