York Hockey Club’s junior varsity team employed a balanced offensive attack and strong team defense to beat Hinsdale Central 5-4 on Friday, November 22nd.  The game was a match-up between the top two teams in the Illinois High School Hockey League West Division. The victory left the Dukes perched alone atop the IHSHL standings.

York grabbed an early lead when sophomore Scott Blair carried the puck into the offensive zone and delivered a pass across the crease to Jack Redick, sophomore. Redick buried a one-timer in the back of the net for the goal.

A few minutes later freshman defenseman Mark Feilen stole the puck from a Red Devil player and fed a pass to sophomore Anthony Trankina. The winger delivered a wrist shot to light the lamp and put York up by two goals.

The Dukes turned the puck over in the defensive zone and the visiting team capitalized and cut the York lead in half.

Sophomore defenseman Dominick Gatti helped regain the two goal advantage when he launched a shot from the point. Freshman Matt Shepherd was a strong presence in front of the net and deflected the shot for the goal.

Just before the end of the first period, Hinsdale Central scored again but the Dukes came storming back in the second frame when team captain, Zach Johnson, took a pass from freshman Liam Gardner below the goal line. Johnson beat the defender with a toe drag move and scored.

Later in the second period, Trankina hit freshman Josef Calzante with a pass. The freshman center then scored on a strong backhand shot to give York a 5-3 lead.

The Red Devils were not done yet. The visitors scored two times to make it a one goal game early in the third period. York’s defense, led by Gatti, Gardner, Feilen, sophomores Anders Caster and AJ Orlando as well as freshman Jack Foley, kept Hinsdale from scoring again the rest of the night.

Goalie Nolan Knupp, freshman, registered 18 saves to earn the victory. The win improved the team’s league record to 11-1-2 and over-all record to 17-3-2.