A season like his junior campaign would have been good, but not good enough for Dustin Gaworski.

Freeport's senior forward scored 27 goals and added 16 assists during the 2003-04 season.

The effort earned him a spot in the WPIHL All-Star game, but instead of being content with his play, Gaworski was driven to do even more for the Yellowjackets this year.

"I definitely wanted to score more goals this season," he said. "And I wanted to help the team win more games."

Gaworski has succeeded on both ends.

He recently finished the regular season with

36 goals and 28 assists, the former being the top mark in all of PIHL Class A despite missing six games with an injured shoulder.

Freeport, which finished with a 6-16 record last year, is currently 13-8-1 as it prepares for a first-round Penguin Cup playoff game against Deer Lakes Thursday.

"It's very satisfying," Gaworski said. "Everybody's contributing this year."

Gaworski has had many years to perfect his game.

"I started playing hockey when I was 3 years old, and I've always been either a center or forward. Scoring goals, that's what I do," he said.

"He's spent so much time around the game," said Yellowjackets coach Dave Hepler. "I was able to see the speed and aggressiveness in him when he was just 5 years old."

All the practice has helped Gaworski outside of the high school game. He also has played for two Triple A Midget Major teams, the Pittsburgh Stars and Hornets, over the last three years.

As dangerous as he has become on the ice, Gaworski's playing days almost came to an end three years ago.

At the beginning of his freshman season, he was seriously injured in an ATV accident.

"I broke a vertebrae in my neck and suffered a severe concussion," said Gaworski. "I went through a month of rehab and had to wear a neck brace for six weeks.

"There were times I got scared when I was laying in the hospital, but I love the game of hockey and I knew that passion would help me get back on the ice," he added.

Gaworski returned to Freeport's lineup at the end of his freshman season, tallying 20 points in just seven games played.

His numbers this season are staggering.

Gaworski has tallied seven hat tricks, including three games with four goals.

In a win over Steel Valley in November, he totaled seven points on three goals and four assists.

This season's effort earned him a second straight appearance in the league's all-star game.

"His overall knowledge of the game is his best asset as a player," said Hepler. "He doesn't give up. If there's a 6-foot-4 guy on the other team, he better be ready for Dustin to run through him."

Gaworski plans to attend Robert Morris University next fall, where he will play for the school's club hockey team.