Welcome To Metro Girls: Lincoln-Way Southsiders

NEW CO-OP FEATURES ONLY 14 PLAYERS, INCLUDING TALENTED FORWARDS REAGAN LOUIS AND MACKENZIE BRACH

By Ross Forman

There won’t be much complaining when it comes to ice-time from the Lincoln-Way Southsiders, one of two new teams skating in the Metro Girls Hockey League.

The team has a limited roster: 14, including two goalies.

“That will be (the) biggest challenge,” said Lincoln-Way head coach Tom Toolis. “We will be competitive but could use a few more skaters. Our bench is short, but our pipeline of girls who will be high schoolers in the next few years who are interested is going to put us in a great spot (in the future). We want this to be the hockey event each week that the girls look forward to and make sure as many of them that want to play get the chance to.”

The Southsiders opened the season 1-2, grabbing the co-op’s first-ever win on Sunday, September 28: a 7-1 victory over Evanston.

“So far, we have been competitive and played with the other teams until late in the third period when our numbers start to affect our legs,” Toolis said. “We need our players to play. Conflicts between club scheduled games and travel have really hurt our ability to field a full team each week. We played short of our full roster in each of our first three games. We knew this year would be lean, but we wanted to stay at the six-school limit to remain eligible for the state tournament.”

The Southsiders are a mix of players from Lemont, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way West, Providence Catholic and Sandburg High Schools.

“We’re learning each week what we’re up against with each team,” Toolis said. “While York is a new program, they technically grew out of a previous (co-op team). We are truly the new kids on the block, but sometimes not knowing who we’re up against each week is a nice place to be for the team. 

“Overall, we can’t say enough good things about the Metro Girls Hockey League and all the energy they have for putting forth a memorable and competitive experience for the girls. From the beginning, they were excited to work with our hockey director, Chris Brach, to start a team in the south suburbs as there has been a void for girls’ high school hockey (in the area) for quite some time. We’re really excited to give girls from our area a shot to play high school hockey for years to come.”

Toolis, 53, is a managing attorney at Frankfort Law Group in Frankfort. He has been coaching on and off for the last 15 years. “I started (coaching) the year after my son started playing and he is 22 now,” Toolis said.

“Being chosen the first head coach of the Lincoln-Way Southsiders co-op is truly special. It’s a rare opportunity to help create a program’s story from the very beginning. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and excited to work with a group of athletes ready to make history together. We’ll face challenges, sure, but we’ll do it together — and that’s how great teams and programs are built.”

Toolis’ daughter, Cordelia, is a freshman at Lincoln-way East and plays club hockey for the Windy City Storm 16U team. “Coaching this team provided me with an opportunity to be on the ice with her again,” he said.

“Honestly, I was overwhelmed with emotion (when named head coach) — proud, thankful and even a little nervous in the best way. To be chosen to lead a first-year program like the Southsiders co-op is something special. It’s not just about the title; it’s about the chance to make an impact, to build something meaningful from the ground up, and to help these players come together as one team.”

Toolis said his coaching run is a mix of many coaches he’s come across over the years. “Everyone knows Chris Cimoch from Orland Park and now with St Jude. But there are several other coaches who have influenced both what I do and what I don’t do as a coach, including Mike Smolen and Andy Brown from the Chicago Hawks; Steve Garcia, Fury; Jeff Fischer, Nick Silva and John Palello from Plainfield High School; and Britt Violini from Homewood-Flossmoor, to name a few. 

“I have learned something from every coach I have ever been on the bench with, both positive and negative.”

Toolis said the Southsiders bring speed and skill. Reagan Louis and Mackenzie Brach have a knack for scoring. Ivy Kolosh is a strong goaltender. And the team defense is exceptional. 

“The forwards hustle and backcheck well. The defense is rarely out of place and tough to play against. As a coaching staff, we couldn’t be more impressed with the effort from every player on our team,” he said.

Louis and Branch are major offensive threats, he said.

The team’s defense is strong, anchored by Reagan Louis, Lydia Rusick and Cordelia Toolis.

The goaltending is led by Ivy Kolosh, who Toolis tagged as “outstanding … very strong positionally (with) excellent puck tracking and movement.”

Toolis added: “If we get a few breaks along the way, we could be a final four participant.”

The top Metro Girls teams this season are New Trier, Lake Forest and York, Toolis said.

“(Having) a shorter bench, the fun part has been seeing the collective contribution of all the girls,” he said. “In many cases, they are playing against higher skilled or older players than they typically do on a weekly basis. They have all worked together so well and stepped up without that intimidating them. Every one of them has had to play outside their comfort zone to some degree, as it is all new to all of them and it has been incredible to see them push themselves to play up to this level. 

“There will be great growth for them as hockey players; all can have a major impact.”

Toolis added: We’ve seen great support from the community; they are excited to see us get this going; we are truly grateful to have picked up a few sponsors that have stepped up to help us get year one off the ground. We had quite a few future players come out to watch our first home game, so we are excited to see the program grow to include even more girls as time goes on.”