Co-Captain Danny Heidcamp ‘25 said his Wolfpack experience on the ice taught him valuable life lessons “about being brothers, always being there for each other and being a collective unit.” Co-Captain Austin Haynes ‘25 credited the group with showing him “how to work hard and overcome adversity.”

Most athletes will tell you, in sports there are always challenges. Mr. Haynes '25 talked about a five-game losing streak and low locker room energy at the beginning of the 67-game 2024-2025 season.

“Even in the lowest of lows, we stuck together and powered through every problem,” he said.

They jumped the early hurdles, and won the Thanksgiving-time O’Grady Tournament, defeating top team, New Trier-Green. Coach Spencer Montgomery called it the “first watermark of the season.” Ignatius competed their way to the quarter finals at State. While the team wanted to advance beyond the “Final 8,” Coach Montgomery said the fact they did not, didn’t stop them from “bringing it” at the subsequent Kennedy Cup, a Catholic schools competition.

Mr. Haynes ‘25 said, “The season we had was very special and filled with resiliency.”

“I’m proud of our group’s response,” added Coach Montgomery. “They could have disengaged after State, but for the Kennedy Cup they cherished their time together, and re-earned it.” The Pack won the Cup for the fourth consecutive year in a row – not an easy feat. In keeping with the Jesuit idea of the Magis, or more, Coach Montgomery and crew are committed to working as hard as they can to get to State and win. “You can almost touch it,” he said.

It will take work, but that’s something this team really understands. The coach says it’s not uncommon to find 10 players already on the ice at 5:45 in the morning for a 6:00 a.m. practice. He added, “The connectivity, the closeness and the care level the players show, energize me about this program and team.”

It’s a program that’s grown tremendously in the decade since Coach Montgomery took the reins. Ten years ago it was 27 athletes strong. Now it boasts 66 hockey players, with 23 in the incoming class.

Mr. Heidcamp '25, who considers joining the varsity hockey team the best decision he ever made, said, “I believe, and am highly confident a State win will happen someday. They have a shot at it. They just have to put in the work…I wanted to leave my jersey in a better place, and I think we did that. The juniors should keep the pace going.”