York Hockey Club’s varsity team beat the Neuqua Valley Warriors 3-2 on Friday, September 25th in the first game of the Illinois High School Hockey League West Division season.  The game was dominated by special teams as all five goals in the game were scored on odd man advantages.

“We were able to demonstrate patience with the puck to create offensive opportunities” said York Head Coach Bruce Turpin. “We just need to do a better job of staying out of the box and giving our opponents chances to stay in the game.”

The Dukes jumped out to 1-0 lead on a power play goal.  York scored less than three minutes into the game when senior Will Borrows riffled a slap shot from the point that was re-directed by senior Frank Wheatland into the net.

Things got interesting when York took an undisciplined penalty and the Warriors capitalized by scoring their own power play goal.  The first period ended in a 1-1 tie.

In the second period, Borrows hit Marcos Kapsalis, senior, with a pass in the neutral zone.  Kapsallis moved the puck to junior Michael Rouzer down low in the offensive zone.  Rouzer buried the shot to give the Dukes the lead for good.

York scored a third power play goal before the second intermission when Kapsalis maintained puck possession and skated past a group of Neuqua Valley defenders and fed a pass across the goal mouth that freshman Billy Paschen tapped in for the score.

Senior goalie Jack Buckley, saved 26 of 28 Neuqua Valley shots to earn the victory.

“This was a good start to the season,” said Turpin.  “We have a strong team.  We added some dynamic new players to our core of talent.  Expectations are high that we will be competing for league and state championships this season.”