Minooka Hockey: Growing Everyday

By Stephen Gordon, 11/04/25, 10:30PM CST

When you think of Minooka, you usually think about football or even girls’ volleyball. Hockey does not exactly roll off the tongue.

But thanks to people like Dan Manno, President of Minooka Hockey and hockey director and JV coach Jerry Fronek Minooka hockey is a thing and its real.

The team, after having played a varsity schedule this past spring, is currently playing a JV schedule and is expected to play a varsity schedule next season.

In the meantime, however, players are getting used to each other and sporting a 6-5 record through 11 league games thus far. This includes a 2-0 win Sunday evening at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge over the Du Page Stars.

“Yeah, as a coaching staff we all have to have some patience with this group,” JV coach Jerry Fronek said. “We have only been together as a group for all of two months. So, while all of our players have hockey backgrounds, playing together as a unit will take some time. But we are excited about where we are headed. I’ve been most pleased with the team growth.”

Fronek said the idea of starting a program and watching it grow is what attracted him to the job.

“I coached a lot of these kids when they were little,” he said. “And now to see them in high school and the chance to build up this program is really exciting for me.”

Patience is going to be almost a rally cry for Minooka. It certainly was Sunday as there was no score for either team in the opening period. The same could also be said for the second period. It certainly was not for lack of chances for Minooka. They would outshoot the Stars 21-16 through two periods.

The same could have almost been said for the final 15 minutes of play if not for the play of soph. Tyler Ciszek who would score his third goal of the season as the Indians would be on a power play with 3:28 left to play in regulation time making it 1-0. Minooka would season the win with an short-handed empty net goal by Lucas Kirner with 1:14 left in regulation for the 2-0 advantage.

“I’ve been feeling a lot more confident with they guys that I am playing with,” Indians so. fwd. Tyler Ciszek said. “Last year, I was with the Joliet Jaguars. And I left that program with kind of bad taste in my mouth. But with this season, I have just felt stronger about my game and what I can do on the ice. The game has become fun again for me.”

Scoring goals and winning games can only help.

“I think the best part about our team is the relationships we have built as a group,” Ciszek said.

It also helps to have consistent goaltending as well which is what Minooka has found in both Casimir Murawski and so. Emilee Mattison. She would turn away all 22 shots she would face in the Sunday night win.

 “It’s been fun for me playing with all these different types of people and different skill levels,” Mattison said. “I’ve been playing on all girls’ team the past couple of year. So, playing with all guys actually helped me because I get to see more shots and harder shots. The biggest thing I have learned from my coaches here is when something does not go your way, move on and don’t let it get to you so much.”

Minooka will host Kankakee Irish Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4:10 P.M. at Canlan Ice Arena in Romeoville.

Orginal article appeared the Illinois West Hockey league website' click below

https://www.illinoiswesthockey.com/news_article/show/1349361

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