You create your own bounces. That’s what we did Friday. It was an equal game, but we were willing to pay a price and go into those dirty areas and win the battles. We earned those bounces.”

BHS Coach Jacob Kapstein

The Eagles looked poised to tie the game. 

After falling behind 1-0 in the second game of the playoff series against LaSalle Academy, the Barrington High School boys ice hockey team tightened up on defense and caught a break when the Eagles’ Connor Hayes blocked a LaSalle shot and then gathered the puck and sprinted up-ice. 

Hayes dashed toward the LaSalle net and a one-on-one situation against the Rams goalie. That is when Barrington Coach Jacob Kapstein heard a referee’s whistle blast from deep in the Eagles’ end of the ice. 

Kapstein said the referee stopped the Barrington breakaway in order to fix the Eagles’ goal. 

“I mean, you look at the film and there’s a chance that the other defenseman catches him (Hayes), but at the time they blew the whistle he was on his way. Which is unfortunate because it’s unheard of for a referee to stop the play when we have possession…” Kapstein said. “That net was barely off. The referee was right there. He could have tried to fix it right then. 

“That killed us. I really think that took a huge chunk of life out of us.” 

LaSalle went on to win the second game 3-0 and tie the Division I hockey series at 1-1. One night later, the Eagles lost Game 3 and were eliminated. 

“We were still battling — block a shot, have a chance to tie it up and who knows, their goalie maybe saves it, big deal, but to take that opportunity away unnecessarily was…,” Kapstein said, with a sigh. 

Despite the series loss, the Barrington coach was very pleased with his team’s effort. 

“Since Day One, those guys all embraced the workman’s mentality of showing up, going through all of the ups and downs, the hardships, willing to pay a price to take that step forward for our program,” Kapstein said. 

Barrington finished the season with key wins over LaSalle and Prout School and a tie against Hendricken.  

“Obviously, being a public school it’s tough to keep up with the big boys who are able to pick and choose and create their all star teams from all over the state. It stinks for all the public schools. But I think it shows that what we’re building here is bigger than that,” Kapstein said.

Game 1 win

The Eagles opened the quarterfinal playoff series with a 3-0 victory over the Rams on Friday night, Feb. 27, at LaSalle’s home rink.

Ryan Claussen gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the first period, crashing the net and smashing home a rebound. Barrington doubled its advantage a short time later when Joe Carmone ripped a shot from the point that sailed over the LaSalle goalie’s shoulder and into the net. 

The score remained 2-0 until the third period, when Trent Senn carried the puck up-ice, made a nice move and then threw the puck on-net. The Rams goalie stopped the shot, but Connor Helm crashed hard to the goal and slammed in the rebound. 

Meanwhile BHS goalie Dom Bruzzi turned away everything LaSalle could muster. He finished with more than 40 saves. 

“Dom stood on his head all year for us. He’s been an absolute brick wall. Phenomenal season,” Kapstein said.

Barrington repelled LaSalle’s attack through the remainder of the game and celebrated a 3-0 victory.

“It was a great win,” Kapstein said. “We had done it two weeks prior, so we weren’t surprised that we could do it. But we felt good about ourselves.”

Games 2 and 3

Barrington and LaSalle played scoreless hockey through the first period of Game 2. In the second period, LaSalle went up 1-0. 

“I think they were out-working us that second game,” Kapstein said about LaSalle. “They ended up getting a fortunate bounce to go their way. We were changing defensemen and it went right out to their guy on a breakaway. That’s tough. 

“You create your own bounces. That’s what we did Friday. It was an equal game, but we were willing to pay a price and go into those dirty areas and win the battles. We earned those bounces.”

Kapstein said his team remained confident despite falling behind 1-0. 

“Everyone was still, ‘Like this is nothing new for us. We’ve given up goals and come back and won multiple games this year, so, big deal, they got a bounce and capitalized. No big deal,’” Kapstein said. “And we continued to play hard. We got a bounce to go our way. Connor Hayes blocked a shot and he was off on a breakaway and the referee blows the whistle and stops play… to fix the net.”

The Rams went on to win Game 2 by a 3-0 margin. On Monday night, the Eagles refocused and went to work in the third and deciding game of the series. 

“It’s do or die. You have nothing left. Empty the tanks completely, more than you ever have. Do everything it takes,” Kapstein said, recalling his message to the team before the start of the game.

“The guys were tired, they had been taking a pounding for those previous two games but you could see the guys really wanted it. We had been talking about it all year. Knowing we’re capable of doing it…It just didn’t happen.”

LaSalle skated to a 4-0 victory and 2-1 series win. 

“I think this is a great step forward for our program,” Kapstein said. “I could be wrong but I believe this was the first playoff win since going back into Division One. It shows the rest of the state that we can play and beat anyone.”