When the 2023-24 season ended for the Brother Rice JV Team on Friday night, March 1, it was pure elation as the Crusaders slipped past Providence Catholic, 1-0, to capture the prestigious DiCristina Cup for top JV team in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL).
Excitement still runs through the Brother Rice program, months later.
“I have high expectations (to) win the DiCristina Cup for JV and (Kennedy Cup) for varsity. We have a lot of great talent our team,” said Jack Makuch, a forward who will be a junior this fall, wearing jersey No. 6.
Known for his intelligent and scrappy style of play, Makuch was a JV assistant captain last season and finished in the top 20 in points in the CCHL.
“Jack is a leader who works very hard on the ice and is very involved off the ice,” said Brother Rice varsity head coach Paul Manning.
Just consider, away from the rink Makuch enjoys weightlifting, fishing, watching sports, ball hockey, spending time with friends, family, and traveling. In July, for instance, he played in a ball hockey tournament, the Maple Leaf Cup, in Niagara Falls, Canada. His brother and sister also played – on other teams.
Makuch, 16, who lives in Orland Park, also is set for his third year working with BRTV, to further a hobby of his. Makuch and two friends started a podcast called, Play-By-Play. “It’s a platform where I can talk about sports, hockey and get a behind-the-scenes (look into) what it’s like being a broadcaster,” he said.
Makuch also is involved with the school’s robotics team, where he helped build parts of their robot, named Nemo, and helped build a system that uses underwater measurements.
The Brother Rice Robotics Team annually competes in the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Underwater ROV Competition, and the school took first-place in the midwest regional in May. That qualified the team to compete in the World Championship in June in Colorado, against the best teams from around the world.
Makuch is a member of the National Honor Society, which he said is very rewarding. “I get to help my fellow NHS members with service projects and help the Brother Rice community,” he said.
“I really enjoy Brother Rice and try my best; I want to continue to excel in education,” he said. “I use all available free time at school to study and get homework done and focus on my studies before and after practices.
“Whatever free time I have outside of academics, I focus on hockey, work, hobbies, family and extracurriculars.
“As an assistant captain, hockey helps me be disciplined, passionate, focused and a leader. My dedication for the sport on and off the ice has provided me with lifelong goals. I use the same attributes that I learned in hockey towards my activities off the ice.”
Makuch also is a member of the Brother Rice student council and had a marketing internship with Brother Rice, which helped him meet Connor Bedard on draft day in Nashville.
Makuch played his youth hockey for St. Jude and is driven to skate for the varsity Crusaders this upcoming season.
“His positive attitude and work ethic is outstanding,” Manning said.
Slapshots With … Brother Rice Forward Jack Makuch
Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite NHL Player: Connor Bedard
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Miracle
Favorite TV Show: Shoresy
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Chicken and pasta
Favorite app: Spotify
Hockey Influence: “Coach Peter O’Brien because he coached my entire youth hockey career and showed me what it meant to be a good teammate, person, player and leader. He influenced my love for the game.”
Goal For The 2024-25 Season: “To continue improving my game.”
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Patrick Kane
Best Hockey Tip: “There’s a difference between a hockey player and a player that plays hockey. A hockey player puts in the work and a player that plays hockey just shows up.” – Coach Vince Esposito
Best High School Uniform (other than Brother Rice): Providence Catholic’s black jerseys