Deerfield Goalie Nathan Curry Overcame Obstacles, Celebrated Lasting Memories This Past Season

By Ross Forman
Goalie Nathan Curry is set for his senior season on the Deerfield Warriors in what will be his third season on the varsity squad – and yes, Wednesday, November 25 is already circled on his calendar.

The Warriors that night face their arch-rival, Highland Park, in Vernon Hills with an overflow crowd expected for this tradition-filled physical battle.

That clash is a must-win game for both teams. “It’s (about) pride for my town, playing in front of all my friends and people I know; it means a lot to my teammates as well. It’s fun to play against a bunch of guys I played with growing up on (the Highland Park Falcons), but most of all the rivalry and the friendly hatred for each other we have on the ice really fuels each side to play their hearts out every shift, which makes the game the most fun and for sure the highlight of the season,” Curry said. “The hype around that game, and how the whole school looks forward to it, and how that brings the team together before and after the game, from off-ice warmups to the locker room to hanging out after the game …”

The Warriors celebrated the 2025 game, winning 5-2. In fact, Deerfield won all three games last season against the Giants, winning 3-2 in September and 5-0 this past January.

“Sweeping our rival Highland Park last season with the closest team I’ve ever played with was such a great feeling, and to win those games in front of all those fans and with that group of guys especially that senior class,” that was a career highlight, Curry said.

Curry, 16, sports uniform No. 29 for the Falcons as he wraps his junior year, with a “very technical and mechanical” approach to stopping pucks.

“I feel like all of my movements are very crisp and my save selections are very clean, so much so that I try to be like a robot on the ice,” said Curry, who made 50 saves last September in his varsity debut, a one-goal loss to Glenbrook North in Northbrook – a personal highlight.

All saves against the Giants are memorable, always. Such as an overtime game, when Curry made a pad save, a teammate grabbed the rebound, skated down the ice, eluding a defenseman and beat the Highland Park goalie for a 3-2 victory.

Curry remembers every moment before, during and after the Warriors Thanksgiving 2025 victory.

“Stretching during warmups and realizing how many people were really there … that the feeling of confidence when we went up 4-0 was huge,” Curry said. “Between the second and third period, when we were regrouping and making sure we kept going and instilling confidence in each other in the locker room … and finally when I made a blocker breakaway save and heard the disappointment of the Highland Park crowd and the cheers from Deerfield … and being mobbed on our way off the ice by our fans and my friends.”

Nathan’s older brother also celebrated Deerfield’s dominance over Highland Park last season. Ryan Curry was a four-year varsity forward for the Warriors who is graduating this year.

Nathan said teaming with his brother “was the best experience of my career.” Nathan added, “(Ryan) brought me into the team over the past two years and introduced me to all the guys, helped us get really close the past two years through all the rides to and from practices and games, to bonding at team hangouts. It was special to play with my older brother as I’ve looked up to him all my life and to be able to share the experience of the past two seasons with him,” was priceless.

Nathan’s campaign this past season also included setbacks, though. 

“I came (from) winter break in a slump and not playing as well as I should have, when we were playing the top three teams,” in the IHSHL North-Central Division. “I just felt like I was off and nothing was going my way,” he said. 

He returned to his past glory in goal by focusing on the mental aspect of his game, he said. Curry forgot about the past and simply focused on the next shot. Plus, he took each practice as seriously as a game, and as a gift, finding specific things to focus on during those practices, like my angles or my tracking or how compact I was, trying to improve everything a little at a time,” he said.

Curry is focused on the fall, driven to “lead my team and do everything I can to help us win each time I step on the ice, and help make my younger self and my parents proud after all the work, time and effort we have put into my success.”

His goal for his senior swing is simple: sweep Highland Park for starters. He also eyes a successful regular season, a deep run in the IHSHL North-Central playoffs and the state tournament.

Stopping Slapshots With … Deerfield Goalie Nathan Curry

One Memory: “Spending time with my teammates at our Nashville tournament, from the games to just relaxing in the hotel room late at night talking.”
Never Forget: “After our season-ending (state tournament) loss to Fenwick, saying goodbyes to everybody and embracing, because of the close relationships we had all made, the camaraderie of the team. It was a bond I’ll never forget; I’ll never forget those guys.”
Away From The Rink: Spends time with friends and family, golf, participate in clubs, work at a summer camp
It Helps: Lifting weights and cardio, regularly
Superstitions On The Ice: “I am always the last one in the huddles; right sided gear on before the left; same warmup stretching and skating order/routine.”
Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite NHL Player: Spencer Knight or Trey Augustine
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Talladega Nights
Favorite TV Show: Entourage
Motivational Song: Fight Night by Migos
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Chicken
Favorite app: TikTok 
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Will Ferrell 
Favorite High School Uniform (other than Deerfield): Saint Viator (all white)