New Trier Hockey’s Green Team and Loyola Gold battled it out in a three game series for the Scholastic Hockey League (SHL) Championship on Feb. 23, 26 and 27.

During the first game, New Trier was down the whole game and then scored two quick goals with a minute left to go up by one. Loyola answered, scoring a devastating goal by Danny Sullivan with five seconds left to send it into overtime, making the final score 4-3.

Down 1-0 in the series, Green faced a win-or-go-home game on Loyola’s home ice, the Heartland Ice Arena. New Trier came back with a vengeance, quickly going up 2-0.

But Loyola stayed close the whole game until they scored with 5 minutes left in the game to make it 2-2 and send the game to another sudden death overtime.

New Trier scored in OT but the goal was called off by officials. Junior Michael Graham scored two minutes later to even the series at one game apiece.

It was dead even for the third game as the teams went into the 3rd period tied up. Finally, senior Louie Lybrook scored with 4 minutes left to put New Trier up 2-1. Loyola went on a power play as the clock wound down but couldn’t take advantage as Green held on to clinch the series and the SHL title.

Before the games Head Coach Bob Melton believed the team was ready to beat Loyola. “We have been improving throughout the year and have been playing our best hockey in the last few games. We have really been firing on all cylinders and if we continue to, then I think we will be very successful moving into the bigger games.”

The student body echoed Melton’s optimism. “I think that it is going to be an interesting game and I am really excited for it,” junior Sean Douaire said. “Personally, I think they can pull out the win.”

But the series against their arch rival did create a different atmosphere.
Junior Daniel Hauser, who plays on Green, said, “We bring a lot of fire into a game like this. We lost to Loyola in the Quad and I think a lot of guys still have that chip on their shoulder. We went out there to prove once and for all who we are as a team.”

Coming out of regular season play, New Trier was ranked first in the SHL, as well as in the state, with a record of 49-9-1.

“The players figured things out a bit during the beginning of the season because we had no returning players from last year’s team,” Melton said. “But over the season they have developed into an extremely well rounded team.”

Green won state titles in 2011, 2013 and 2014, and is looking to bring home another State Championship in March. “I believe that we will be hard to stop because we don’t only have one good player,” Melton explained.

“We have four very good lines that could go up against any team we face. It isn’t one player that has to have a great game; everyone just needs to play within themselves.”

Players at all levels believed that Green had what it would take.

“What sets New Trier apart is our coaching. They have the experience to put together great lines and create team chemistry,” junior defenseman, Nelson Gaechter, who plays on Blue, said.

Going into the first game, Melton was confident. “This team is physical and had great all around play with outstanding talent, but the team unity and trust is what allows any line to step up and make the play when it counts, and I really believe that.”