SRI Travel Giving Well & Promotion, Ltd. ?o• E .17 Go International Travel Specialists O CT Year 2000 Israel Departures v.% May 6, December 6 Couples Tours June 12,25 Bar Mitzvah Trips ••• July 16, 26 Bar Mitzvah Trips August 6, 17 To Israel Tours, including Jordan December 20 & 24 Bar Mitzvah Trips European Departures June 30- July 9 Spain escorted by SRI London -June 30 July8 Renee Werbin, President 3508 Broad Street Chamblee, GA 30341 770/451-9399 888/451-9399 Toll Free 770/451-0970 Fax GET RESULTS! 741Latue, 4f, am. JN ENTERTAINMENT SECTION! Call the Sales Department (248) 354-7123 Ext. 209 DrIMOIT .11EIMIIN NEWS 41 AV: 2/25 2000 102 American Heart Association,.. Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke Medical miracles start with research ways. His work ethic can't be touched by any other player on the team. "He sets the standard," says Fox, "for how this team should behave on and off the ice and how this team should work on and off the ice. His skills definitely warrant him to be a captain." Fenster's attitude is what you'd expect from a player who was once coached by former Red Wings Hall- of-Famer Ted Lindsay,. one of the most competitive NHL players of all time. Lindsay "taught me how to go in the corners and be tough," Fenster says. "He basically told me it's all about dis- cipline, effort and determination." Fox describes Fenster's game as "aggressive, full-speed, 100 percent. He's the kind of player who plays both sides of the ice — his offensive forechecking and aggressive ability, as well as his defensive style, getting back into the play in the defensive zone. He's the kind of player who, if he makes a mistake, he gets down on himself, thinks about it then he goes right back out and he doesn't make the same mistake again. He's just a workhorse." Berkley's other Jewish player is junior backup goalie Oren Goldenberg. Fox looks for Goldenberg to be a leader next season, and "to step up and be my starting goaltender. It's been a learning curve for him because he's playing in a higher level of hockey than he's used to. "But Oren's stepped up. For exam- ple, against Troy, our starting goal- tender (Matt Arnold) was hurt and Oren stepped up and played a phe- nomenal game, kept us in the game, faced well over 30 shots and gave us an opportunity to win. "Unfortunately, we lost the game, but it was probably the best game of the season for our hockey team and a lot of that's attributed to the contribu- tion that Oren gave." Unlike most first-year programs, Berkley began this season with high expectations. Some observers picked the Bears to win their division and be among the area's top teams. Those expectations "put a little bit of pressure [on Berkley] because you want to prove everyone right," Fenster says. "It's definitely motivating." The highlight of the season so far, Fenster says, was "definitely the home opener — all the fan support — everyone came out, the arena was packed. Just all the energy, and every- one had a great time. It was just a lot MIKE ROSENBAUM Special to the Jewish News ockey teams are used to being shorthanded, generally for two minutes at a time while killing a penalty. But imagine being shorthanded for an entire season. That's the challenge Detroit Country Day's hockey team faced this year. Teams generally dress 18 skaters, in addition to its goalies.. But Country Day, in Beverly Hills, has never had more than 14 skaters this season. Nevertheless, the Yellowjackets met the challenge. They posted an 11-6-3 record (through Feb. 18) and placed second in the National Division of the Michigan Prep Hockey League. They enter Division III state tournament play this week. Country Day's success is due in part to strong leadership from its three Jewish captains: senior Matt -Wolf and juniors Adam Zussman and Jake Stamell. There is one other Jewish player on the team, junior Steve Litwin. "I've been real happy with the play of the cap- tains this year," said Coach Jim Fowler. "They've done a real good job." According to the players, Country Day has never previously had a Jewish hockey cap- tain. Being chosen captain Country Day captains Jake Staraell, Adam Zussrnan was 'a pretty good feel- and Ailatt W9#: ing, especially consider- ing MO of us are juniors," Stamell said. "The first game we had, people (at school) were say- ing, 'Come see the three Jewish captains.' The hockey team is recognized for having Jewish captains, which isn't a bad thing at all. People think that's Wolf says the captains "try to keep the team together and keep a positive attitude. We keep the team motivated and focused." Zussman adds, "we try to get the team ready for games and for practices." Atlas Stamell, "If we get down in the middle of a game, we pick them back up, we get them ready." How does the team succeed despite its lack of skaters? "We try to control the puck as much as we can without tiring, ourselves out," Stamell explains. 'We pretty much run two lines and work in a third to give us a rest.' "We don't have very many players," says Zussman, "but the players that we do have are all really hard-workinc , and 'we're all dedicated to the team and to winning.' "We're really pod friends. Our team's closely knit, Wolf adds. Zussman, a defenseman, earn Honorable Nelention All-State notice last season. This year, he has 15 go assists for 32 points. Stamell is tied with Zussman for the team lead with s and has 10 assists. of fun." Berkley won the game, 5-0, over Bloomfield Hills. Fenster and his teammates are look- ing for some post-regular season high- lights. One of the team's primary goals is to "go far in districts and in the playoffs." Their first state playoff game will be Wednesday, March 1, in the St. Clair Shores regional. After that, Fenster hopes to contin- ue playing hockey next season. "I'd love to play college hockey," he says. "Wherever I went, if there's a team, I'd definitely try out And if I got a scholarship to any small school, that'd be really great." ❑