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YORK HOCKEY J.V.ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE FINALS

By YHC, 02/23/14, 4:00PM CST

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McFarlane Posts Back-to-Back Shut-outs to lead Dukes

ORLAND PARK—The Illinois High School Hockey League West Division regular season champions, York Hockey Club junior varsity, easily defeated Lincolnway Hockey Club to advance to the league play-off finals. The Dukes out-scored Lincolnway 14-0 over two games to win the series.

“Solid team defense, great goaltending and offensive contributions from the entire team were the reason the club was so successful,” said Coach Joe Fenzel. “Everyone played a part this weekend.”

The Dukes registered an “Ovech-trick” when the team put nine goals on the scoreboard and shut-out Lincolnway in the opener on York’s home ice. York set the tone for the series when sophomore Ryan Pedote took a pass from fellow sophomore Tom Sieracki off the opening face-
off and scored just fifteen seconds into the game. York added goals by sophomores Trevor Corsello and Zach Johnson before the end of the first period.

In the second period it was the freshmen that took over for the home team. Nick Lee, Dominic Gatti and Jack Redick, all first year players, registered goals before Johnson added his second tally to give York a 7-0 lead after two periods of play.

In the third period team captain Joey Hayes scored on an assist by sophomore Jake Fejes.

Freshman Michael Rouzer then scored the all important ninth goal to put the game out of hand.

The following evening York traveled to Orland Park trying to eliminate Lincolnway in the best of three game series. Once again York jumped out to an early lead. With just over a minute and a half of time off the clock, Sieracki took a pass from Corsello and lit the lamp with a slap shot from the point that found the top corner of the net.

Hayes scored a pair of goals in the game. Each score came on plays assisted by Fejes and Johnson. The captain returned the favor when he set-up Johnson and Fejes for goals of their own and earned a pair of assists to complete his four point night.

Junior goalie Liam McFarlane made 37 saves over the two game series to blank the second seeded Lincolnway team. McFarlane’s efforts were aided by solid team defense led by senior Hayley Winker, junior Daniel Byrne, Sieracki, Gatti and Rouzer.

“All season long the coaches have been preaching about team play focused on puck possession and defense,” according to Coach Bruce Turpin. “This weekend the team did a good job of executing. We want to continue to improve in order to get back to the final four and compete for a state championship.”

York will play the winner of the Hinsdale Central/Plainfield series for the IHSHL West Division title. Details about that series can be found by visiting www.yorkhockeyclub.org.