CRUSH NATION STAND UP! POPE AND BOTTALICO EARN MIDWEST ELITE DIVISION STARS OF THE WEEK HONORS!Â
- Chicago Crush Communications / ChicagoCrushHockey.com
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
The Crush Mentality: Hunter Pope and Gio Bottalico Own the Ice
The old adage rings true: winning is a habit. And right now, the Chicago Crush are pouring that habit into the very DNA of their season. Crush Nation is buzzing, and for good reason: two of our own have been recognized for their utterly dominant performances, landing them spots as the Midwest Elite Division Stars of the Week for the period spanning October 27th to November 2nd, 2025.
Let's not mince words—this isn't just about showing up. This is about taking the game by the scruff of the neck and imposing your will. This is pure, raw, unapologetic hockey, and defenseman Hunter Pope and goaltender Giovanni "Gio" Bottalico delivered a week that was simply nasty in the best possible way.
Hunter Pope: The Blue Line Hammer Hits Different
When you talk about a defenseman playing with a chip on his shoulder and the skill to back it up, you're talking about Hunter Pope. This dude didn't just patrol the blue line; he owned it, annexed it, and built a fortress.
Over a grueling three-game stretch, Pope was an offensive dynamo, lighting the lamp with a frequency usually reserved for top-six forwards. He racked up a phenomenal 4 points, burying three goals and chipping in with one clutch assist.
Think about that for a second. Three goals from a D-man in three games. That’s a hat-trick waiting to happen across a week of action. He was unleashing the cannon from the point, crashing the net, and showing the kind of high-octane two-way physicality that makes opponents second-guess dumping the puck into his zone.
And it wasn't just the counting stats. His +3 rating tells the deeper story—that he was relentlessly responsible, tilting the ice in the Crush's favor shift after shift. The Crush were better when he was out there, full stop. The way he activates in the offensive zone, that subtle shiftiness and deceptively heavy shot... it's a throwback style. When you see a defenseman wearing number 4 playing with that kind of offensive freedom and generating that much high-danger traffic, the inevitable comparison is to the legend himself.
Pope showed flashes of Bobby Orr-esque brilliance, flying down the wing, jumping into the rush, and being a fourth forward when the opportunity presented itself. It's that rare, audacious confidence to leave the safety of the blue line and become the biggest threat on the ice. He’s an absolute specimen of defensive offense, built to push the pace and, as he proved this week, capable of dropping bombs from anywhere in the offensive zone.
Giovanni Bottalico: The Human Wall Stands Tall
Now, if Pope was the hammer, then Gio Bottalico was the impenetrable shield. You can't win a grinder without a rock-solid foundation, and Bottalico proved he's the foundation the Crush are built on.
This is where the mental game separates the pretenders from the elite. The Crush needed a statement, and Gio delivered it with a surgeon's focus and a bouncer's refusal to let anyone through the door.
Bottalico faced 26 shots in his highlighted victory, and every single one was swallowed up. That's a 26-shot shutout win, folks. That's pure, unadulterated dominance. He wasn't just making routine saves; he was tracking through traffic, squaring up on breakaways, and shutting down the late-game scrambles that suck the life out of an opposing team. He showed the kind of ice-cold composure that makes shooters second-guess their release point. The moment the puck dropped, Gio was in his flow state, locked in and letting the game come to him. A true goaltending clinic.
Bushbacher Weighs In: It's All About The Grind
After a week of stellar performances, the praise from the top bench boss confirms the Crush's winning culture. Head Coach Phil Bushbacher was clearly fired up about his players' recognition, but pointed to the mentality that made it happen.
"Pope and Gio are deserving of this honor, but frankly, this is just a product of the work they put in when no one is watching," said Coach Bushbacher. "Pope is playing with an engine that just doesn't quit; he’s a true workhorse. And Gio? That shutout wasn't luck. It was focus, preparation, and the guts to slam the door on every opportunity. That's the Crush Mentality right there—a refusal to accept anything less than your best."
Congratulations, Hunter Pope and Giovanni Bottalico. You guys didn't just play a great week of hockey; you reset the standard. Crush Nation salutes you! Now, let's keep that foot on the gas and keep the wins rolling.