Friesema’s work finds its reward in 14-point weekend.
The Lake Central senior defenseman scored eight goals and added six assists across four wins, earning THE FINAL.’s Player of the Week honor.
Connor Friesema is on his third hockey net in the family basement.
The first two absorbed their share of the work. Through good seasons and difficult stretches, the Lake Central senior kept heading downstairs to practice his stickhandling and shoot more pucks.
“Connor has shot so many pucks in the basement that he is on his 3rd hockey net,” his parents, Jeff and Hilary Friesema, said, adding that there have been no broken windows.
That work was on display Oct. 23–25, when the senior defenseman collected eight goals and six assists across four Lake Central Prep victories to earn THE FINAL.’s Player of the Week honors.
Lake Central swept its Illiana Crossover schedule, beating Brebeuf Jesuit 9–0, Central Indiana Knights A 7–3, Evansville 7–1 and Zionsville 8–1. Friesema recorded hat tricks against Brebeuf and Evansville, including a six-point performance against Evansville that put him in on all but one of Lake Central’s goals.
Asked what stood out most from the weekend, Friesema started with the team.
“The way we played as a team all weekend,” he said. “Really got momentum going in the right direction.”
The results reflected it. Lake Central outscored its four opponents 31–5, with Friesema contributing throughout a weekend that showed what the group can accomplish when its puck movement, pace and execution come together.
“I felt like my shot was really dialed in,” he said. “All of my teammates were really moving the puck well all weekend and creating a lot of good looks. Especially on the power play.”
Through eight games this season, Friesema has 18 points. Last season, he finished with 38 in 46 games.
He credits the improvement to a straightforward offseason focus.
“Just working on my shot all offseason and trying to get stronger off the ice.”
Seeing the opportunity
Against Evansville, Friesema’s first goal mattered to him because of when it came.
Lake Central had not started as well as he thought it could. With the puck on his stick, he carried it into the offensive zone, found a shooting lane and used the defender in front of him to make the goalie’s job more difficult.
“I was proud of my first goal of the game because it was just able to get the momentum going for us since we didn’t start out as good as we would have hoped,” Friesema said.
“It was just a simple play where I picked up the puck and skated it in, then was able to pick a spot and use the defenseman as a screen and I was fortunate enough for it to go in.”
He finished the game with three goals and three assists. His favorite assist of the weekend came on Lake Central’s fifth goal, during four-on-four play.
Friesema caught the puck at the blue line and worked through two defenders. As he moved through, he spotted Hudson Morris going toward the net and sent him a backhand pass. Morris finished with a one-timer.
“I knew he would be ready for the pass like he always is and he has a great ability to be able to finish plays and score,” Friesema said.
Those plays showed the confidence and awareness head coach Tony Stumpf has seen develop during his two years coaching Friesema.
“Connor’s productivity across all four games came from his consistency, strong hockey sense, and ability to make a positive impact in different situations,” Stumpf said. “He did a good job of staying engaged, making effective decisions with the puck, and finding ways to contribute offensively.”
The opportunities also depended on the players around him. Stumpf credited Friesema’s teammates with creating space, supporting his reads and helping generate chances. With opponents having to account for Friesema’s shot and ability to carry the puck, he could create openings for them in return.
“His offensive threat forces opponents to account for him, which can create additional time and space for his teammates,” Stumpf said. “His production is a reflection of both his individual ability and the opportunities created through teamwork.”
Stumpf’s most memorable example from the weekend began in Lake Central’s defensive zone.
Friesema read the play, stripped an opponent of the puck and immediately headed up the ice. He attacked wide with speed, then finished the rush with a shot that resulted in a goal.
The sequence brought together the qualities Stumpf values in his defenseman: anticipation, the ability to force a turnover and the confidence to turn possession into an attack.
“What impressed me most was how quickly he turned a defensive play into a scoring opportunity,” Stumpf said. “It demonstrated his ability to impact the game at both ends of the ice.”
Across four games, that involvement was as meaningful to Stumpf as the final totals.
“He competed hard, made plays at the right times, and showed an ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates,” he said. “What impressed me most was that his impact went beyond the scoresheet; he was consistently involved and found ways to influence the game in all four contests.”
