Scary episode turns out OK for goalie Tuccori
Sophomore goalie James Tuccori of has been one of the most important players on coach Dave Morgan's Prospect/Rolling Meadows/Elk Grove/Palatine (PREP) hockey roster this season.
Tuccori has helped lead PREP into the Scholastic Cup for the second year in a row, keeping his team in almost all of its games. In Scholastic Cup competition, Tuccori has saved 80 shots in three games, giving up only 8 goals.
"James has been great for us," Morgan said.
Against Rockford on Sunday night, Tuccori was at his best, keeping PREP tied with Rockford the whole game.
"I thought we actually outplayed them," Morgan said. "Rockford was ready for us this time and we still were able to play with them."
The game was tied 4-4 with about two minutes left in the third period when Tuccori came off the ice for a timeout.
"He came over to the bench and sat down for a second," Morgan said "He just sunk to his knees and started hyperventilating."
Tuccori couldn't control his breathing when he sat down, and Morgan immediately started yelling for an ambulance.
"Luckily there was a paramedic in the stands, so he came down and calmed James down a little bit," Morgan said.
The ambulance arrived in about 10 minutes and medical personnel were able to take Tuccori to the hospital for tests.
With Tuccori gone, Morgan turned to senior goalie Kyle Federkins to finish the game.
"It was a tough situation for Kyle," Morgan said. "But he came out and made a couple of great saves."
PREP sent the game to overtime, but Rockford scored four minutes into the extra period for the victory.
"Our guys played some great hockey," Morgan said. "Hopefully we see them again this year."
The next time PREP would see Rockford would be if both teams advanced to the state championship.
PREP's next game is today against the Tinley Park Wolves at Hoffman Estates Ice Arena for a first-round state playoff game.
On Wednesday, Tuccori went to see a cardiologist, who will perform some tests to determine what caused his breathing problem.
"Everything went well at the hospital," Morgan said. "The doctors aren't sure what caused the problem, but they'll put him through some tests next week to find out."
Tuccori is expected to be sidelined one to two weeks. While he's gone, Federkins will start in goal and PREP will likely promote junior varsity goalie Tommy Klassman as a backup.
Fremd 4, BGHW 2: Buffalo Grove/Hersey/Wheeling (BGHW) was tied 2-2 with three minutes left in Scholastic Cup action before allowing late goals to Fremd junior forward Eric Freeburg and senior defenseman Ryan Curtin.
"If I played that game 25 times and lost every time, I'd still be happy," said BGHW coach Bob Wagner. "It was just a great game by both teams."
Freeburg's goal broke the tie with five minutes left in the game. The Bison pulled their goalie late in the game, but Curtin scored into the empty net.
"I told my guys there was nothing to hang there heads about," Wagner said. "They played a great game."
Cary-Grove/Crystal Lake/McHenry 2, BGHW 1: It was one and done for BGHW as No. 19-seed Cary-Grove/Crystal Lake/McHenry (CCM) upset the Bison.
"They just wanted it a little more than us," Wagner said. "Our guys just weren't ready."
BGHW struck first as junior defenseman Alex Grupe found sophomore forward Cody Barra to give the Bison an early 1-0 lead. CCM scored late in the first and second periods and held on for the victory.
"There was about a one-minute stretch where we had the puck about eight feet from the goalie and we couldn't punch it in," Wagner said. "Their goalie played some outstanding hockey."
With the loss, BGHW heads into Sunday's Founders Cup game against Conant/Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg (CHS) with two things in mind; get the win, and stay alive.
"If we win, we are guaranteed two more games," Wagner said.
BGHW and CHS will square off at 2 p.m. Sunday at West Meadows. At 3 p.m., the winner of that game will play the victor of PREP vs. Mundelein