ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Lafayette forward Patrick Johnson loves to do the dirty work on the ice.

The freshman has excelled in that role on the Lancers’ top line.

But Johnson found himself in the spotlight after helping lead Lafayette to a 4-2 win over Duchesne in the Mid-States Club Hockey Association Wickenheiser Cup championship game at Enterprise Center on Wednesday night.

Johnson scored a goal and an assist for Lafayette (19-7-2) to earn the game’s MVP honors.

“It’s an honor,” Johnson said. “It really wasn’t all me, it was a whole team effort. That’s why we came out on top.”

Johnson’s linemate James Vermeersch also had a goal and an assist. Davis Rigg and Sam Rubenstein also scored for the Lancers, while goalie Calvin Rogers made 11 saves.

Johnson’s empty-netter with 13 seconds left clinched the game for Lafayette, which won its second Wickenheiser Cup in its third appearance. The Lancers won it in 2006 and came in second in 2014.

“It was a huge boost knowing that we had (13 seconds) left and a two-goal lead,” Johnson said. “I saw (a Duchesne defender) was on my tail so I just pushed as hard as I could.”

Lafayette coach Jim Carrico was happy for Johnson.

“It couldn’t have gone to a nicer kid, a great kid and a hell of a hockey player,” Carrico said. “Patrick deserved it. He earned it and he worked his tail off like he does every single game.”

Vincent Conti and Derek Cagle scored for Duchesne (19-6-3), which was the No. 1 seed in the Wickenheiser Cup playoffs. Goalie Jack Boschert made 24 saves.

“They’re a good team, very physical,” Duchesne coach Joe Rupp said. “We haven’t played anyone as physical as them. A very good team, very well-deserving.”

Vermeersch gave Lafayette a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the game. Vermeersch fought off a pair of Duchesne defenders to bury a Johnson feed from the slot.

“It was huge,” Johnson said. “Get one quick and it sets the tone for the entire game.”

Rubenstein made it 2-0 Lafayette, tipping in a Cameron Coats slap shot from the high slot, with 1 minute, 32 seconds left in the second period.

“They’ve got goal scorers on that team and we knew they could score at any time,” Carrico said. “We didn’t think the game was over by any means even with a two-goal lead.”

Conti got Duchesne on the board, scoring off his own rebound just 3 minutes and 27 seconds into the third period. It was Conti’s Mid-States-leading 52nd goal of the season.

Rigg gave the Lancers some breathing room, finishing a perfectly executed two-on-one with Trevor Neuse to make it 3-1 midway through the third.

“We don’t practice it that much, but it was a great pass from (Neuse),” Rigg said. “I had most of the net open. It came out of nowhere. We’re usually not the rush line. We’re usually the in-the-corners battling line.”

Cagle’s unassisted goal with 1:19 left again got Duchesne within one. It was the Pioneers’ third Wickenheiser Cup championship appearance after finishing second in 2008 and 2013.

“Third period we battled back, fought hard, didn’t have enough,” Rupp said.

Lafayette called a timeout after Cagle’s goal to reset itself.

“We didn’t panic,” Carrico said. “Even in the last minute when they scored, we called the timeout and said we are still alright, let’s stay focused. We are still taking it to them.”

Lafayette hopes this is the start to a prolonged run with a talented group of underclassmen returning.

“The last two years I don’t think we won a single round,” Rigg said. “Just to suddenly come out this year and go all the way, you’ve got to give credit to the young players. They really picked it up and helped us go all the way.”