HR0976 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0976 LRB100 21466 MST 38178 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Marmion Academy hockey team, the Cadets, on winning the Varsity White division for the 2018 Illinois State High School Hockey Championship; and

WHEREAS, The Cadets defeated the New Trier Gray in overtime March 16, 2018; and

WHEREAS, The Marmion Academy hockey program was born out of a chance encounter between the program's founder, Dan Heckle, and a young man at an ice rink in 2013-14 wearing a Marmion shirt, when Dan learned that Marmion did not have their own hockey team at that time; and

WHEREAS, A couple of years later, when Dan Heckle began working at Marmion Academy, he learned that dozens of highly talented hockey players have graduated or attended Marmion through the years; he garnered support from the Head of School, Mr. Tinerella, and worked with alumni from the Chicago Catholic Hockey League; he received an outpouring of support from leaders of the Chicago area hockey community; and

WHEREAS, With the support of the monks and the administration at Marmion Academy, Dan Heckle and his team obtained a charter for Marmion through the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois; along with then-coach Chris Imes, a 1994 U.S. Olympian, and two hockey players and Marmion alumni, Nick and Jake Leon, the Cadets had a staff to lead the way, with Imes coaching for two seasons; and

WHEREAS, For the 2016 season, the program joined the CCHL (Chicago Catholic Hockey League) and today play against some of the state's toughest competition; and

WHEREAS, Two words summarize how Marmion Academy's hockey program has ascended to heights not seemingly possible to those on the outside - "The Brotherhood"; and

WHEREAS, While four teammates are actual siblings, wearing the Cadets name on the back of their hockey sweaters bolstered school pride to another level for all of the young men; and

WHEREAS, Under first year coach Michael Perillo, the team finished as state champions with a final record of 26 wins, 3 losses, and one tie; and

WHEREAS, The Cadets chemistry, trust, and ability to remain level-headed was undeniably a factor in their 1 to 1 overtime state championship game against New Trier, ultimately winning 2 to 1 over one of the state's strongest hockey programs; and

WHEREAS, The Cadets are Mark Picchietti, Andrew Galle, Sammy Greco, Matthew Sitar, Logan Gayton, Cole Hostasa, Nicholas Greco, Dylan Foster, Gino Viscomi, Aaron Munson, Sean Gillian, Jacob Carlson, Collin Ayres, Sean Galle, Henry Walton, Tom Nowicki, Zachary Dietz, and Andrew Madej; the assistant coaches are Greg Sauers, Jared Weaver, and Graham Mosey; the strength coach is Joe Koup; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Marmion Academy hockey team, the Cadets, on winning the Varsity White division for the 2018 Illinois State High School Hockey Championship, and we recognize Cadets, both past and present, for their outstanding achievements; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Cadets and their coaches as a symbol of our respect and esteem.