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.