ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — The Chicago Crush Premier unit extended their dominance over their cross-town rivals, the Chicago Cougars, with a hard-fought 4-2 victory at West Meadows Ice Arena on Wednesday night. In a game that had all the makings of a classic rivalry showdown—physical play, clutch goals, and a raucous crowd—the Crush once again proved why they’re the kings of the Windy City hockey scene.
First Period: Cougars Strike First
The Cougars came out swinging, capitalizing on an early power play opportunity. Defenseman Brandon Behnke opened the scoring at 7:39, burying a rebound off assists from Jeffrey Schroeder and Kennelly Clinton. The Crush struggled to find their rhythm early, taking two penalties in the period, but their penalty kill held strong, keeping the deficit at one heading into the intermission.
Second Period: Kauke Takes Over
The Crush flipped the script in the second period, thanks to their captain, Spencer Kauke. At 5:40, Kauke buried a wrist shot off a slick feed from Charles Domaracki and Jacob Rozanski to tie the game. Just under five minutes later, Kauke struck again, this time on a breakaway set up by Jason Gongol and Logan Fernandes. The Crush outshot the Cougars 8-10 in the period, but it was Kauke’s finishing ability that made the difference.
Third Period: CHICAGO Crush Weather the Storm
The Cougars didn’t go quietly. Early in the third, Nikolay Ouriashev capitalized on a power play to tie the game at 2-2. But the Crush responded almost immediately. At 2:48, Logan Fernandes netted the game-winner, assisted by Nathan Cucinotta and goaltender Aidan Wysoglad, who notched his second assist of the season. Wysoglad was stellar in net, making 25 saves, including several key stops late in the game to preserve the lead. Jason Gongol sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:11, his 21st of the season.
Key Stats and Performances
Spencer Kauke (2 goals) continues to lead the charge for the Crush, now with 19 goals and 43 points on the season.
Aidan Wysoglad was a difference-maker, turning aside 25 of 27 shots and adding an assist on the game-winning goal.
The Crush’s penalty kill, despite being shorthanded five times, held strong, killing off four of five Cougars power plays.
Coach Bushbacher’s Take
Associate Coach Phil Bushbacher was quick to credit the team’s collective effort in his postgame remarks. “The Cougars are a tough opponent, and they came out ready to play tonight. We had to grind this one out, and I’m proud of the way our guys responded. Spencer [Kauke] had a huge night, and Aidan [Wysoglad] made some key saves when we needed them. But this was a team win—every guy in that locker room contributed.”
Bushbacher also praised the penalty kill unit, which has been a backbone of the team’s success this season. “Our PK guys have been working their tails off all year. They stepped up big tonight, especially in the third period. It’s not always pretty, but they get the job done.”
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Crush improve to 23-6-2-1 on the season, solidifying their position atop the standings. They’ve now won eight straight and are 9-1 in their last 10. Meanwhile, the Cougars fall to 14-16-0-0, still searching for answers against their rivals, whom they’ve yet to defeat this season.
The Crush will look to keep their winning streak alive as they hit the road for their next matchup. For the Cougars, it’s back to the drawing board as they try to solve the puzzle that is the Chicago Crush. One thing’s for sure: when these two teams meet again, it’s must-watch hockey.
Final Thoughts
The Crush are firing on all cylinders, and their depth, discipline, and clutch performances are making them a nightmare for opponents. As Coach Bushbacher put it: “We’re just taking it one game at a time. There’s a lot of hockey left to play, and we know we can’t take anything for granted. We’ll enjoy this one tonight, but tomorrow it’s back to work.”
Crush fans, buckle up—this team is for real, and the rest of the league should be on notice. Catch all of the Chicago Crush action live on FloHockey.tv!
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