Tony Gill Named New Head Coach For Loyola Gold

By Ross Forman
Tony Gill, who has coached everything from mites to midgets for the Highland Park Falcons since 2010, has been named the new head coach for Loyola Gold, a perennial power in Illinois high school hockey.

He replaces Scott Ciraulo, who spent five seasons as the Ramblers head coach.

Aidan Finegan returns as head coach for Loyola Maroon and DJ LaVarre remains the club’s hockey director.

“We are excited for this next chapter for the Loyola Academy Hockey Program,” said John Dwyer, president of the Loyola Academy Hockey Club. “Tony Gill is an established leader with a track record of success. He is eager to get to work with the kids in our program. We are excited to see the positive impacts he will bring to Loyola Academy both on and off the ice.”

Gill, 44, who lives in Golf, began his journey to the Ramblers bench in Rochester, Minnesota, where his youth hockey experience helped shape the foundation of his playing career. He was a forward at national powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, where legendary hockey minds Andy Murray and Tom Ward coached him. From there, he played two seasons in the United States Hockey League with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders under Mark Carlson, the winningest coach in USHL history. He then continued his career at the University of Notre Dame, playing under Dave Poulin and Jeff Jackson.

His four-year college career spanned 74 games.

“When my (playing) career in college was coming to an end, I knew I wanted to jump into coaching,” said Gill, who started coaching while still playing; he ran hockey camps while at Shattuck St. Mary’s.

From 2007–2009, he coached with the Chicago Young Americans. He then spent time working in an administrative role for the USHL before returning to the bench with the Falcons in 2010.

Gill-coached teams have captured numerous Central States and state championships. In addition, he has coached several camps and hockey clinics and has worked extensively as a skills instructor, helping players of all levels develop and advance their game.

“Tony’s coaching philosophy emphasizes an up-tempo, aggressive style of play built around strong forechecking, active defense and relentless compete at both ends of the ice,” Dwyer said. “His practices are designed to be fast-paced, efficient and demanding, with the belief that the quality of practice directly drives game performance. He also places a strong emphasis on skill development, video analysis and a dedicated off-ice training program.”

Gill’s daughter, Grace, is a freshman at Loyola.

“I missed coaching (while working for the USHL), so I got back into coaching with Falcons (in2010),” said Gill, who led the Falcons’ peewee major team this past season.

“I’ve always thought Loyola is one of the better programs for high school hockey in Illinois, and I really believe in the school and what it stands for and its reputation. I always told myself, ‘If the Loyola job ever opens, I’d want to try to go for it. Loyola aligns with my believes, how they do things there.”

The Ramblers finished 18-9 in the 10-team Scholastic Hockey League, and their 39 regular season points were only behind Saint Viator (41) and New Trier Green (40).

Loyola was eliminated from the SHL playoffs in the best-of-three semifinal round by New Trier Green. Loyola also was eliminated from the state tournament in the semifinals by, you guess it, those same Trevians.

The Gill announcement was made on Tuesday, April 21 – and that night he watched the Ramblers play New Trier Green.

“Even if I was (still) coaching the mite Falcons, I always feel pressure, that I want the team to perform their best,” Gill said. “People asked me what worries me about the job. Everything worries me as the head coach; you want to take care of all the details – and it starts in practice. The way you practice is the way your team will be throughout the whole season.

“Things start now. How the team trains and prepares for the winter starts in the summer.”

When the Ramblers return to SHL play in the fall, they will anchor on senior goalie Charlie Trapp, unquestionably one of the best in Illinois. Loyola Gold key returners also include defenseman Patrick Dine, who led the team in points this past season, along with forwards Pearson Daverman, Maxxim Kading and Henry Hoffmann, among others.

“We must be the best we can be every time we step on the ice. And if we’re working hard, the results will follow,” Gill said. “The SHL is one of the reasons I wanted the Loyola job. It’s a great opportunity, a great league for the players and myself.

“We have a strong nucleus of seniors (returning) who can do very well and be successful next season.”

So, what is a Tony Gill-coached team?

“I hope it’s a team that respects the game, forechecks hard and backchecks hard, plays both ends of the ice just as hard. That’s my goal for the team. And I want the players to play for each other; they’re there to push each other.”

Falcons Hockey president Nick Meo, who brings 20-plus years of coaching to the rink, said Gill, “has a real gift for development; he meets players where they are and pushes them to where they didn’t think they could get.

“His focus on fundamentals, confidence and accountability doesn’t just make better hockey players, it builds well-rounded athletes who understand the game and believe in their own growth.”

Trapp played 18 league games last season en route to an All-State campaign. He finished with 1.81 goals-against average.

“I’m excited to have him for his senior season, and the (backup) is very solid, too” Gill said. “I feel very good about our goaltending situation at Loyola.”

What about New Trier Green?

“Let’s put it this way, the people who I interviewed with (for the job), yes, New Trier was brought up. I understand; I get that rivalry – and anytime we play New Trier, we will circle that date,” Gill said.