OAK FOREST, IL - The Chicago Crush Elite are heading back to the USPHL Nationals, and they’re doing it in style. After a hard-fought, two-game sweep of their Midwest Division rivals, the Fort Wayne Spacemen, the Crush are once again the kings of the Midwest. With Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” blasting through the Orbit Ice Arena speakers after every goal, the Crush delivered a masterclass in playoff hockey, combining grit, skill, and a relentless offensive attack to secure their spot in Wayne, NJ.
Game 1: A Goaltending Duel and Martino’s Heroics
The series opener was a tense, defensive battle that saw both teams trade chances but struggle to find the back of the net. Fort Wayne’s Brendan Kusbel and Chicago’s Johnny Augusta stood tall, turning away shot after shot in a goaltending duel that had fans on the edge of their seats. The first two periods ended scoreless, but the Crush turned up the heat in the third.
The game’s turning point came early in the third period when Fort Wayne’s Tyson Finefrock was assessed a major penalty for contact to the head, giving the Crush a five-minute power play. Just 4:37 into the period, John Martino capitalized on the man advantage, burying a feed from Connor Edwards and Niko Dougan to give the Crush a 1-0 lead. The goal sent the Orbit Ice Arena into a frenzy, with Hall & Oates’ iconic anthem echoing through the rafters.
The Spacemen pushed hard to equalize, but Augusta was a brick wall in net, making several key saves to preserve the lead. With just 17 seconds left in the game, Martino iced the victory with an empty-netter, his second of the night, assisted by Christopher Frachalla and Edwards. The Crush outshot the Spacemen 40-24, and Augusta’s 24-save shutout was the backbone of the 2-0 victory.
Game 2: Chicago Crush Offensive Fireworks and a Statement Win
If Game 1 was a defensive grind, Game 2 was an offensive explosion. The Crush came out flying, peppering Kusbel with 16 shots in the first period alone. While the first frame ended scoreless, the floodgates opened in the second.
Ilija Marich got the party started just 1:56 into the period. Pinching in, Marich picked up the puck high in the slot, danced around defenders, and beat Kusbel glove side. The assists went to Vincent Cerrentano and Alex Guida, who both made smart plays to set up the goal. The Crush kept the pressure on, and just over four minutes later, Cole Darlas doubled the lead with a slick finish off a feed from Joshua Yeates and Christopher Frachalla.
Fort Wayne’s Dylan Davis briefly cut the deficit to one with a goal at 8:36, but the Crush responded with a dagger late in the period. Troy Naill, known more for his defensive prowess, joined the rush and buried a laser off a feed from Alexander Hodge and Darlas to restore the two-goal advantage. The goal, coming with just 26 seconds left in the period, sent the Crush into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead and all the momentum.
The third period was more of the same. Hammad Khan netted his first of the playoffs at 11:11, finishing off a beautiful break away play involving Jack Martino and Keith Watkins. The goal was a backbreaker for the Spacemen, who struggled to generate any sustained offense against the Crush’s stifling defense.
Fort Wayne’s Dylan Davis added a late power-play goal at 18:18, but it was too little, too late. Jaden Yuknis sealed the deal with an empty-net goal at 18:58, assisted by Ioannis Beldecos, to make it 5-2. The Crush dominated the shot count 52-19, and Daniel Gurtner turned aside 17 shots in a commanding victory.
Series MVP: John Martino
Jack Martino was the difference-maker in this series. His two-goal performance in Game 1, including the game-winner, set the tone, and his playmaking in Game 2 helped keep the Crush’s offense humming. Martino’s ability to rise to the occasion in big moments has been a hallmark of this Crush squad, and his leadership on and off the ice has been invaluable.
But Martino wasn’t the only standout. Connor Edwards was a force on the blue line, tallying two assists in Game 1 and playing a key role in shutting down Fort Wayne’s top forwards. Cole Darlas also had a strong series, contributing a goal and two assists in Game 2. And let’s not forget the goaltending duo of Johnny Augusta and Daniel Gurtner, who combined to allow just two goals in two games.
Coach Phil Bushbacher’s Thoughts
After the series-clinching win, Head Coach Phil Bushbacher was both proud and reflective. “Back-to-back trips to Nationals speaks volumes to the character of this group,” he said. “We’ve got a locker room full of guys who are willing to sacrifice, work hard, and play for each other. That’s what it takes to win at this level.”
But Bushbacher knows the job isn’t finished. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we’re not satisfied. Nationals is a different beast. We need to tighten up defensively, stay disciplined, and keep playing our game. If we do that, we’ve got as good a shot as anyone.”
What’s Next?
The Crush now turn their attention to the USPHL Nationals, set to take place March 20-24 in Wayne, NJ. With a balanced attack, stellar goaltending, and a coach who knows how to win, this team has all the tools to make a deep run. But as Coach Bushbacher said, it’s going to take focus, discipline, and a commitment to the process.
One thing’s for sure: if the Crush keep scoring, Hall & Oates will keep playing. And if they keep playing like this, they might just make their dreams come true in Wayne.
Final Series Stats:
Goals For: Chicago Crush 7, Fort Wayne Spacemen 2
Shots on Goal: Chicago Crush 92, Fort Wayne Spacemen 43
Power Play: Chicago Crush 1/4, Fort Wayne Spacemen 1/2
Series MVP: John Martino (2 G, 1 A, +3)
The Chicago Crush Elite are Midwest Division Champions. Now, the real work begins.
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