CHICAGO – The Providence Catholic hockey team beat Benet, 2-1, Monday night to advance to the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois boys state championship game against New Trier at 7 p.m. Friday at the United Center.
New Trier advanced with a 2-1 win over Loyola Gold.
The Providence junior varsity beat Notre Dame, 2-1, in overtime to advance to Wednesday night’s state title game against Fenwick.
Providence coach Nick Ianciancio was named the Illinois high school coach of the year and Celtics junior Jacob Rott was named the boys player of the year. However, Rott suffered a shoulder injury Monday night and might miss Friday’s game against New Trier.
Providence will conclude a busy weekend at 5 p.m. Sunday when the Celtics face Benet in the deciding Game 3 of the Kennedy Cup series at Arctic Ice Arena in Tinley Park.
Title games also will be played Friday at the United Center in girls and combined-team divisions. The boys state championship will be broadcast in high-definition on CSN Chicago at 11 p.m. This marks the 29th year that AHAI will host its state championship at the United Center/Chicago Stadium. Glenbrook North won the boys state title in 2015.
General admission tickets for the event, which include parking, are available for $5 and can be purchased online at chicagoblackhawks.com, in person at the United Center box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
For information, including group offers, contact the Chicago Blackhawks ticket office at 312-455-7000.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Hornbuckle, Miami national champions: Miami (Ohio) University’s women’s program, whose roster includes freshman defenseman Natalie Hornbuckle (Joliet West), won its second national championship in three years last weekend with a 3-2 overtime win over Grand Valley State.
Hornbuckle appeared in 26 games for Miami (24-4-1) and had two goals and three assists. She had an assist during the national tournament.
YOUTH VOLLEYBALL
Girls state finals: Minooka (20-2), Frankfort Summit Hill (22-2) and Bolingbrook Brooks (16-9) won sectional titles Monday night to advance to the Illinois Elementary School Association eighth-grade girls state tournament beginning Saturday in Rochester.
Summit Hill’s achieved its sectional title with a victory over Troy, which had beaten Lockport Oak Prairie to win a regional championship.
The seventh-grade state finals were Tuesday night at Wenona Fieldcrest, and Homer faced Champaign Edison for third place.