Prairie Ridges varsity hockey team celebrated senior night Jan. 24 with a 2-1 victory over Loyola Academy.

Loyola Academy is ranked 3rd in the state, according to the most recent
www.myhockeyrankings.com rankings.

Alexander Taulien, who scored both goals, led the offensive attack for the 9th-ranked Wolves. Chris Blatner, Chris Van Damme and senior Clark Carpenter each had an assist. Senior netminder Cory Simons stopped 34 shots in the victory.

Seniors honored after the game included Carpenter, Simons, Aaron Beaudoin, Casey Bolin, Spencer Burks, Chris Dallas, Michael Piper, Jeff Ramsey, Johnny Pottala and Alex Walczak.

One night later, the Wolves tied 5th-ranked Stevenson 1-1 in its final High School Invitational Tournament game. Chris Van Damme scored the Wolves lone goal, and Simons made 18 saves.

The Wolves, 24-16-6, finished its HIT season with a 7-2-2 record.

The HIT is a season-long tournament featuring 12 high school varsity hockey teams from throughout Illinois.

The top four teams in the HIT standings move on to the playoffs beginning Feb. 22. Top ranked New Trier Green and the Wolves have secured a spot in the playoffs. The two remaining spots will be decided between Loyola, Stevenson and St. Rita.

Prairie Ridge will wrap up its regular season Feb. 9 against Naperville Central.

Following the HIT playoffs, the Wolves will compete in this years Varsity Red Division Blackhawk Cup state championship.

The team earned a 13th seed for the state tournament and will face 20th-seeded Nequa Valley in the first round.

The date and location of that game has not been announced.

By Lawerence Synett, Triblocal.com reporter