Whitfield Hockey All Set For Wick Cup State Championship Game Wednesday

After getting hot in the playoffs and winning the Founder's Cup championship with a team full of underclassmen last year, many believed that this year would be the year the Hockey Club could get back to its state championship level of four seasons ago.  

And it seems those people were right, as the Warriors, who won the Wickenheiser Cup state championship in 2008, have advanced to this year's Mid-States Hockey Association Wickenheiser Cup championship game. They face No. 1 seed Lutheran South, this Wednesday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.  

The Warriors, have had a sensational run through the playoffs, which included early-round wins over Parkway South and Ft. Zumwalt West, and a remarkable come-from-behind win over defending Challenge Cup state champ Francis Howell Central in the state semifinals.  

Those victories in hand, Whitfield now find itself in a winner-take-all championship contest against the tournament-favorite Lancers, that will be televised live on , and will be re-run throughout the month on FOX Sports Midwest.  

Whitfield is led by senior forwards Hunt Lucas and Jake Andrews, the Warriors' top scorers with the speedy Lucas leading the team with 38 goals and 26 assists, and the physical and bruising Andrews right behind with 22 goals and 23 assists this year.  

In goal, the Warriors rely on junior Alan Eidelman, who's played every minute in between the pipes for Whitfield, and boasts a 19-8 record, with just 92 goals allowed this year, and a 3.4 goals against average.  

Defensively, senior Martin Rubin and sophomore Ryan MacInnis set the tone with a physical style that's given opponents fits all season.  

One team that has seemed to have Whitfield's number though this year, has been Lutheran South, which won both previous meetings this season (5-4 on November 19 and 10-2 on January 14).  

The Lancers have continued that dominance in the playoffs, where they've only lost one game in three rounds of play, with dominating victories over and Wentzville Holt in the early rounds, and an exciting 2 games to 1 semifinal series win over Seckman.  

Lutheran South's top player this year has been senior defenseman Chris Hill, who leads the team with 28 goals and 27 assists, while also serving as the Lancers No. 1 stopper against their opponents' top scorer.  

Juniors Cameron Durham (24 goals, 19 assists) and Joey Sparks (17 goals, 20 assists), along with senior Zack Beining (16 goals, 23 assists) are South's top offensive players.  

Another player to watch for Lutheran South is sophomore defender Sarah Sabo, a highly-sought after college recruit that many scouts consider one of the best female players in the area.  

Here's a quick look at both combatants in Wednesday night's Wick Cup Championship Game at Scottrade Center in St. Louis:

Whitfield Warriors (19-8-1)  vs.  Lutheran South Lancers (19-8-1)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – 5:30 p.m. – Scottrade Center -- Downtown St. Louis

Whitfield Warriors (19-8-1) 

Coach : Jim Campbell
Seed Entering Playoffs : No. 7
How They Got Here : defeated Parkway South 1-0-1 in first round; defeated Ft. Zumwalt West 2-0-0 in quarterfinals; defeated Francis Howell Central 2-1 in semifinals.
Top Performers : Hunt Lucas - F - Sr., (38 G, 26 A); Luke Andrews - F - Sr., (22 G, 23 A); Martin Rubin - D - Sr., (11 G, 20 A); Ryan MacInnis - F/D - Soph., (14 G, 7 A); Alan Eidelman - G - Jr., (92 GA, 3.4 GAA).
State Titles : Wick Cup (2008), Founder's Cup (2011)
Full Roster :  

 
Lutheran South Lancers (19-8-1)
Coach : Daniel Bertarelli
Seed Entering Playoffs : No. 1 seed
How They Got Here : defeated Parkway North 2-0 in first round; defeated Wentzville Holt 1-0-1 in quarterfinals; defeated Seckman 2-1 in semifinals.
Top Performers : Chris Hill - D - Sr., (28 G, 27 A); Cameron Durham - F - Jr., (24 G, 19 A); Zack Beining - F - Sr., (16 G, 23 A); Joey Sparks - F - Jr., (17 G, 20 A); Jacob Scholte - F - Sr., (13 G, 24 A); Nick Bonastia - G - Jr., (11-2-1 record, 2.8 GAA).
State Titles : First title game appearance
Full Roster :