CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Like so many times before, today Duke was dominant in Carolina.
Brothers Dylan and Tyler Duke each netted goals in the second period to lead Compuware to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite to claim the 2018 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier I 14U National Championship.
“We approached this game no different than any other game,” said Ryan Barnes, head coach of Compuware. “Our players believed in each other, stuck to the process and were able to come away with the win.”
The teams played an evenly-matched opening period, which ended scoreless with Compuware holding an 8-7 advantage in shots. The Compuware penalty kill stayed hot with two more kills in the period, extending its streak to 14 consecutive killed penalties in the playoff round.
Compuware struck first when defenseman Tyler Duke finished a feed on the rush from Sasha Pastujov 4:09 into the middle frame.
“Sasha (Pastujov) made a great pass to me across the seam and I did my best to put it in the back of the net,” said Tyler Duke. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to score a goal in a national championship game.”
Brother Dylan doubled the Compuware lead 2:05 later when he converted a feed from Sterling Cooke just in front of the crease.
“It was a great play by my linemates,” said Dylan Duke. “They were battling down low and ‘Cookie’ got the puck to the front of the net. I’m glad I was able to finish off their hard work.”
The boys from Plymouth, Michigan, held onto the two-goal advantage entering the final period in part to another killed penalty in the final two minutes of the stanza.
Compuware held off Pittsburgh in the final frame by killing three more penalties, pushing its streak to 18 straight successful kills, to earn the win. Goaltender Will Fox was crucial in the third period, making a trio of point-blank stops en route to a 25-save shutout.
Luke Wierengo netted an empty-net goal with 1:16 to play to seal the deal.
The beaming brothers couldn’t stop smiling after winning a national title together while representing their home state.
“To come here and represent the state of Michigan is an absolute honor to begin with,” said Dylan. “We’re all brothers, and to accomplish this with my real brother, it’s really special.”
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