On Friday January 22^nd, the JV team supported their Senior, Jeremy Fisher Haase “Fish” on his Senior Night!  Just over 2 minutes into the game, Paul Restivo #13 took his hard shot from the blue line just as the very early power play ended,  shocking Sandburg’s goalie by taking the lead. He was assisted by #19 Adam Kosecki and  #32 Brian Gleason.  Sandburg tied it about 2 minutes later, quieting the home crowd.  While York JV already secured first, they wanted to close out the regular season with a win.  As always, Justin Schwarz #3 played at 200% putting the pressure on, outskating the opponents only to have Sandburg’s goalie make an unbelievable save.  The pressure continued until finally #22 Sean Marchese “KZ” broke through with an assist from #66 Dalton Osmanski and #36 Adam Hilgenkamp on their 2^nd power play goal.  Sandburg answered putting the game at a 2-2 tie.  #7 Sean Delaney did an incredible job at the blue line extending himself so far it allowed York to surprise Sandburg as they thought they were leaving the zone.  This set up the play for “KZ’s” shot, Kosecki’s assist and #74 Tyler Winker’s rebound to get the go-ahead goal.  York got the next one with so much work among the team, it was hard to tell who got the assists and who got the goals, but it included Winker, KZ and Kosecki.  Defense played such an incredible role in this by denying Sandburg much exit from the zone.  It was when Schwarz sniped it in top shelf that York felt there was a “comfortable” lead.  But, York got a late penalty of their own, setting up a 6 on 4 when Sandburg pulled the goalie.   While Sandburg managed to sneak one more past “Fish”, York was able to hold them for the win. With 1.5 seconds left, Fish made a show-stopping save giving York another win for a final score of 5 – 3 to finish their regular season.  After the game, all celebrated “Fish” as he and his family were announced on to the ice for Senior Night.

Let Metro-West Play-Offs Begin…

York JV began play-offs on their home ice January 29th.  Parents, grandparents, family and friends filled the stands to congratulate and cheer on the home team as they processed from their locker room, through the lobby and on to their ice to protect their first place Metro-West title.  They closed out regular season here vs. Sandburg and were now opening play-offs, same place, same time, same opponent. Sandburg wanted revenge and wanted nothing less than to defeat the first place team.  At one point, they were vying for that position.  With the fire still lit, “KZ” #22 Sean Marchese lifted one high above the goalie’s shoulder, but low enough to put York on the board.  He was assisted by power-house #13 Paul Restivo.   John Peterson #24 took one deep and around 3 Sandburg players only to be denied by the goalie on one the fans couldn’t believe he stopped. On another great play, “KZ” passed one across to Dalton Osmanski #66 who drew iron, but was also denied.  Sandburg answered with a high shot just past “Fish’s” glove.  With a 1-1 tie, York managed to move ahead with 33 seconds left in the first period. #11 Alex Carson followed #19 Adam Kosecki all the way down for the pass allowing Alex to make a move the goalie couldn’t stop.  But York wasn’t done yet!  #74 Tyler Winker was assisted by Carson and #25 Brad Johnson putting it through the 5 hole at the buzzer to end the period with a 3 – 1 lead for York.    That same combination switched roles as Carson got his next goal, assisted by Winker and Johnson this time.  Sandburg added another before Osmanski drew more than iron this time on an unassisted incredible goal of his own.  Sandburg scored one more on a power play, but York beat them solid 5 – 3…hey same score too.

…Play-off Excitement Continues!

York visited Naperville Central’s (NC) home ice at All Seasons on January 30^th.  #74 Tyler Winker scored first, assisted by #19 Adam Kosecki and #11 Alex Carson.  Twenty seconds later, #22 Sean Marchese “KZ” got the assist from #13 Paul Restivo as “KZ” lifted it perfectly for a goal.  Carson moved in to put York up 3 – 0 with an assist by Winker.  NC managed to sneak one by Fish about half-way through the first.   Restivo set up the next one at the blue line for Carson to take the shot with the rebound goal by Kosecki.  With two minutes left in the first, “KZ” assisted #66 Dalton Osmanski for the 5^th goal of the period.  The welcome mat wasn’t out as opponents’ parents taunted the boys after the first period while waiting for the locker room to be opened.

The second period pressured the defense on both teams.  York’s D, including #7 Sean Delaney, #88 Thomas Gnadt, #25 Brad Johnson, #16 Mike LeDonne, #24 John Peterson and Restivo helped #39 Jeremy Fisher Haase “Fish” keep it scoreless through the period.  This was more challenging with York battling 3 penalties, even with 5 on 3 for a while.  However, it only seemed to strengthen them.  The only goal recorded in the 2nd was Jon Bogdanowicz off the draw, ending period two 6-1.  In the 3^rd, York killed two more penalties with no damage.  The defensive team killed 10 minutes in penalties with no score.  Without the power play, NC managed to sneak one in.  It was finally York’s turn for a power play and Gnadt took the opportunity and passed it to his counterpart, Johnson who sent it back to Gleason.  Gleason shot it from the top of the circle and sent it through the “5-hole” for a 7-2 victory over the Naperville Central JV.  There’s still a lot of work to do and these boys know it, but the York fans love the 2 and 0 start!