Stobart, Waubonsie savor season-ending highlight
Tommy Stobart, a senior at Waubonsie Valley, has had a season filled with highlight-reel goals.
But it was a goal he was errantly credited with on Thursday night at the United Center that he always will remember.
Stobart said it was, in reality, senior Michael O'Hara (Waubonsie Valley) who scored for the co-op Waubonsie Warriors with 7.3 seconds remaining in the first period.
O'Hara's momentum-swinging, game-winning goal helped Waubonsie defeat Glenbard 3-0 for the state championship in the Combined Division.
This was Waubonsie's first hockey state championship, and the team finished the season 42-11-2. Glenbard ended its season 32-19-4.
“It was a huge game and feels great to be on top, especially getting the shutout. This was awesome,” Stobart said. “Actually, I'll be honest here, I might not have even touched that (first) goal; it was O'Hara's goal.”
Stobart — whose younger brother, Jake, a sophomore, also skates for the Warriors — swiped at the rebound from the right side after Ben Vietri's backhander from the slot was stopped by Glenbard senior goalie Joel Mayo. O'Hara tapped it in. Vietri, a senior at Waubonsie Valley, was the team's top forward this season, entering the final game with 77 goals and 65 assists in 54 games played.
Stobart went the highlight reel route 4:30 into the second period. He sidestepped a Glenbard defender with an eye-popping move and then, on the breakaway from the top of the circle, drilled a shot past Mayo into the right side of the net.
“That's my go-to move, the toe-drag, and it's a great feeling to be able to pull that off, especially in my last game,” said Stobart, who will attend Eastern Illinois in the fall.
Adrian Ressing, a junior at Metea Valley, gave Waubonsie some breathing room at 6:14 of the second period, scoring a backhanded goal from the left side of the slot into the lower right corner. Ressing's 12th goal of the season was assisted by sophomore Jake Cirino (Oswego).
Senior Jake Rubinstein notched his 35th win of the season with the shutout in goal.
“We were flat for the first period, but were able to turn it around,” said Waubonsie coach Jim Frasco. “I'm just so happy for these guys; they've worked hard and this is just a great feeling, just phenomenal.”
• New Trier defeated Loyola 3-2 in double overtime to claim the girls state championship. Ivy Dynek scored the game-winner, assisted by Rebecca Lindblad.
• New Trier Green won its second consecutive boys state championship in the top-tiered Red Division, and the 10th state title in coach Bob Melton's 17-year career with the Trevians. Top-seeded Green defeated No. 3-seeded Glenbrook North 2-1 on goals from Brent Segvich and Kevin Marren. New Trier goalie John Junge (28 saves) was named the game's MVP.