RECAP: Westside Hockey team clinches state championship

Westside’s very own boys hockey team competed in the state finals game Tuesday night against Tri-City Storm. After both teams were tied 0-0 for the first period and the beginning of the the second, senior Alec Vanderloo scored to bring Westside ahead 1-0. Towards the end of the third period, Junior Jack Gatzmeyer was penalized, giving Tri City a two-minute power play.

Tri-City lead a charge, breaking through Westside’s defense and putting shots on goal, but junior goalie Owen Morrow kept the team in the game with two saves. After Tri-City called a time out with .2 seconds left in the game, the final buzzer blared and the entire Westside Hockey team embraced each other with tears of joy.

“It was a surreal experience,” Sophomore Mike Hickey said. “I’ve never felt anything like it before, I got very emotional after the game was over because all of our hard work throughout the season had finally paid off.”

The team ended the season winning 27 of their 29 games and completed their year-long journey to claim the state championship.

“Our season has had some bumps in it, but we got through it together, as a team. We really couldn’t have done it without each other.” Hickey said.