OAK FOREST, IL - The Chicago Crush Elite squad just wrapped up a week that can only be described as a masterclass in Midwest hockey dominance. Three games, three wins, and a whole lot of swagger. The Crush took down divisional rivals the Decatur Blaze twice and the Chicago Cougars once, flexing their depth, discipline, and determination in the process. Let’s break it down, shift by shift, because this team is firing on all cylinders right now.
Game 1: Crush vs. Decatur Blaze (4-0 W)
Thursday, February 6, 2025
The Crush came out swinging in this one, and by swinging, I mean they absolutely owned the ice. A 42-12 shot advantage? That’s not just a win; that’s a statement. Dominic DeMatteo got things rolling early with a snipe at 6:23, assisted by Alex Matysiak and Keith Watkins. From there, it was all Crush. Cole Darlas and Matysiak added goals in the first period, and Brandon Adolfino sealed the deal in the third.
Johnny Augusta was a brick wall in net, stopping all 9 shots he faced before handing the reins to Joseph Marturano for the final 8 minutes. The Blaze had no answer for the Crush’s relentless forecheck and puck possession.
Coach Phil Bushbacher’s Take: “When we play our game—fast, physical, and disciplined—we’re a tough team to beat. Tonight was a perfect example of that. Dom [DeMatteo] set the tone early, and the boys followed through. That’s Crush hockey.”
Game 2: Crush vs. Chicago Cougars (4-2 W)
Friday, February 7, 2025
If the Blaze game was a clinic, this one was a street fight. The Cougars brought the physicality, but the Crush brought the finish. John Martino opened the scoring in the second period, followed by Niko Dougan and Erik Koller, who netted his first of the season. Alex Guida added a power-play goal in the third to put the game out of reach.
The Cougars tried to claw back with goals from Jakub Potoczny and Jeffrey Schroeder, but Daniel Gurtner stood tall, making 13 saves on 15 shots. The game got chippy late, with Keith Watkins and Joseph Rodriguez dropping the gloves, but the Crush kept their composure when it mattered.
Coach Bushbacher’s Take: “The Cougars always bring it, and tonight was no different. I loved our response. We didn’t get caught up in the nonsense. We stuck to our game plan, and it paid off. Gurtner was solid, and our depth really showed.”
Game 3: Crush vs. Decatur Blaze (3-2 W)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
The Blaze came out with a little more fight in this one, but the Crush still came out on top. Carter Murphy opened the scoring for Decatur on the power play, but Brandon Adolfino and Konstantinos Koufopoulos responded to give the Crush the lead. Dylan Kennedy tied it up in the second, but Keith Watkins buried the game-winner on the power play in the third.
Aidan Millerick made his presence known in net, stopping 7 of 9 shots and earning his first win of the week. The Crush outshot the Blaze 55-9, which is just absurd.
Coach Bushbacher’s Take: “Aidan was great tonight. He didn’t see a ton of action, but he made the saves when we needed him to. And Keith [Watkins]? That’s a big-time player making a big-time play. That’s what we expect from him.”
Three Stars of the Week
Keith Watkins (1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS): The heart and soul of this team. Watkins was everywhere this week, setting up goals, dropping gloves, and scoring the game-winner against the Blaze.
Brandon Adolfino (2 G, 1 A, 3 PTS): Adolfino continues to be a spark plug for this team. His speed and tenacity were on full display all week.
Johnny Augusta (1 W, 0 GA, 9 SV): Augusta was perfect in his start against the Blaze, setting the tone for the week.
The Big Picture
The Crush are now 27-8-3 on the season and sitting pretty atop the Midwest Division. They’ve won four straight and are 8-1-1 in their last 10. The depth of this team is unreal—every line is contributing, and the defense is locking things down.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The road to the playoffs is long, and the Crush know they can’t take their foot off the gas. With Coach Bushbacher at the helm, you can bet they’ll stay focused.
Final Thought: This team is built for the playoffs. They’ve got the skill, the grit, and the goaltending to make a deep run. If they keep playing like this, the rest of the league better watch out.
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