A flat-footed and out-of-position night foiled the HomeStars hockey team from an upset bid Sunday, Feb. 15. Their fourth game of the Illinois Suburban Hockey League playoffs had the group facing Joliet Catholic and suffering a 5-0 loss. "We were down three players against a solid team, but our play wasn't what we are capable of doing," noted coach Zef Gorecki. "There were times when all three forwards were in the corner leaving Joliet wide open for shots."

Joliet took those shots, a total of 43 on HomeStar goalie Grant Forkenbrock. The HomeStars were constantly under pressure and spent most of the game battling to clear the puck. Joliet Catholic was able to break the scoreless barrier with a goal at the 10:09 mark and added another at 5:26 for the 2-0 lead entering the second. With the play of Forkenbrock keeping the team in contention, the HomeStars offered an offensive surge in the second that sailed just off the post. Joliet immediately gathered the rebound and moved in for a goal with 5:37 remaining in the second.

Struggling on both offense and defense, the HomeStars were handed two more setbacks when Joliet Catholic scored twice within 10 seconds, with the second goal coming at 11:37 of the third. The HomeStars enter their final game of the playoffs against Hinsdale South Sunday, Feb. 22 with a 2-2 record after they face Glenbard in the play down game of the Blackhawk Cup state tournament the night before.