photo by: Nick Henthorn

The Wheeling Park Patriots hockey team, pictured with their state championship trophy after defeating Morgantown 6-2 inside WesBanco Arena in the culmination of the three-day championship tournament. Park’s Luke Simonetti was tournament MVP and Parker Jasko was game MVP. Wheeling Park became back-to-back state champions with the victory.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Park Patriots made it back-to-back championships Sunday in the title bout of the 2026 West Virginia State Hockey Championships, defeating familiar foe Morgantown 6-2 inside WesBanco Arena.

“I’m genuinely excited for these boys and girls,” Wheeling Park head coach Mato Kret said. “They worked so hard all season and they knew coming in that if we stay true to our values and we play with relentless honest discipline and smart hockey, that there’s a good chance they’ll be rewarded for all their hard work. And sure enough, that’s what they’re experiencing right now. So I’m very excited for it, genuinely.”

Morgantown quickly found themselves ahead 2-0 in the first period, but Wheeling Park proceeded to score six unanswered the rest of the way to capture another championship.

“Those two goals, we didn’t come out as hot as we wanted to,” Luke Simonetti, who was named tournament MVP after the game, said. “We never got down, it’s just such a great atmosphere and we rallied back together. We built up our energy and we never gave up

Cooper Abraham and Parker Jasko each scored in the tail-end of the first period to tie the game, and Park took a lead at the 8:07 mark of the second period off the stick of John Tatich.

The Patriots ran away with the game in the third period, where Simonetti scored off a Jasko assist, Jasko scored off a Simonetti assist, and finally, Gavin Hudrlik scored on a breakaway, firing the game’s final score into an unattended net with two minutes to play.

Jasko was named game MVP after the final horn.

“What a testament to the resilience of this group,” Kret said. “We never doubted on the bench. It didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but then we tied it up, pulled even, and then the rest of the way we got to play our hockey and, and they got rewarded. So, yeah. Not surprised.”

Simonetti complimented the atmosphere inside WesBanco Arena, and the Patriots team and their student fanbase met along the glass after the game for a raucous celebration.

“It means everything to have just a little bit of support, you know, and we had a lot of support today,” Simonetti said. “And it was just exciting to see and it was great to be a part of.”

“I just love my teammates. I love being around these guys. There’s no better feeling than this moment. And we’re not done yet. We still got nationals.

In his first year as head coach, Kret has picked up right where the Patriots have left off. The next stop for Wheeling Park is nationals, set to take place in March.

“It is my first year coaching this group,” Kret said. “And I couldn’t be more proud to have a chance to meet all those young men and ladies, get to coach them and get to learn from them and with them together and, and have a chance to celebrate. So, really looking forward to that.”