Joe Pijanowski, a junior three-year varsity player for the Warriors Hockey Club, is now a two-time high school state champion after scoring the biggest goal of his career on Sunday, March 16, in the AHAI High School State Hockey Championship, played at the United Center.

Pijanowski tipped home a shot from defenseman Finnegan O’Toole for the game-winner over No. 1-ranked BG/H/W, 3-2 in double overtime.

“I saw it go in and the rest is a blur,” Pijanowski said.

The Stampede built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals about :20 seconds apart from Ryan Costanza and Dominik Popperl.

The Warriors responded with three unanswered.

“Joe Pijanowski has been our stud all year, our leader in points and goals,” Warriors head coach Keith Fahrforth. “He shows up every day, works hard. He’s an incredible kid; I’m so happy for him.”

Ironically, Fahrforth didn’t see the game-winner; he was talking to players about the next shift. “I saw our defenseman grab the puck, but nothing after that,” he said.

The Warriors cut the score to 2-1 with a James Naffziger tally late in the first.

“These kids always fight back; they never give up,” Fahrforth said. “They just chip away, and that’s what happened today.”

The Warriors tied the game in the second period on a goal from Ethan Newburg.

“That was a tough way to lose,” said BG/H/W head coach Chris Waters. “We outplayed them in the first overtime, but didn’t capitalize on our opportunities. We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”