If state title game involves Whitting, it'd be fitting
In a perfect world for York, senior Connor Whitting will lead his team to the championship game of the Blackhawk Cup this March at the United Center, and the Dukes will upset defending state champion New Trier Green.
It would be sweet revenge of sorts for Jim Whitting, Connor's dad, who was the goalie for Homewood-Flossmoor in the 1977 Illinois state championship game against New Trier East, then coached by former Chicago Blackhawk Eric Nesterenko.
The elder Whitting surrendered 6 goals and New Trier East cruised to a 10-1 victory in a game played at the Randhurst Twin Ice Arena.
The younger Whitting certainly could be the difference offensively.
As a sophomore, for instance, he tallied 27 goals and 27 assists. Last year, he had 36 goals, 30 assists and was named a Metro West All-Star. In 43 games this season, he has 28 goals, 32 assists, and his 60 points is second-most on the team; Nick Albergo has 73 points (46 goals, 27 assists).
The Dukes are 27-11-6, riding a three-game winning streak.
"As the years have gone by (since that 1977 loss), I realize now how difficult it is to make the championship game in any sport. It was a special time in my life," Jim Whitting said. "I am so happy that Connor has the same passion and love of the game that I have. What a thrill it would be to see him and his teammates compete for a state championship, just like I did so many years ago. It would be a great way for him to end his high school career."
The younger Whitting, who sports uniform No. 19, centers the team's top line, along with left wing Shane Brooks (7 goals, 8 assists) and right wing Anthony Albergo (18, 22). Whitting, an assistant captain who shoots right-handed, has been named a 2009-2010 Metro West All-Star.
York leads Metro West with a 15-3-4 record, just ahead of Sandburg - and the two West powers are set to clash Friday, Jan. 22, in Addison.
"I know he's proud of the way I've been playing and just happy that I play the game," Connor said of his dad. "I play physical when I have to, but I always look to go to the slot and score goals; that's what I love doing: scoring goals.
"I definitely use my speed and quickness (to my advantage), especially since I'm not the biggest guy on the ice."
Take, for instance, a late-November game against Hinsdale Central. The Dukes won 2-1, and Whitting scored both that night, including a short-handed tally.
That's why York coach Greg Mrofcza has tagged Whitting, "The Difference."
"He's scoring thanks to his unbelievable effort and an incredible heart," Mrofcza said. "Connor really has a gift for scoring, and what's even more amazing is that he's doing it against some of the top teams in the state."
"I feel like I can make a difference every time I'm out on the ice, be it winning a face-off, setting up a teammate or scoring the game-winning goal," Whitting said. "Knowing that I'm helping the team is more important (than individual statistics) because I've always been a team-first player. Scoring goals and getting assists is great, but I really care about is winning games."
Scoring goals is, though, what Whitting does so well.
In the pre-season Great Eight Tournament, for instance, York defeated Indiana powerhouse Hamilton Southeast 5-4 in a shootout of the semifinals - and Whitting scored the game-winning goal, "which has been the highlight of my season, so far."
"We have a lot of talent on the team and everyone has one common goal: making a legitimate run at (winning the) state tournament."
Whitting's success is even more amazing considering he played house league hockey throughout his youth, not on a travel league team. Whitting first learned to skate at age 4 and his dad was his coach for most of his childhood.
Obviously dad taught his son about state championship glory, which has spread across the Dukes.
More Whitting: Connor Whitting, who plans to play club hockey next season at Illinois State or Bowling Green State University, said his favorite pregame music includes tunes from the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam or 2Pac, including the rapper's You Can't See Me, fittingly.
Whitting works during the summer as a golf caddy and plays often, too.
"I know that a lot of people say that hockey players make great golfers, but I really don't see golf (improving) my hockey. The two haven't really meshed for me," he said.
More Music: New Trier Blue players tagged Party In The U.S.A. from Miley Cyrus as the team's theme song. But New Trier Green players were quick to claim the Cyrus hit - and add that Blue stole their theme - Notre Dame offers some of the best during-the-game music in the state - Each time BGHW scored at Cary-Grove, the host played Don't Worry About a Thing from Bob Marley - Warren captain Michael Schumacher said the Blue Devils side with I'm Shipping Up To Boston from Dropkick Murphys. "It has a cool, up-tempo beat," Schumacher said - St. Viator opts for Kobe Bryant from Lil Wayne - Crystal Lake South cranks Get Right Back from Maxine Nightingale - Highland Park picks "I Gotta Feeling" from the Black Eyed Peas.
