The day before Thanksgiving, Scouts fans gathered at the Alumni Memorial Field House, home of the Scouts and the Foresters, to watch one of the most anticipated events of the year; Puck and Poms.
The night started at 5:30p.m. with the JV Blue team taking on Maine. This game set the tone for the night as the Scouts pulled away with an 8-4 win after competing in a back forth battle.
The JV Blue game was followed by the long awaited game between the varsity team and Hinsdale Central.
The annual Pucks and Poms tradition was continued. The team was tasked with creating a brand new jersey style to wear on Pucks and Poms, and for big games in the future. The team decided on light blue and yellow jerseys that featured an image of a scout.
The Scouts came out fierce, showing their dominance. Although there were some missed chances in the beginning as the team struggled to find the back of the net on scoring opportunities, the majority of the game was controlled by the Scouts.
Junior defenseman Gavin Nelson put the Scouts on the board halfway through the first period, sniping the goaltender with a wrist shot from the middle of the ice. This lit a fire beneath the team for the rest of the night, and they were eager to celebrate with the fans.
Shortly after, sophomore Michael Catalano scored making the score two to zero, with the Scouts in the lead.
Hinsdale Central could not seem to break through the Scouts defense, led by sophomore goalie Logan Marsch, for the entirety of the first period.
Senior Jack Walsh then lined up a big hit in the defensive zone which swung the momentum and helped the Scouts keep their foot on the gas. This allowed for the team to keep their dominance throughout the rest of the period.
Despite having the lead going into the second period, the team kept the pressure on, and gave Hinsdale no chance of coming back.
Consistent effort from the Scouts allowed them to tally three more goals, scored by seniors Frankie Catalano and Jack Walsh, and Junior Jake Maraccini, before heading into the locker room for intermission and the halftime show.
Heading onto the ice for the final period, the Scouts were able to switch up some of the positions. Many defensemen played forward and many offensive players played defense. It was a great way for the players to enjoy the game while doing something they’re not used to doing.
Due to the Scout’s impressive lead of five goals, there was a running clock for the final period to wrap up the game quickly. This game was very successful for not only the players but the fans too had a great time.
“It was the most fun hockey game of the year so far because there isn’t usually a huge attendance like that for hockey games and being able to watch an intense game is fun enough but being there with all your friends makes it even more enjoyable,” senior Lucas Kroner said
Pucks and Poms is truly a special night for the players and coaches as it is something that is looked forward to by the players from the beginning of their high school hockey careers. This is one of the few games over their four years that the team can gather a crowd like this one.
“Seeing everyone come out and support the team, we all felt we needed to win the game not only for us, but for everyone who came. Not only was the student section amazing, but a lot of families came, which also motivated everyone to win,” said senior Captain Tommy Swift.
The Pucks and Poms event was closed out with the JV Gold team. They finished off the event with a barn burner as they battled with New Triers JV team. This was an evenly matched game due to the fact that every time one of the teams would score, the other team found a way to answer quickly. This took the game all the way to a final shootout where the scouts came out with a final score of four to three to complete the sweep ofPuck and Poms 2024.
