Boys Hockey: Gordon shines in goal for Highland Park
By bob gosman Contributor February 7, 2012 8:52PM
Highland Park senior Zachary Kalter (left) fights for the puck in the offensive zone during Monday's AHAI All-State game at The Edge in Bensenville. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:15AM
Highland Park High School senior goalie Michael Gordon has put together quite a season for the Giants.
He added to his list of memories by being selected as one of the MVPs of the Metro North All-Star game. Gordon played the first period and did not allow a goal.
“It was a really cool experience,” Gordon said. “It was a good beginning to the end of my senior year.”
Gordon played for Highland Park as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Loyola Academy for his junior year. He decided Highland Park was a better fit and he returned home for his senior year.
His play has been instrumental in the Giants’ performance this year, as Highland Park held a 34-7-6 record through Monday.
“A goalie is one of the most important components of any team, and he’s been a huge part of our success,” said Highland Park coach Sean Freeman.
Gordon played well enough to be considered for the All-State team, but he was not selected. Freeman believes that motivated Gordon, who’s playing his best hockey of the season. He has a .916 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average.
“There are games where he faces 35 shots,” Freeman said. “He’s taking everything personal now. He’s focused in.”
Gordon has always relished the challenge that goes with being a netminder.
“You’re the biggest factor in the game,” he said. “A lot falls on your shoulders and how you play.”
Gordon, 5-foot-6, didn’t play much at Loyola Academy, but he used the time in practice to become a better goalie.
“I can’t control my size so I had to focus on all the things I could improve on,” he said. “I worked on getting quicker and cutting down the angle.”
His improvement was immediately apparent to Freeman.
“He’s taken his game to the next level,” Freeman said. “It’s just amazing what it does for the team when you have a No. 1 goalie.”
Gordon is excited to test himself as the playoffs progress.
“I like the challenge of big games and playing against the best teams,” he said.
Star power: Senior Zach Kalter represented the Giants in Monday’s AHAI All-State game at The Edge in Bensenville.
The all-stater has racked up 35 goals and 40 assists this season.
“I’ve been here 12 years, and he’s had the best season of any defenseman I’ve seen,” Freeman said. “He can control the flow of play. He is blocking four or five shots a game. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Joining Kalter on the Metro North All-Star team were Gordon, Noah Pickus, Alec Shapiro, Alex Block, Zach Putlak and Jordan Fox.
Quick study: Due to injuries, junior forward Griffin Rutstein has had to log some time at defense.
“He’s (responded),” Freeman said. “You would have thought he was playing defenseman his whole life.”
Big win: Highland Park scored a huge 5-4 victory over Stevenson in the Metro North Playdowns on Jan. 28.
Pickus, a sophomore, notched a hat trick.
“Noah was a man-child,” Freeman said. “He dominated.”
Senior Willie Goodman had a key assist.
“It was textbook,” Freeman said. “It changed the game.”
On the schedule: The Giants meet Glenbrook North on Saturday.
“They haven’t lost a game, but we believe if we play our game we can be the first team to make that happen,” Freeman said.
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