Lyons Township senior Adam Zielezinski looks at Chicago Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews as what he wants to be.
Sure, Toews is an NHL All-Star who will represent Canada in the Winter Olympics later this month, but that is not all Zielezinski admires. At 21, Toews is the captain of one of this season’s most successful teams, possessing the ability to inspire and motivate the rest of his teammates, many of who are older than he.
Zielezinski, who is a captain this year after being either captain or assistant captain much of his varsity career, strives to replicate Toews’ leadership on and off the ice.
“I kind of look up to him because he is a young leader of a team,” said Zielezinski, who plays center like Toews. “You definitely have to be hard working and get people to respect you.”
Zielezinski believes he now possesses his team’s respect, and LT is reaping the rewards, again. The defending Illinois Suburban Hockey League Cougar Cup Champions are 12-3-1 this season and are run-away leaders in the league’s South Division. The next closest team, Lincoln-Way Central, is 6-6-4 on the year.
LT is also ranked 14th for the state playoffs, the highest seed any LT hockey team has ever had.
Zielezinski learned a lot from last year’s seniors about how to be a successful leader on the team.Now he’s ready to continue what he’s done all year and watch his team push toward a deep postseason run.
“We had a lot of good senior leadership that helped us win and put us where we were,” the senior captain said. “That’s where the new leaders this year got it from.
“We’re definitely a group of hard working kids. We’re pretty determined to win ISHL and state playoffs.”
The senior captain’s next wish is for his team to gain a little more recognition for its accomplishments. Because hockey is a club sport and not an Illinois High School League-sanctioned sport, Zielezinski said the team naturally does not get the attention it deserves. But he hopes with the recent success of the Blackhawks, and the admirable traits of a player like Toews, hockey’s reputation might start to change. After all, in Zielezinski’s eyes, it is the most team-oriented sport of any out there.
“It’s the game that requires the most teamwork because everyone has to play both ends, on offense and on defense,” the senior said. “It’s such a fast-moving, exciting game.”
