Two-Sport, Four-Year Varsity Star Charlie Abernethy Set For His Senior Season At St. Rita

By Ross Forman
Charlie Abernethy has many hockey highlights from a career that’s included time with the St. Jude Knights and the past three seasons on the St. Rita of Cascia High School varsity. Just consider:

•    Was the Wayne Thomas Underclassman Leadership Award-winner;
•    Was alternate captain his 14U season, and the team that season played a tournament game in Ann Arbor, Michigan at Yost Ice Arena, hockey home of the Wolverines. “I have been a (University of) Michigan fan my whole life (and scored) the game-winning goal in the third period,” – still a personal highlight. 
•    His 10U Knights team played at the United Center against an older team before a Chicago Blackhawks game – and St. Jude won, 6-5, with Abernethy grabbing the game-winning assist. The team was honored during the Blackhawks game and his playmaking was shown on the Jumbotron – still a career highlight.
•    This past season, Abernethy and the Mustangs played in a tournament in Boston and the team “really started to click,” he said. “We had struggles throughout the season but came together and competed well in the tournament.”

Abernethy, 17, who lives in Oak Lawn and plays right wing in uniform No. 87, has one glaring absence from his hockey ledger – and he’s driven to rectify that this season.

“We have a good and close group of guys. I believe we will be able to turn around from last season and have lots of success,” during the 2026-27 campaign, he said. “My love for the game is my biggest motivation. Going so long without skating or playing never feels right. The second I step on the ice, I know I’m at the right place. 

“I want to make it back to the Kennedy Cup. It’s been a while since Rita has gone (to the prestigious Chicago Catholic League playoff finals).”

Abernethy, a National Honors Society member, plays best deep in the offensive zone. “I like to get physical below the goal line and try to get the puck in front of the net,” he said.

Abernethy also is a four-year varsity lacrosse player.

“The speed needed both physically and mentally translates between (the two) sports. Constant movement and quick decisions are constantly needed,” he said.

Abernethy’s sporting journey also has endured hardships. The week of tryouts for his freshman lacrosse season, “we were running team drills and I got a sharp pain in my knee but didn’t think anything of it,” he said. “When the pain didn’t go away after three weeks, I finally got it checked out where I was told the injury.”

He had a serious ACL injury.

Rehabilitation was very difficult, he said. “I would go three days a week for about an hour. There were some problems in the beginning (which) delayed my recovery. My rehab got extended by almost three months trying to catch up from the delays and I continued to work out my rehab into the summer to try and get back to 100 percent,” Abernethy said. “(Rehab) didn’t feel real at first. Then the days started going by and I knew I just had to work as hard as I could every day to get back to my sports. I considered dropping sports and eventually quit football and almost did the same with hockey.”

Slapshots With … St. Rita Forward Charlie Abernethy 

First Varsity Goal: “We were playing one of our rivals, Brother Rice, who we couldn’t beat. Even (losing that game), scoring that goal meant everything to me.”
Off-Ice: “Lacrosse takes up most of my time out of (hockey) season. I play from the end of February into the summer, ending in July.”
It Helps: “I am always working out, whether it is strength training or running. I do strength training both in and out of the season. I have also continued working out where I did physical therapy and now get lots of speed training and some weight training. I also enjoy going in my backyard and practicing shooting or practicing lacrosse.” 
Superstitions: “I always get my gear on in the same order and listen to the same pregame song since my freshman year.” 
Long-term Career Goals: “I plan on majoring in engineering. (I am) undecided if I continue to play sports in college.”
Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks  
Favorite NHL Player: Patrick Kane 
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: The Waterboy
Favorite TV Show: Ted Lasso
Motivational Song: Everlong by Foo Fighters
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Favorite app: TikTok.
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Adam Sandler 
Favorite High School Uniform (other than Rita): Saint Ignatius (all black)