Order of day: more Classics
January 13, 2010 BY PAT DISABATO -- SOUTHTOWNSTAR
It all came together so smoothly, similar to the sheet of ice that provided the stage for one of the most memorable high school events the Southland has ever produced.
But make no mistake, to effectively execute an event like Tuesday night's South Side Winter Hockey Classic, it takes two parties to join hands for the greater good.
And that's what Brother Rice and Marist did, with an assist from Mother Nature providing ideal conditions for an outdoor hockey event.
"We basically split responsibilities," Marist athletic director Tom Schergen said. "Rice said, 'We'll take care of this, this and this,' and we said, 'We'll take care of this, this and this' and we did it. We worked together to pull this off."
The Evergreen Park community, which made Yukich Field available to host the event, can take a big bow as well, knowing how it bent over backward to accommodate all involved.
The result was an event like no other.
"I had no idea what to expect," Brother Rice coach George Bessett said. "But the crowd was outstanding and well-behaved. This is what we envisioned, but we just didn't expect this many people."
Crowds of this magnitude are generally designated for the Kennedy Cup playoffs, the Catholic League's Holy Grail of hockey championships.
But hundreds, maybe even a cool thousand, braved winter's elements, standing five deep in some areas, to watch the inaugural South Side Winter Classic.
"It was an incredible crowd," Marist coach Wayne Kuhl said. "I wasn't sure what to expect. But the kids were really excited about it."
Oh, yeah, the kids.
And by "kids," I'm not referring specifically to the pumped-up players, who resembled Energizer Bunnies as they circled the ice during pregame warm-ups.
I'm referring to the young people in the crowd. From toddlers to teenagers, they descended on Yukich Field to be a part of the Classic.
"I wanted to bring my son to see it," said John Tesmer, with his 4-year-old son, Jake, in his arms. "I don't know if he's going to remember this, but I always will and I'll be able to tell him about the time he came with his 'old man' to see the first Outdoor Classic."
In case you're wondering, beyond the occasional chants of "You suck" by the respective student bodies, the verbiage was G-rated.
The entire experience should motivate other high schools to think outside the box and stage similar events.
Oh, sure, boys basketball tournaments are scheduled every other week, some in college facilities.
And, yes, Marist hit a home run with the inaugural ESCC/CCL Southside Conference Baseball Challenge at Standard Bank Stadium last spring.
But I want more.
I'd love to see a spring baseball tournament between the top programs from the Southland against the likes of New Trier, Barrington and Lyons Township held at Standard Bank Stadium on a sun-soaked Saturday. You know, open up the borders and allow the north suburban cake-eaters to get a taste of the Southland.
I discussed the possibility with a few area coaches last year and they appeared excited about the prospect. But I haven't heard anything since, meaning they resembled a utility outfielder and likely dropped the ball.
Or how about expanding the Winter Classic to include others teams and shifting the event to the weekend? Bring in Mount Carmel, St. Rita and Providence Catholic or, again, invite our neighbors to the north, say, New Trier Green.
"We've already agreed to play Rice again next year, so there will be another Classic," Schergen said. "We'll sit down and see if we can expand it. For me, it's about giving our kids experiences they'll remember the rest of their lives. We all played regular games in our lives. It's the special games that you remember."
Brother Rice forward Bill Conway appreciated the opportunity.
"Playing outdoors with my teammates and with the crowd yelling is something I'll never forget," Conway said. "It's the best high school experience I've had."
Even though Rice lost 13-2. Imagine that.
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