Fenwick’s quest for its sixth consecutive Kennedy Cup took another step in the right direction last Thursday night at Oak Lawn Ice Arena.

The Friars completed a sweep of their best-of-three semifinals series against Brother Rice with a 4-2 victory. Paul Cook’s goal with 14:56 in the third period, which was the first of three for Fenwick in the frame, broke a 1-1 tie.

Freshman Greyson Feichtinger followed that up with his only goal of the contest a mere 53 seconds later to give the Friars a commanding 3-1 lead.

Tom Hermanek and Matt Wilcox also scored for Fenwick to help Peter Szczepanski earn the win in goal.

Up next for the Friars is St. Rita, which captured its best-of-three series with a 3-1 victory over Marist in Game 3 on Sunday night at Southwest Ice Arena.

Game 1 of the Kennedy Cup finals will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday. Game 2 is tentatively scheduled for Monday at 7:55 p.m., with a possible Game 3 scheduled for March 13. Southwest Ice Arena will host the entire series.

“We know it’s going to be a tough series,” Fenwick coach Dan Wolff said. “But there are no excuses from this point forward.”

Trailing 1-0 against Marist, St. Rita evened the score at 1-1 in the first period when Patrick Gross found the back of the net with 4:47 left.

Charlie Longo scored the first of his two goals with 8:24 to play in the second period, and added a short-handed tally with 4:52 to play.

Fenwick also advanced to the Elite Eight of the Blackhawk Cup, after capturing a 4-1 win over Sandburg on Monday night at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville. Cook had a hat trick for the Friars.

“We’re playing better than we were at the end of the year,” Wolff said. “We’re motivated and peaking again.”

Wolff’s squad earned a rematch of last year’s state title game against defending state champ Glenbrook North on Saturday at 1:20 p.m. in Bensenville. The Spartans easily defeated Notre Dame 6-1 in Sweet 16 action.

“The last three years, everyone thought we didn’t have much and counted us out when the postseason came around,” Wolff said. “But it’s been a total team effort each year, especially this year.

“All the lines are playing well, and we’re peaking again at the right time. This is what it’s all about.”