Barrington Senior Anna Rajski: Hockey Defenseman, Horse Jumper & Standing Bass Player

By: Ross Forman

She’s the standing bass-playing hockey player and the daughter of the Barrington Fillies head coach. Anna Lillian Rajski is an accomplished horseback rider who has competed at national horse jumping events.

The wide-ranging world of Rajski is nonstop: she enjoys taking photos and editing pictures; she enjoys babysitting; she works at a horse barn on weekends and enjoys being in nature.

Rajski, 18, a Barrington resident, is a four-year Fillies defenseman who also has skated shifts at center. She was an alternate captain last year and a back-to-back state champion for Barrington, and a national qualifier for the North Shore Warhawks in 2023.

“On the Barrington Fillies, I play where needed,” said Rajski, wearing uniform No. 72. “Every game I may have to switch my position … I just go with it and have fun.

“I (played) defense growing up and did that for the first two years on the Fillies. The last two years I have been doing a mix of forward and defense. I honestly don’t know which (position) I prefer. I am more comfortable at defense, but I love how many puck touches I get at forward. Every shift I always try to skate as hard as I can on the forecheck and backcheck. I am not the most skilled player, so my goal is to be annoying to the opponent. I’m always trying to get in the way and get a turnover. When we have possession, I’m always looking for my teammates to give them passes and get open to receive one.” READ MORE<<<

Talking Puck & Bach with Chicago Central Captain Zarin Mehta

Award-Winning Classical Pianist Is a Three-Year Varsity Defenseman

By: Ross Forman

Zarin Mehta, a senior at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, is in his third season on defense for co-op Chicago Central in the Varsity Champions League of the IHSHL North-Central Division.

The 17-year-old Chicago resident, in uniform No. 49, is the team’s captain this season – and an internationally acclaimed award-winner off the ice with about 40,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel and more than 1.1 million views in less than two years.

Mehta is an acclaimed classical pianist and composer, winner at the 2024 Kaufman International Piano Competition. His piano accolades include first prize last year in senior piano and twice he has won second prize in composition in the national finals of the Music Teachers National Association Competitions. He also has claimed prizes in the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the International Young Artist Concerto Competition (three times), the Chicago National Chamber Music Competition, the Rembrandt Young Artist Chamber Competition, and more. READ MORE<<<

Always A Falcon

Peter McClamroch Looks to Continue His Success In Goal for the CSHDL Bantam Major Team

By: Ross Forman

Peter McClamroch, a 14-year-old goalie who lives in Lake Bluff, is already a Highland Park Falcons lifer – with plenty of celebrations of the years. Just consider:

• Squirt minor, third-place in state;
• Peewee minor, CSHDL champion (2021-2022);
• Peewee major state champion (2022-2023);
• Bantam minor, CSHDL Champion (2023-2024);
• 2022 CCM Chicago World Invite MVP, 2010; and,
• Selected to the 2024 AHAI Player Development Camp

“I am having fun again this season,” said McClamroch, a freshman at Lake Forest High School, playing this season for the Falcons’ central states bantam major team. He was on the club’s central states bantam minor team last season.

“I (am) lucky to have played for one program my entire hockey career. On my team this year I have at least three or four guys who I have played with for over seven years. I have the same goalie partner as (last) season, and I am enjoying that experience; we work very well together. I am proud that we have one of the best goals-against averages in our league. READ MORE<<<

Ending An 11-Year Career With The Joliet Jaguars – The Team Jason Garbelman Idolized

U18 Goalie Cherishes Hockey Memories, Championships

By: Ross Forman

An aggressive goaltender, Jason Garbelman is in his second season on the Joliet Jaguars U18 team, looking to extend his winning ways for the club, where he has won three NIHL championships and two have come with a president’s cup, too.

He has played his entire 11-year hockey career for the Jaguars.

“If I could say one thing to the younger Jaguar players, it would be: ‘Always have fun and always try your very best,” said Garbelman, 18, who lives in Joliet and graduated last May from Joliet West High School.

