With forward Charlie Slovis in crutches and a handful of other injuries, Glenbrook North was not feeling the best heading into a contest vs. No. 1 New Trier Green. With the help of David Wilcox, Andrew Rubin and Brennan Nein in net, the Spartans overcame their injury woes in a 3-2 shootout win Saturday afternoon in Northbrook.

“Without Charlie, we knew everyone else on the team had to step up,” said Wilcox. “And that’s what we did. Everyone worked extra hard to fill that void.”

After a scoreless first period, Glenbrook North set the pace with two goals within 20 seconds of each other in the second. Wilcox took a shot that knocked him off his feet on the power play and Mikey day followed. New Trier’s Mac Zelazny responded at the six-minute mark and shortly after Brian Dolby tied it up. The third period came and went followed by a quiet, but stressful, OT. With Nein in net for Glenbrook North and Owen Reger for New Trier Green the Spartans and Trevians geared up for a shootout. 

Nein expressed his confidence when faced with a shootout situation. “I was pretty comfortable in the net at the end of the game there,” he said. “You just got to react to the shooter and don’t make the first move.”

After five rounds Rubin and Wilcox sealed the win.

“I was just trying to make it feel like I was in practice when I was young,” said Rubin. “Like everyone telling make, ‘Just fake the shot forehand back.’ I had to keep everything simple as possible because I couldn’t tense up in that situation.” 

In the end, the Spartans proved that they can overcome the hardships of becoming the skated wounded and are glad to have this extra boost before the playoffs. 

“This is one of the best times of the year to get momentum going,” said Wilcox. “Knocking off New Trier, the No. 1 seed, is just huge momentum for our team going forward. It gives us a lot of confidence.”

Rubin agrees saying, “This is huge for us, now we’ve beaten (New Trier Green) twice in a row, we seem to have the number injured or not.”