Winning Ways: Benet Academy Defenseman Ethan Zerth Drives For Kennedy Cup
By Ross Forman
Ethan Zerth has quite a winning hockey resume and is ready to add more championships in the fall when he starts his junior season for Benet Academy in what will be his second season on the school’s varsity. The 15-year-old Zerth:
• Won two state championships playing for the Chicago Reapers and three times has been a state runner-up;
• Went to the USA Hockey nationals in 2024 as a bantam;
• Has won such tournaments as the Chitown Shuffle, Dallas CCM World Invite and Chicago CCM World Invite;
• Scoring the game-winning goal in the state championship as a bantam minor – his personal hockey highlight to date; and
• Scoring a shootout goal in the all-star game at the Hockey World Championship in Innsbruck, Austria in 2022.
Zerth, who lives in Downers Grove, is an offensive defenseman with strong playmaking ability. He formerly played for the Chicago Reapers (2022-2025), Chicago Fury (2019-2022) and the Chicago Hawks Hockey Club.
His six years of Tier 1 hockey “gave me a strong hockey foundation and has helped me develop a strong team-first approach,” he said.
Along the journey, Zerth has switched from forward to defense. “My team needed another defenseman and my coach thought my style of play would be well suited for defense,” he said. “At first, I wasn’t sure how much I would like being a defenseman.
“My experience taught me how to anticipate where my forwards would be and what the opposing team was trying to do.”
Zerth said his favorite moment this past season was playing Providence Catholic in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League playoff semi-finals.
“My hockey motivation (comes from) watching the 2015 Chicago Blackhawks dominate the NHL,” said Zerth who, like those Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks, he too wants to hoist a championship trophy – the Kennedy Cup, awarded to the top CCHL team, which for the past five years has been firmly held by Saint Ignatius.
“We are looking forward to playing them this (upcoming season) and believe we are able to stop their reign,” Zerth said. “My goal for our team this (upcoming) year is to win the Kennedy Cup and the state tournament.”
Slapshots With … Benet Academy Defenseman Ethan Zerth
Jersey Number: 25
Off-Ice: Plays lacrosse for Benet.
It Helps: “Weightlifting and lacrosse.”
Superstitions on the Ice: “I spray water on my face every game before the puck drop.”
Long-term Career Goals: “I haven’t decided that yet; I am just excited (for) the next two years playing for Benet Hockey.”
Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite NHL Player: “Cale Makar for his offensive play style while still being the best defenseman.”
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Miracle On Ice
Favorite TV Show: Suits
Motivational Song: No Role Modelz by J. Cole
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Chicken and rice
Favorite app: Instagram
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Connor Bedard or Caleb Williams
Favorite High School Uniform (other than Benet): Saint Ignatius (maroon)