The York Hockey Club registered a 3-2 win over Neuqua Valley High School to complete a come from behind best of three game series win and capture the 2016 Illinois High School Hockey League West Division varsity championship. The team’s championship completed York’s IHSHL sweep as the junior varsity Dukes beat Waubonsie Valley a week earlier for the title in the junior division.

“This is the first time in the history of the club that both of our teams have won the IHSHL West Division conference championships in the same season,” said Coach Bruce Turpin. “This bodes well for our program.”

In the varsity finale, the Dukes jumped out to an early lead when senior Joseph Levin carried the puck into the York offensive zone and delivered a pass to junior Elliott Fafinski in the high slot. Fafinski took a shot on net that Levin tipped in for the goal.

York made it 2-0 later in the opening frame when freshman Aidan Mann stole a pass and was off to the races on a breakaway. Mann pulled up just above the left circle and took a slap shot that beat the Neuqua Valley goalie to double the Dukes lead.

A strong forechecking effort, led by York seniors Mark Dorsey, Zach Johnson, Grey Miller and Ryan Pedote, kept the Wild Cats offense under control for most of the game.

Late in the second period a questionable tripping call left the Dukes short-handed for two minutes. After nearly killing off the penalty, thanks in part to strong play by senior defensemen Will Borrows, Trevor Corsello and Tom Sieracki, the visiting team was able to break through just before the man advantage expired and cut the Dukes lead in half.

Fifteen seconds later, the Wild Cats scored again to tie the game and the Dukes looked rattled. Energetic play from freshman Chris Lee and juniors Nick Lee, Jack McDonnell and Jack Redick helped York regroup and regain control of the game.

Late in the third period junior defenseman Michael Rouzer walked the puck along the blue line to create a lane and delivered a pass to Frank Wheatland. The senior put a low, hard shot on goal and freshman Bill Paschen buried the puck in the back of the net to retake the lead.

York survived a late surge when Neuqua Valley pulled its goalie. The Dukes defense fought valiantly to fend off the six skater attack of the Wild Cats. With the final seconds ticking off the game clock, the visitors were able to make a desperation pass across ice to an open winger on the weak-side. Senior goalie Jack Buckley slid across the crease to stop the open shot and register his 21st save of the evening to preserve the York victory.

“I am proud of how the boys fought back tonight,” said Turpin. “It took a lot of hard work for them to get here and they were not going to be denied.”

The win improved the York varsity team’s conference best record to 28-6-3.

York Hockey Club’s varsity squad solidified its position atop the Illinois High School Hockey League West Division standings with a victory over second place Sandburg High School on Friday October 16th. The 3-2 win improved the Dukes league record to 5-0-1. York was successful despite the absence of a number of players and some early penalty trouble.

“It was a big win for the team,” said York Coach Bruce Turpin. “But we are going to have to buckle down in the defensive zone and play more disciplined if we are going to continue to put wins on the board and remain undefeated in league play.”   

Sandburg took advantage of sloppy defensive zone play by York and grabbed an early lead. The Dukes rebounded and improved but were unable to get on the scoreboard in the first period.

York came out strong in the second period and tied the game when freshman Chris Lee made a strong play to keep the puck in the offensive zone and junior Jack Redick chipped the puck to  Nick Lee, junior. The older Lee then unleashed a wicked wrist shot that made it past the Sandburg goalie to tie the game.

Less than two minutes later senior Mark Dorsey got knocked to the ice in front of the net by a Sandburg defender. Dorsey was able to fight off the assault and scored from his knees to give York a 2-1 lead.

Before the end of the second period York extended its lead when Nick Lee scored his second goal on another high wrist shot with an assist going to senior Cam Dobroka.

Despite the Duke’s three goal second period, the Eagles would not give up.  Sandburg was able to score early in the third period to make it a one goal game. York fended off the visitors and secured the victory as sophomore goalie Nolan Knupp made 13 of his 24 saves in the final period to earn the win.

“It was not pretty,” said Redick. “But we got the job done.”