With Sunday’s 3-3 tie against Naperville Central and a 2-1 win earlier in the week against Carmel-Mundelein, the Oak Park River Forest Hockey Club is currently on a five-game unbeaten streak.
Tanner Houston played a spectacular game in goal against Naperville Central, turning aside 47-of-50 Redhawk shots, and even had the officials and opposing coaches marveling at his play after the game.
The Huskies never trailed in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the first period when senior captain Jack Brofman deposited the rebound off a Dean Rogers shot. The Redhawks tied the score before the end of the period, but the Huskies jumped back on top late in the second period. Phil O’Connor, trailing the play, scored when the Redhawk goalie stopped Rogers’ initial shot but couldn’t control the rebound.
The Huskies took a slim 2-1 lead into the final period, but Naperville Central scored a power play goal just one minute into the period to tie the game. The Huskies bounced right back, taking a 3-2 lead when Rogers was able to poke a loose puck past the Redhawk goalie. The lead lasted until the midway point of the period when Naperville Central tied the game at 3-3.
The Huskies took a tripping penalty with a minute to go, giving Naperville Central a man advantage and a chance to win the game. However, the Huskies penalty-kill unit clamped down on the Redhawks, preventing them from getting off a shot.
OPRF’s Metro West record now stands at 1-5-3, with the win and three ties coming after a 0-5 start.
On Thursday night, the Huskies won their opening Metro Invitational tournament game, beating Carmel-Mundelein by a 2-1 score behind O’Connor’s two unassisted goals. The Huskies got solid goaltending from Evan McCall, who stopped 17-of-18 shots. OPRF dominated the first two periods, but couldn’t produce more than two goals. In the third period, Carmel-Mundelein stepped up the pressure, outshooting the Huskies by an 11-6 margin and forcing them to hang on for the win.
The Huskies are off next weekend but back in action with a road game on Saturday Nov. 11 against Neuqua Valley and a home game at Ridgeland Common on Sunday, Nov. 12 against Naperville North (4:30 p.m.).
A press release contributed to this report.
