JV and Varsity Victorious in 5-3 Wins over Sandburg

During the Annual York Hockey Senior night,  the Dukes’ 11 senior players enjoyed continuing success in what has become a remarkable season for both the JV and Varsity squads.  The JV team, with senior Jeremy Fisher-Haase in net, beat Sandburg 5-3, improving their first place league record to 20-2-2.

Immediately following the JV victory, the 11 York seniors were recognized by the Public Announcer.  Each York hockey senior player then escorted their parents/grandparents (including superfan Grandma “Kuz”) onto the ice - where the players presented the hockey Moms/Grandmoms with flowers and a well deserved hug and posed for a commemorative photo (no doubt in recognition for the thousands of miles,  dollars and countless laundry/meals and ER trips that comprise a high school hockey player’s career).  The player’s Dads/Grandpas then met at Center Ice for the ceremonial puck drop. 

This year’s York hockey seniors included: Anthony Albergo, Brad Bosworth, Max Carson, Jeremy Fisher-Haase, Jason Kuzara, Hayden Purpur, Joseph Ross, Eric Russell, Steven Skawski, Brendan Smith and Connor Whitting. 

The Varsity Dukes then took on the Sandburg Eagles in an eagerly anticipated  regular season-ending contest before an overflow Friday night crowd at the Addison Ice Arena.  At stake was the Metro West first place position that the Dukes were seeking to preserve.  The York/Sandburg rivalry has been intense over the past 2 seasons, as the Eagles have been vainly trying to knock the top dog Dukes out of  first place .  The York student fans were in abundance and they were determined to add their vocal support in a manner to let the Eagles know they were not welcome – not in the Dukes’ house – not at all.

The York skaters, wearing their favored black “Y” team  jerseys  (numbers only), came out with a mission and they controlled the ice early, outshooting Sandburg 15-3 in the first period.  Yet it was the Eagles that scored first at the 4:29 mark.  Despite York’s early lack of scoring, the boisterous students appreciated the Duke’s physical play and hustle.  At the 3:50 mark,  York defenseman Joseph Ross,  absolutely drilled an Eagle player, checking him cleanly but with such force that when the Sandburg player peeled himself off the ice, he appeared to be in a different time zone, struggling to regain his balance.

York finally scored in the second period when  Tyler Reichl set up the ever energized Shane Brooks for a wrister between the circles, tying it 1-1.  After Sandburg scored on a scramble in front of  York’s net, the Dukes “O” got rolling.   Connor Whitting raced along the left boards  shielding the puck, slammed on the brakes, goal line extended and then wristed in a low shot (assists Sam Felder and Steven Skawski) from what appeared to be an impossible angle, beating the Sandburg goalie on the goalie’s right/stick side.  44 seconds later on the same shift, Whitting scored again, after textbook passes from Mike Tiede and Nick Albergo found Whitting on the far post for a backdoor slam-in that had “clinic” written all over the bewildered Eagle’s defense.

Through the first two periods, York outshot Sandburg 28 to 9, thanks in part, to excellent defense by Hayden Purpur, Brad Bosworth, Joe Ross, Steven Skawski and goalie Jason “Kuz” Kuzara.  Key penalty kill  efforts were led by  Ricky Dufort, Mike Barabolak, Angelo DeSimone and Sam Felder.  Brett Cozzi and Brooks consistently beat the Eagles to the puck to aid in puck possession.  Max Carson used his size to keep the Eagles from crashing the Dukes’ net.

In the final period, Nick Albergo again displayed why goalies across northern Illinois fear his wrap-around move, as his quickness from behind the net beat the Eagle goalie (stick side) just 51 seconds into the third, giving York a 4-2 lead.  Captain Anthony Albergo notched the final goal (assists Bosworth and Skawski) with 3 minutes left as York coasted to a 5-3 win.

Metro West League Playoffs/State Tournament To Begin