Maine Township Blanks BG/H/W 3-0 To Win The JV Combined State Championship

By Ross Forman
Maine Township needed less than 10 seconds of a second period powerplay to score Friday, March 13, in the Illinois High School Hockey JV Combined State Championship Game.

Carson Everson’s tally was the game-winner as No. 1 Maine stopped the upset dreams of No. 7 BG/H/W, 3-0, in Rosemont.

“It was a rough start, but as the game went on, we got into our style of play, and we dominated in the third,” said Maine sophomore forward Jayden Kuffel, who lined up on the right wing for the powerplay faceoff on the left side of Maine’s offensive zone.

Joseph Burger won the draw back to Mason Lyons, along the left boards. He shot from the top of the circle into traffic. Kuffel got a stick on it and Everson scored.

“I crashed the net and a shot came from the point,” Kuffel said. “I managed to tip it and (Everson) scored the rebound goal.”

Kuffel landed on the scoresheet in the third period, too, scoring the team’s insurance goal at 13:21 of the third period.

“I skated the puck down the left side of the ice and below the bottom of the left (faceoff) circle, I saw the top corner (of the net) open and shot it,” Kuffel said. “It sure was an enjoyable night, winning my first state championship.”

Zachary Grubek scored Maine’s second goal late in the second period.

Maine goalie Anthony Napolitano stopped all 15 shots he faced.

“It was a great game; we stood our ground all game,” Napolitano said. “This was a great team win.”

Getting the shutout for the state championship was amazing, he said. “I proved my worth to the team tonight.”

Napolitano, a freshman, added: “We played hard, especially in the offensive end and neutral zone. This win means everything to me.”

Maine head coach Tommy Lorenzini endured a water bath in the locker room from the victors. “I thought we played well. We were deep all season and all game tonight,” he said. “As the game went on, we settled in and played  really well. All four lines made an impact.

“Anthony really stood on his head in net for us tonight and had a big save on the penalty-kill in the second. We rode the momentum from there.”

Lorenzini said Kuffel “played well, really stepped up (in the final) and made a huge impact.”

Marcus Davis-Wooten faced 30 shots in goal for BG/H/W, including 15 in the second period. 

“The boys battled all game and all season,” said BG/H/W head coach Kris Tountas. “To be the No. 7 seed and make it to the state championship game against the No. 1-ranked team, that speaks volumes.

“They played their hearts out, left it all on the ice. The bounces didn’t go our way, but we’ll be back.”