Going Green for the Gold
Team Green, Chaldean Hockey League Champions.
CHL Champs rebound to claim Telga Cup
By Steve Stein
Sometimes a team wins by losing. That was certainly the case this season for Team Green, the Chaldean Hockey League champions.
Team Green dropped its first playoff game in heartbreaking fashion—a 1–0 triple-overtime loss to Team Black in the opener of a best-of-three semifinal series.
“We hadn’t played in three weeks. We were rusty, we were flat, and it showed. We were disappointed,” said Team Green captain Michael Sana. “We said all season that if we played our game, nobody could beat us.
“Team Black played well and scored a great goal to win it, but we beat ourselves. We watched them celebrate like they’d won the championship.”
The game-winner came off the stick of Jack Abbo, who buried a rebound of his own shot during 3-on-3 play.
Abbo recently wrapped up his four-year career with the Oakland University club hockey team, tallying 60 goals and 105 assists in 118 games for the Golden Grizzlies.
Ahead of Game 2, Team Green captain Michael Sana brought the team together for a pasta dinner and film session, where they rewatched the overtime loss.
Facing elimination, Team Green responded with urgency, erupting for four first-period goals on the way to a 4–1 victory. They followed it up with another win to take the semifinal series, then swept Team Red in the best-of-three championship to capture the coveted Telga Cup.
It marked a milestone season for Sana, a first-year captain who previously spent four years playing for Team Black.
His opponent in the championship round was Jonathan Kello. The two also served as league co-commissioners this season, stepping in for Kyle Kassa, who is headed to dental school in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove.
Sana and Kello oversaw a preseason draft that produced one of the league’s most competitive seasons in years.
“All the captains did a great job drafting,” Sana said. “Four teams had a chance to finish in first place in the final week of the regular season. We even had six former Team Black players on our roster.”
According to Sana, Team Green’s success ultimately came down to chemistry.
That chemistry extended beyond the ice, reflecting the league’s strong emphasis on family. Nick Saroki’s 9-year-old son, George, was a constant presence, attending nearly every game and watching from the Team Green bench.
“He even skated with us in practices,” said Nick, a league veteran who has been playing since 2009 and has won multiple championships.
Founded in 2004, the league has endured its share of interruptions, including a two-season pause to refocus its mission and a shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This season, regular-season games were held at the Novi Ice Arena, while playoff matchups took place at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills.
Getting Personal
Five Team Green players answered a quick Q&A. Here’s what they had to say:
Anthony Dickow
Position: Forward
Hometown: Novi
Occupation: Student
High school: Novi Detroit Catholic Central
College: Michigan State University (attending)
Favorite hockey player (not on your team): Alex Ovechkin
Something people may not know: Plans to move to Chicago after graduating from MSU.
Matthew Dickow
Position: Defenseman
Hometown: Novi
Occupation: Student
High school: Novi Detroit Catholic Central
College: Wayne State University (attending)
Favorite hockey player (not on your team): Steve Yzerman
Something people may not know:
A 3-handicap golfer.
Michael Sana
Position: Forward
Hometown: Bloomfield Township
Occupation: Self-employed; owner of @SanaDetroit apparel
High school: Bloomfield Hills
College: Oakland University
Favorite hockey players (not on your team): Patrick Kane and
Pavel Datsyuk
Something people may not know:
Once scored 11 goals in a CHL game.
Nick Saroki
Position: Defenseman
Hometown: Birmingham
Occupation: Technology and operations leader
Family: Wife, Becky; children Frankie, 6, and George, 9
High school: University of Detroit Jesuit
College: Michigan State University
Favorite hockey player (not on your team): Pavel Datsyuk
Something people may not know:
Coaches both of his sons’ hockey teams.
Matthew Toma
Position: Defenseman
Hometown: West Bloomfield
Occupation: Attorney at Kostopoulos Rodriguez in Birmingham
High school: University of Detroit Jesuit
College: Loyola University Chicago
Favorite hockey player (not on your team): Matthew Kesto (Team Black)
Something people may not know:
Enjoys playing golf.
CHL Facts ’n’ Stats
Semifinals
Team Green vs. Team Black
— Black 1, Green 0 (triple overtime)
— Green 4, Black 1
— Green 3, Black 2
Team Red vs. Team Gold
— Red 3, Gold 0
— Red 3, Gold 2
Championship Round
Team Green vs. Team Red
— Green 4, Red 0
— Green 3, Red 2
Championship Rosters
Team Green: Michael Sana (captain), Brendan Danou, Anthony Dickow, Matthew Dickow, Andrew Jaboro, Alex Jaboro, Matthew Toma, Anthony Faranso, Nick Saroki, J.P. Ayar, Matt Essaki, Nick Matti, Drake Danou
Team Red: Jonathan Kello (captain), James Kakos, Josh Garmo, Jacob Garmo, Joey Sheena, Daniel Kassab, Dom Kassab, Brandon Kassab, Mike Yaldo, Joe Shina, Kenny Koza, Jon Koza, Alex Shamoun
CHL awards
— Most valuable player: Jonathan Kello
— Most points: Jonathan Kello
— Most goals: Jack Abbo
— Best goalie: Isaac Garmo
— Best rookie: Matthew Dickow
— Best defenseman: Joey Sheena
Final Regular Season Standings
Team Red: 10-4-2, 22 points
Team Green: 10-5-1, 21 points
T-3. Team Black: 9-5-2, 20 points
T-3. Team White: 9-5-2, 20 points
Team Gold: 6-9-1, 13 points
Team Blue: 4-11-1, 9 points