Peter McClamroch, a 14-year-old goalie who lives in Lake Bluff, is already a Highland Park Falcons lifer – with plenty of celebrations of the years. Just consider:

• Squirt minor, third-place in state;
• Peewee minor, CSHDL champion (2021-2022);
• Peewee major state champion (2022-2023);
• Bantam minor, CSHDL Champion (2023-2024);
• 2022 CCM Chicago World Invite MVP, 2010; and,
• Selected to the 2024 AHAI Player Development Camp

“I am having fun again this season,” said McClamroch, a freshman at Lake Forest High School, playing this season for the Falcons’ central states bantam major team. He was on the club’s central states bantam minor team last season.

“I (am) lucky to have played for one program my entire hockey career. On my team this year I have at least three or four guys who I have played with for over seven years. I have the same goalie partner as (last) season, and I am enjoying that experience; we work very well together. I am proud that we have one of the best goals-against averages in our league.

“The season started a little slow as we were learning a new system with a new coach and had a lot of new players, but we are starting to find our stride and developing some good momentum.”

Personally, McClamroch said his goal this season is to continue to improve and compete for an Illinois state championship and the CSHDL championship.

“When I was 5 or 6 years-old, I took a learn-to-skate class at Centennial Ice Arena in Highland Park, run by the Falcons, and loved it so much that each week I would convince the coach to let me stay on the ice for extra sessions,” McClamroch said. “I played two years as a defender before making the transition to goalie for my first year of travel hockey.

“Winning my first of two CSDHL championships in a triple overtime game (was a career highlight). Anytime a team wins a championship, it is amazing, but this was so much more exciting as we were all on edge through the multiple overtime periods. I still remember seeing my teammate scoring an amazing goal at the far end of the ice and the entire team going crazy.”

McClamroch’s strength in goal comes from relying on being fast in the crease and utilizing eye-to-hand coordination to keep the puck out of the net. He credits his parents and coaches for his success, especially since his parents since, after much discussion, agreed to let him change from defense to goaltender, which he said, “is one of the best decisions I have ever made.” He added, “I am thankful for all the time they spend driving me to practices, games, tournaments, etc.

“I am lucky to have had a bunch of great coaches throughout my journey, starting with Mark Passalino, who first taught me how to play the position of goalie. Michael Lucas is the father of one of my teammates, Johnny, who I have played with my entire travel hockey career. Mr. Lucas was a goalie and still plays in adult leagues; he has often been both an official and unofficial goalie coach and always been active helping me be the best goalie I can be.”

Off the ice, McClamroch is active in the Lake Forest High School New Media Program, which teaches students the art of storytelling through visual media. For the past three years, he has participated in their summer stories program, making short films, and learning about the entire production process for writing, producing and editing a short film.

McClamroch has contributed to at least 15 short film projects.

This past summer, he was a student mentor for the area junior high school students while I participated in the high school sessions.  As part of the high school program, he co-write and worked as the director of photography for a short film, ‘Just Follow My Lead’ that they are hoping to enter in upcoming national student film festivals.

This past fall break, McClamroch went to California with the High School New Media program. “We visited film schools at USC, Chapman University, UCLA, Loyola Marymount and Emerson College, spoke with deans and professors, and attended film classes,” he said. “We had private tours of production facilities like Paramount Studios, where we met with the writers of Only Murders in the Building in the writer’s room. We spent one morning in the production company offices of Reid Carolin, the production partner of Channing Tatum and the co-writer and co-director of the movie Dog. Our group had a candid ‘ask me anything’ about the industry conversation that was a unique experience, providing real-world insights into how the film industry functions.”

He also recently was part of a silent film project for the 2025 Student Silent Film Festival in Downers Grove in January. “I also am looking forward to being a part of the new media team for the Lake Forest High School Talent Show in February,” he said.

Stopping Slapshots with … Goalie Peter McClamroch

Jersey Number: 50

Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, rubik’s cube, hiking, juggling, aerial photography/videography with his drone.

Helping Hand: “Learning to juggle has helped me grow as a goalie and continues to help me as part of my pre-game warm-up to lock in eye-to-hand coordination and focus.”

Long-term Career Goal: “My mind is still open about career goals, but as of right now, I’m interested in a career in the film industry or in business of some kind. I see myself always playing hockey; I am sure I will play in high school and would love to play in college, too.”

Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Favorite NHL Player:  Marc-André Fleury

Favorite Sports-themed Movies: Miracle on Ice and Happy Gilmore 

Favorite TV Show: Only Murders in the Building

Favorite Pre-game Meal: Burger, fries and water

Favorite app: Chat GPT

Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: John Williams

Best Hockey Tip: “Focus on each period as its own game.” – Coach Mark Passalino 

Best Local Uniform (other than your team): Lake Forest High School