From the backyard to the basement
Friesema’s introduction to hockey came through watching Blackhawks games with his dad, Jeff.
He enjoyed the sport enough that his parents built a tiny rink in the backyard. At 4 years old, he began learning to skate.
“Connor loved watching the Blackhawks with his dad,” his parents said. “He really enjoyed the game, so we built a tiny hockey rink in our backyard.”
The interest stayed with him as his schedule grew busier. Hockey remained something he made time for, including practicing his skills throughout the year.
His parents remember the enjoyment as clearly as the effort.
When Connor was younger, he and a friend would draw mustaches on their faces with eye black before games. The routine fit a kid who loved being on the ice with his friends.
“Connor would always play with the biggest smile on his face and that continues today,” his parents said.
Watching the four-win weekend, they noticed that same quality. He was having fun with his team.
The enthusiasm often follows him into the car afterward. A big game can lead to a particularly talkative ride home, although his parents said the conversation does not necessarily stay on hockey.
“Connor is super chatty after a big game,” they said. “He doesn't always talk about hockey, but he will tell you everything that's going on in his life.”
His dad remains his biggest influence in the sport, offering observations about his game and making the effort to be there.
“He is always telling me things to work on that he sees and is always making sure he can go to all the games to support,” Friesema said.
For Jeff and Hilary, the most rewarding part of watching Connor grow through hockey has been his persistence.
“He never quit working,” they said. “Even during tough years where he struggled, he would go to the basement and practice stick handling and shooting.”
The goals this season have made that work visible to more people. His parents saw it when there was no game to watch and no point to record.
Two sports, one busy schedule
Hockey shares space in Friesema’s life with another sport in which he has already helped win a state championship.
Last spring, he was the starting third baseman on Lake Central’s Class 4A state championship baseball team.
Maintaining both sports means some long days during the school year. In the fall and winter, baseball practices and workouts after school can lead directly into hockey practice. His parents described a schedule that keeps him gone from 4 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
He also fits in strength and agility training and stretching.
Through it all, his parents said, he maintains straight A’s in the classroom.
That schedule gives some context to the improvement in his hockey production. Working on his shot and getting stronger required finding time alongside school, baseball and team practices.
It also helps explain why his parents pointed to his willingness to keep working as the part of his growth that makes them proudest. The basement sessions continued even when hockey was difficult, and the demands of a second sport did not push the game aside.
There is still room for a less expected skill, too. Asked what people might not know about their son, his parents included one final detail.
"He can do a back bridge," his parents said.
Helping lead the next step
At Lake Central, Friesema’s responsibilities extend beyond creating offense from the blue line.
He serves as an assistant captain. Asked what his teammates would say he brings beyond scoring, he pointed to energy in the locker room before games, leadership and effort on the ice.
Stumpf sees an opportunity for him to influence the group through the way he prepares and competes.
“As an assistant captain, Connor plays an important leadership role both in the locker room and on the ice,” Stumpf said. “He is in a position to set the standard for his teammates through his work ethic, preparation, and competitive approach.”
His next steps include continuing to improve his decisions under pressure and his play away from the puck. Stumpf also wants him to keep growing as a leader who helps raise the level of the players around him.
That development fits what the coach wants from Lake Central as a whole. Four wins showed the team’s ability to sustain its play across a full weekend, with contributions coming throughout the lineup.
“I learned that when we play with pace, support one another, and stay committed to our team structure, we can be a difficult group to play against,” Stumpf said. “Our success was a result of contributions throughout the lineup, strong team chemistry, and players stepping up when opportunities presented themselves.”
Friesema has already experienced a late-season push with this program. Last year, Lake Central built momentum toward the end of the season and reached the state championship game.
He believes this team has the talent to accomplish plenty of its own.
“This year we got a very talented group of players and when we stick to our game plan I think we will be hard to beat,” Friesema said.
The four-win weekend gave Lake Central an early example of that potential. Friesema helped drive it with his shot, his passing and his ability to turn a defensive play into a chance at the other end.
His parents recognized something familiar in the middle of it all: Connor, enjoying hockey with his teammates, still playing with the same smile.