The Lincoln-Way Lancers are looking to take the next steps on their way to even bigger things this season. The Lancers finished 17-9 last season, finished in the top six in the Illinois West and were quarterfinalists in the 2025 Blackhawk Cup State Tournament last season.

      “We want to make it to the Illinois West Cup playoffs and win a league championship,” Lancers 2nd year varsity coach Joe Montagano said. “We want to be playing at the Allstate Arena in March.”

     Certainly, lofty goals for a team who graduated 14 seniors from last season’s team with only four returning varsity players. But hey, in life, anything is possible if you have the right mindset.

      “Overall last season, each of our levels performed really well,” Montagano said. “But our coaching staff at all the levels get our kids prepared for the varsity hockey.”

      The Lancers will have one varsity team and two junior varsity teams this season with their JV #1 team participating in the North Central Division.

     “We just felt as a club our #1 JV would be better served by playing in the North Central league because it would be more competitive for them,” Montagano said.

      This season, the Lancers offense is highlighted by Sr. Capt. Jack Drozdek (Lincoln-Way West), Jr. fwd. Joe Smuskiewicz (Lincoln-Way Central) and So. fwd. Logan Hart (Lincoln-Way Central).

      “Drozdek is kind of the elder statesman of the team,” Montagano said. “This is his 3rd year on the varsity team, and he is teammate who checks on the well-being of everyone. His skill level has only gotten better. So, I am expecting a lot from him this year. With Joe (Smuskiewicz), I expect with the work he put in during the summer, I think he will eclipse his point total from last season (33 pts. In 2024-2025). He also has great breakaway speed.”

      Logan Hart joined the club this year after playing travel hockey. He joins his brother Colin marking the first time the two will play high school hockey together.

      The Lancers will carry 10 forwards this season making three lines to start the season.

      “We did not want to pull kids from the jv level just to make a fourth line,” Montagano said. “Our offense this year will be aggressive, and we will pursue the puck despite being size challenged.”

      The Lancers have two returning defensemen of their six who will lead the team on the blue line in Sr. Landon Pote (Lincoln-Way East) and Sr. Sean Tadevich (Lincoln-Way East).

      “Landon (Pote) is an Asst. Capt. has developed and grown up in our program,” Montagano said. He is an incredible skater who sees the ice really well. Tadevich is very much a stay-at-home defenseman who has a heavy shot.”

      The Lancers, who will play all of their home games at Homewood-Flossmoor Ice Arena in Homewood, will play 45 games this season. This, to go along with participating in tournaments in West Dundee, suburban Minneapolis, MN and Nashville, TN in January. The club will also bring all three of their teams to participate in the PREP Thanksgiving Tournament in Mt. Prospect.