The video montage of State title highlights from year’s past presented on the jumbotron before the start of the Blackhawk Cup at the United Center on Saturday afternoon was more or less a tribute to the two teams playing in this year’s State title game: Fenwick and New Trier Green. Both teams had been in the championship numerous times before, with Fenwick winning the last two. But for the Friars, Saturday’s title game may not make the highlight reel.
A Fenwick three-peat wasn’t to be as the Trevians (49-10-4) shutout the Friars 5-0 for their sixth title in the last eight years in front of a rowdy crowd of 4,682.
Mike McBride scored New Trier’s first two goals, which came minutes apart in the opening period. The senior forward, who scored just nine goals in 58 games played all year, slipped a shot past Fenwick goalie Andy Sundt 4 minutes and 12 seconds into the start of the game. Ben Talbot was awarded the assist.
On Fenwick’s next possession freshman Corey Chakeen (54 goals during the regular season) tried to counter the goal on a breakaway but sent a shot over New Trier goalkeeper Mark Ingram’s head.
McBride struck again two minutes later with a lone slap-shot from 15-feet out. The goal brought New Trier fans to their feet.
“This was one of the best moments of my life,” said McBride, who was crowned Most Valuable Player. “Being here at the United Center and scoring not one but two goals, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
The two quick goals didn’t seem to fluster the Friars (52-16-5). Chakeen and his line continued to play aggressively, taking two shots on goal that also soared high before the end of the period. But New Trier kept up its pressure, matching Fenwick’s physical play and eventually closing out the opening period with 11 shots on goal to the Friars’ four.
Fenwick did manage to tighten things up in the second period, and although the Friars were forced to play more defense than offense, they held the Trevians in check for the entirety of the frame.
Alex Hansen stole away any hope Fenwick had at a come-from-behind victory when, in the third period, he swiped an errant Fenwick pass and shorthanded a goal at 3:19, putting Green up 3-0.
The Trevians dominated the final period, scoring two insurance goals”one by Harley Hutchins off a deflection at 6:53 and one by Nick Edwards off a pass from Michael Malstrom to close out the win. New Trier outshot the Friars 41-18 for the game.
“They’re a big team, but we used our speed to beat them,” said Ingram of Fenwick after the game.
Fenwick edged Glenbrook North, 2-1, in the semifinals on Thursday and Marist, 2-0, in the quarterfinals on March 15.
Nate Corwin of the OPRF Hockey Club was one of three Illinois hockey players awarded the Keith Magnuson Blackhawk Alumni Scholarship. The scholarship, named for Magnuson, a former Blackhawks player and coach who died in a car accident in 2003, provides $3,000 for each of four years of college.
The award is based on how players perform in the classroom. Corwin, a senior forward, scored a 34 on his ACT, 1460 on his SATs and ranks 48th of 803 in his class at OPRF High School.