Amigos: Senior Kirk Johnson (Hersey) of the co-op BGHW Stampede, which features players from Buffalo Grove, Wheeling and Hersey, has made quite an impact in his first season playing high school hockey: he leads the team in scoring (21 goals, 14 assists). Defenseman Chris Brush (Hersey) has 7 goals and a team-leading 19 assists.
Johnson and Brush are best friends off the ice.
"Chris is a great team leader; he rarely makes mistakes, and he's on the ice for about 30 minutes per game," said BGHW coach Bob Wagner. "He's a smart kid, a smart player.
"It's nice to have a player like Kirk on the team; he really lightens the mood. He's always got a big grin on his face and never has anything negative to say."
BGHW is 10-11-6 after back-to-back losses to Lake Forest (5-4) and Cary-Grove (2-1).
"The team has been under-achieving," Wagner said. "Even though we have been playing better against better-(caliber) teams, we've had many games where we were leading or tied going into the third (period) and couldn't pull out the win."
Such as recent losses to New Trier Blue (3-2) and Barrington (5-2); both games were 2-2 after two periods.
The Stampede also features Cody Barra (Buffalo Grove), who has 17 goals, 14 assists; and Trace Linhart (Hersey): 10, 17.
Stampede goalie Nick Pacini (Hersey) has played in 24 games and boasts a 3.45 goals-against average, with one shutout (8-0 over Libertyville in November).
Wagner has coached the club for seven seasons, and his son, Chris (Buffalo Grove, Class of 2007), is now a junior on the Illinois State University club. The younger Wagner, who plays left wing, was the Offensive Player of the Year in Metro Northwest in 2007 and an All-State honoree.
The Stampede face Fremd on Sunday at the West Meadows Ice Rink (Jan. 17), then battle Mundelein next Wednesday (Jan. 20) in Hoffman Estates.
Upsetting Rockford: Will the Icemen be de-throned from their perch on top of the Combined Teams Division of the Blackhawk Cup? The odds say no, since Rockford has won the combined state championship 13 consecutive seasons. Leyden, Glenbard N/S/W, Waubonsie Valley and Evanston have the best chance.
"Glenbard always plays well in the state tournament," Wagner said.
Around the rink: In 4 games of the season-long Metro Invitational Tournament (MIT), Lake Forest senior defenseman Matt Durot has 4 power-play goals of his six, along with 1 game-winning tally. Teammate Parker Teufel, a senior, has 7 goals, 2 assists in 5 games played; and sophomore forward John Newtown has 2 goals, 7 assists. Teufel and Newtown lead the MIT in goals and assists, respectively - Glenbrook North senior forward Adam Vishny has 6 goals and leads Metro North with 20 assists in 16 games played. The Spartans have a dynamic duo in goal: Michael Ramsey (7 goals allowed in 8 Metro North games played) and Troy Carroll (18 in 11) - Anne Gomolinski has two 2-goal games this season and leads the Oak Park-River Forest club in scoring (7 goals, 4 assists in 9 Metro Girls games). And she's tied for the league lead in game-winning goals (3) ... Freshman forward Carolyn Hicks of New Trier Silver, the school's No. 2 team, is leading Metro Girls in goals (14) ... Warren senior defenseman Lorna Cagann has 42 penalty minutes in 13 games, which is 30 more than the second-most penalized player in the league - Junior forward Rick Gattone scored a hat trick Jan. 9 to carry St. Viator to a 4-2 win over Evanston, including the Lions' first 3 goals. It was Gattone's second-ever hat trick, and his third goal came on a penalty shot. "That was pretty cool, but I was really nervous," Gattone said. The Lions are 32-9-7 overall, 11-3-4 in Metro North and 11-3-1 in the Catholic League - Barrington had a big road win Jan. 9, defeating St. Rita, 4-1.