Boys Hockey: Stevenso’s Suerth, Biedron compete in All-State game

• Reprints

Stevenson senior Robert Biedron (No. 5) attempts to secure the puck while defending his zone during Monday's AHAI All-State game at The Edge in Bensenville. | Michael Jarecki ~ for Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:12AM

The Stevenson High School boys hockey team opened up the Metro North Playdowns with a 5-4 loss to Highland Park on Jan. 28.

The defeat snapped an eight-game winning streak, during which the Patriots had played some of their best hockey of the season.

The last thing Stevenson could afford was to take another loss early in the postseason. But the Patriots responded to the challenge with a 2-1 victory over St. Viator on Saturday.

As Stevenson moves through the playoffs, it could become an increasingly dangerous team to play. Stevenson has shown that it’s never out of a game, and is making exiting comebacks part of its repertoire.

“This is the third time in the last week or so that we’ve (rallied),” said Patriots coach Jim Wood. “The guys are confident that they can come back.”

After falling behind St. Viator 1-0, the Patriots tied it at 1-1 in the second period on a goal by senior forward Lynden Fields.

Stevenson was then hoping to get a power play opportunity in the third period.

“Our goal was to eliminate penalties and to capitalize if we got a power play,” Wood said.

Technically, the Pats didn’t capitalize when they earned a man advantage — but no one was going to complain about the goal that was scored. St. Viator was able to kill the penalty, but during a line change, Stevenson senior defenseman Michael Varshavsky took the puck to the net and scored for a 2-1 lead.

St. Viator found the post with a couple of shots, but couldn’t tie the score.

Stevenson senior goalie Sam Schmaren counted 31 saves in the win.

“We had a couple of breaks, but our guys hung in there,” Wood said. “We’ve preached all year that if we keep the goals against to two or less we should be in pretty good shape.”

The Patriots won a thriller against Loyola Academy, the previous night, by the same 2-1 score.

Junior Vincent Moschea scored a key third-period goal, and senior forward Grady Suerth tallied the other goal — on an assist by senior Tommy Schroeder.

“Every night out, it seems like one of the defensemen is a hero,” Wood said. “Against Loyola Academy, it was Mike.”

Honor roll: Suerth and senior Robert Biedron represented the Patriots on the AHAI All-State team. The All-State game was played Monday night at The Edge in Bensenville.

Wood said what stands out the most about Suerth is his unselfishness.

“I have to get on him about shooting more instead of passing the puck,” Wood said. “He always seems to find one of his teammates with a nice play.”

Suerth has 23 goals and a team-best 37 assists.

Biedron has contributed seven goals and 15 assists.

“Robert is a solid defenseman with great offensive skills,” Wood said. “He doesn’t turn the puck over much and has learned to play within himself.”

Suerth, Biedron, Schroeder, Schmaren and Robert Graff made the Metro North All-Star team.

On the schedule: The Patriots meet Glenbrook South at Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion, in Buffalo Grove, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

“There are some teams that are ranked ahead of us, but I’m happy with our success and quality of play,” Wood said. “It’s a good time of the year to be hot.”

Girls hockey

Six players from the Lake Forest co-op team have been named all-staters: Lindsay Projansky, Kelsey Patten, Madison Pfalzer, Haley Conroy, Jessica Gould and Bridget Roche.

Projansky, a freshman goalie, attends Stevenson along with seniors Patten and Gould.

The girls AHAI All-State Game preceded the boys game on Monday at The Edge.