Ohio AAA Jackets Take the Title in Connor 12U
DETROIT, MI – The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets 12U squad captured the 2025 Tier 1 Elite League 12U Connor Division Championship with a thrilling 4-3 win over the Chicago Fury, powered by a dominant mid-game surge and a clutch third-period response that sealed the victory at Taylor Sportsplex on December 8.
The Fury opened the scoring at 3:38 into the first period (11:22 remaining) when Ethan Wielgus (#29) struck unassisted to give Chicago the early 1-0 advantage. But the Jackets responded less than five minutes later. With 6:47 remaining in the first, Mark Sanders (#12) knotted the game at 1-1, capitalizing on sustained pressure in the offensive zone.
The second period followed a similar pattern. Chicago reclaimed the lead at 3:28 into the second (11:32 remaining) when Nick Zivalich (#21), assisted by Kane Contreras (#88), made it 2-1. Once again, the Jackets fired back. At 9:30 into the second (5:30 remaining), Cooper Hacket (#77) found the equalizer to tie it 2-2 and shift the game’s momentum decisively in Ohio’s favor.
The third period belonged to the Blue Jackets. With 4:30 left in the game, Jack Savickis (#11) buried the go-ahead goal, assisted by Henry Fink (#28), to make it 3-2. Moments later, at 4:18, Savickis scored again—this time off a feed from Nolan Sprague (#9)—giving Ohio a crucial two-goal cushion at 4-2.
Chicago pushed hard down the stretch and closed the gap to one with 2:17 remaining when Ragnar Koniukhov (#47) scored off assists from Lucas Acker (#34) and Wielgus (#29), bringing the score to 4-3. Despite the late surge, Ohio’s defense held firm, and goaltender Hunter Baxendell (#29) made several key saves to secure the win, finishing with 20 saves on 23 shots.
The game was marked by disciplined responses from the Blue Jackets, who answered each Chicago goal with resilience and timely execution. With contributions from across the roster and a strong goaltending performance, the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets 12U squad earned their place as Connor Division Champions, capping their playoff run with a statement win.
