Boys hockey: Park beats East Ridge at the buzzer

• Luke Vogelgesang

Park senior captain Luke Vogelgesang had a goal and an assist as the Park boys hockey team beat East Ridge on a goal with 2.4 seconds remaining in the game on Friday, Jan. 15 at Cottage Grove Ice Arena in the Suburban East Conference.

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Hockey fans in District 833 couldn’t ask for much more.

In the first-ever meeting between intra-district rivals Park and East Ridge, the “visiting” Wolfpack beat the Raptors on a goal with 2.4 seconds remaining in the game on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Cottage Grove Ice Arena in the Suburban East Conference.

Park senior captain Nate Youso netted the game-winner for the Wolfpack, stuffing home a rebound to beat the buzzer, and the Raptors.

Youso’s goal was the third-straight for Park, which trailed 3-1 after the second period.

In the game, after Park (3-9-1; 2-5-1 SEC) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Luke Vogelgesang with 8:18 remaining in the first period, East Ridge (3-11-1; 0-8-0 SEC) reeled off three consecutive goals bridging the first and second periods to take a two-goal lead.

However, goals by Youso and senior Brandyn Graff tied the game 3-3 with 7:37 remaining in the third period, allowing Youso to provide the heroics in the game's final seconds.

For Park, Youso had three points — all in the third period — on two goals and an assist, while Vogelgesang had a goal and an assist.

For East Ridge, sophomores Easton Halbert and Braedon Hyland each had two points on a goal and an assist and junior Tim Wegleitner had one goal.

Park and East Ridge play each other again on Feb. 18 at Cottage Grove Ice Arena.

Tags: boys hockey, cottage grove, east ridge, sports, park, wolfpack, raptors