“Winning the NIHL Championship the year after we lost it (was a career highlight). My first year of U16, we battled hard and made the championship. Our team didn’t really play the best game, and playing a tough opponent didn’t help. The next year had something special to offer and I would have never thought.”

Garbelman said past Jaguar players have long influenced and impacted his career. “They always looked like they gave 110 percent,” he said. “Also, many coaches have influenced my career as they would always push me to be the best. READ MORE<<<

Savannah Harmon Reflects on Illinois Hockey Memories

Former USA Olympic Silver Medalist Now Playing Defense for Ottawa in the PWHL

By: Ross Forman

Savannah Harmon has skated around the world, including at the 2022 Olympic Games, where she helped Team USA win a silver medal as Harmon finished with seven points in seven games. She also has represented the U.S. at the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships, where she’s won a gold medal and three silver medals.

Her international hockey journey started in Illinois, such as a 2005 Jaguars team, one of the first times she played on a girls’ team. “We were so little,” she said, reflecting on a team photo. “Some of the girls in the (team) photo, I’m still friends with.”

That team played in the Central Hockey League and won the President’s cup, she said.

“I’m so tiny,” she said, looking at the picture.

“I have nothing but good memories of playing hockey in Illinois, traveling, meeting longtime friends.”

Harmon, now 29, is a defenseman for Ottawa in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). She was the fifth overall pick in the 2023 PWHL Draft.

Harmon played college hockey at Clarkson University from 2014 to 2018 and won back-to-back national championships in 2017 and 2018.

Her hockey career started locally with the Sabres, then to the Blues and Huskies before moving to the Fury, Mission and Team Illinois. READ MORE>>>

Team Illinois Forward Ronan Freeman Shines On The Ice – Just Like His Dad

Sean Freeman Played Locally, Professionally, Now Coaches at TI

By: Ross Forman

Ronan Freeman, a junior at Highland Park High School who skates for Team Illinois U18, is a two-way forward who creates plays in the offensive zone and is relied on late in the game, in the defensive end, to help shut down opposing teams.

The 17-year-old, right-handed-shooting Freeman splits time between center and right wing in jersey No. 29 – the same number worn years ago by his dad, who now serves as the TI club president, hockey director and assistant coach for the U18s.

“My dad has helped me become a better player on the ice and a better person off the ice,” Ronan said. “It’s awesome (having my dad as my coach); we’ve created a special bond and we’re creating memories almost every day at the rink.”

Sean Freeman spent five years playing for Team Illinois and Chicago Young Americans before moving to junior hockey in the USHL, playing for both the Sioux City Musketeers and Wisconsin Capitals. He played in the NAHL for Springfield Jr. Blues and the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings. He then spent four years playing for Lake Forest College, where he was a captain and team leader in scoring all four years while amassing nearly one point per game in more than 100 games played. READ MORE<<<

Beat for Chicago Police Detective John Campbell: Officiating Illinois Hockey

By: Ross Forman

John Campbell is a 20-year referee who last March was on the ice at the United Center for the Illinois High School State Championship, where New Trier Green defeated York. Campbell and Steve Poapst were the linesmen, while Samantha Hiller and Scott Gaffney wore orange for the highlight game of the season – and one of many noteworthy officiating assignments Campbell has received.

And for the past 30 years, Campbell has truly worked in law enforcement. He is a detective for the Chicago Police Department’s Investigative Response Team (IRT) whose primary mission is to investigate incidents that involve police officers when they are victims of crimes. Such as, the 2024 in-the-line-of-duty deaths of officers Luis Huesca and Enrique Martinez. He also has been a cold case detective.

“Generally speaking, the focus of police officers and hockey referees are to enforce laws/rules in order to assist in creating a safe environment and hold those who don’t follow those rules accountable for their actions,” Campbell said. “Since I started as a USA Hockey referee in 1996, I have officiated numerous games involving fellow police officer's sons and daughters, who themselves are now police officers. Our hockey community is made up of many first responders and I really enjoy being a part of those moments in time that are created by our great sport. READ MORE<<<