HOCKEY: Spartans Beat Coach's Former Team

Evan Poulakidas coached St. Viator hockey for three years, but now the role was flipped. Poulakidas, now the coach, had to face his former players.

The Spartans came out on top 2-1 in come-from-behind fashion with two goals in the third period to beat Viator at Vernon Hills’ Glacier Ice Arena. The win all but sealed the Metro North for the GBN, but that’s not what Poulakidas was thinking of after the game.

“It’s hard because I have some really wonderful memories there and some great relationships,” Poulakidas said. “When I look across, truthfully if we can’t win I hope they win. I love that school, I love what it’s about, what it stands for and the kids are terrific kids.”

Still, it was a hockey game between two league rivals that are a pair of the area’s best teams so it remained a contentious affair. The Spartans (29-11-8, 15-0-3 Metro North) lead the Metro North with just four league games remaining and the Lions (13-5 Metro North) are ranked among the state’s elite.

The Lions jumped ahead midway through the second period and held that lead heading into the third. GBN had to regroup.

“Their speed is real tough to manage and until you get your legs underneath you I think it’s tough,” Poulakidas said. “They come in real hard early.”

With 10:19 left in the game senior captain Eric Anderson made a play to finally beat Viator goalie Rob Schmidt (15 saves). Anderson intercepted a pass in the Lions’ zone and took a shot on goal that beat Schmidt while Garrison Sanipass screened the goal.

With momentum in hand, the Spartans scored again with 5:56 left. Sanipass carried the puck down the ice and won a fight for it against the boards to center it in front of goal. Following a deflection the puck popped out to Ryan Maksimovic, who stuffed it in.

Maksimovic had been suspended from the team for a month only to return in a win over Glenbrook South on Thursday. The goal was a boost for the junior.

“I was in the right place in the right time,” Maksimovic said. “I saw it trickle out and I was like I’m putting it in. I just hit it as hard as I can and I just went nuts.”

GBN was unable to capitalize on a five-on-three power play with less than five minutes remaining and even had to fend off a Viator power play in the final minutes, making for a tense finish. Goalie Griffin Peifer, who has been starting more regularly since Matthew Memelo suffered a concussion, made 25 saves in the win.

The Spartans struggled during the school’s holiday break with players out for various reasons, but are hoping to be back on track. The Metro playoffs begin in just a few weeks and big wins can help boost the team’s upcoming Blackhawk Cup seed.

“It’s a big win for our league points and for our state rankings because they were just ranked No. 1 in state,” Anderson said.

Poulakidas’ team has another tough test tonight when they face Loyola Gold at Winnetka Ice Rink at 8:25 p.m. The Spartan coach doesn’t want anyone to doubt his team.

“I believe in these guys,” he said. “Don’t discount us. If you’re going to overlook us, that’s fine we’ll be there.”

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