Busby's OT goal lifts BG/H/W hockey team to state title
Will Busby scored his 31st goal of the season - and the biggest of his career - in leading BG/H/W to its first-ever Illinois High School Hockey state championship, in the Combined Division.
The Stampede, a mix of players from Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Wheeling, defeated co-op Glenbard 3-2 in overtime on Friday night at the United Center, avenging the Stampede's lone previous state title-game appearance. That one was a 2-1 overtime loss to Rockford in 2013.
"I got the puck and saw my wing breaking in, I gave it to him right on his tape and he shot it on goal, and it beat the goalie," said junior wing Nick Iliescu, a Buffalo Grove student who fed Busby for the game-winner with 3:57 remaining in overtime. "I've never felt better."
BG/H/W finished the season 33-17-5, while Glenbard ends 27-22.
Eric Kurpiewski (Hersey) was one of only two freshmen in the game, but he showed as much poise as anyone on the ice during a shift early in the third period. After a shot by senior teammate Danny Kurgan (Buffalo Grove) was stopped by Glenbard goalie Jim Bertane, the puck landed on Kurpiewski's stick, on the backhand. He waited, then lifted it over Bertane from the left into the upper-right corner.
Kurpiewski's tally, his 12th of the season, gave the Stampede a 1-0 lead.
Glenbard answered four minutes later, tying the game 1-1 when junior Blake Graham scored on an assist from Jacob Riscossa.
Glenbard, seeking back-to-back titles, pushed its lead to 2-1 on a shorthanded tally by sophomore Vincent Sansone, assisted by junior Danny DeGrado, with 3:25 remaining.
The Stampede tied it back up with 1:03 remaining in regulation time on a goal by junior Spiro Maglaris, assisted by Tanner Holfeld (Hersey) and Kurgan.
Then it was time for Busby's magic.
"We wanted to be the first (team) to score and it was all heart today," said Kurgan.
Busby, a Hersey student, said Ilisecu "made the play happen" and amid the team's on-ice celebration Busby was at a loss for words.
"I don't know what to say," he said. "To finish the game like that is incredible."
BG/H/W had plenty of chances to crack the scoreboard in the first period as Glenbard was penalized 4 times while only 1 Stampede player was whistled for an offense. BG/H/W even had a 5-on-3 advantage at one point but couldn't break standout Glenbard senior goalie Bertane.
The Stampede sprayed 16 shots on goal in the first period alone, while Glenbard managed only 3.
Glenbard had man-advantage attempts in the second period, but junior Tyler Anzelmo (Buffalo Grove) stopped every Glenbard shot. Anzelmo finished with 17 saves, while Bertane made 41 in a losing effort.
• Junior right wing Jack Raith scored 4 goals to lead No. 1-seeded New Trier Green to a 5-2 win over Providence Catholic in the Illinois High School Hockey state championship game (Red Division), played at the United Center before the Combined Division game.
Junior Matt Mulhern scored the Trevians' other goal, and he also had an assist as New Trier finished the season 54-10-1.
Junior Jake Vennetti and senior Gant Orloff scored for the Celtics, who finish 56-11-1.