skip navigation

Ice Cats Sweep Weekend in Michigan

By Jack O'Rourke '20, 01/15/18, 6:45PM EST

Share

The Saint Ignatius prep hockey team has entered the toughest stretch of its grueling schedule.

Three of Michigan’s top teams this past weekend gave a taste of what is to come. Next weekend, the Wildcats head to Toronto, Canada to face some of that nation’s finest, before returning to Michigan to face two of the top three teams in the state. Two home contests against Hill Academy, and the formidable Barrow Tourney await the Cats after that.

The No. 4 and No. 8 teams in Michigan, Brighton and Hartland, awaited the Wildcats, as well as Novi.

On Friday night, the Wildcats faced the No. 8 Hartland Eagles. New Wildcat first-liner Aidan Millett opened the scoring when he got a breakaway chance and finished over the Eagle goalie.

“I got a great open chance in front of the net and I knew I could finish given the space I had and ripped one past him,” Millett said of the goal.  

Joey Trobenter provided a big Wildcat goal on a one-timer, and Mike McCaffrey finished the scoring off. Benny Savarino made 23 saves in the Wildcat win, allowing only one to beat him.

On Saturday afternoon, seeking redemption from last year, the Wildcats battled No. 4 Brighton. In a crowded rink with a 50-70 person student section cheering opposite them, the Wildcats played a tightly contested, defensive contest. After allowing a first period goal, the Wildcats fired back early in the second when captain Bain Kurtz evened things up. You never know how many shots you will get. The Wildcats were only allowed one in the third period. They made it count.

Aidan Millett had the puck and made a move around a man. From the top of the circle, he had one man closing in on him, and everyone else in front of the net. Millett held the puck for a few seconds before making the decision to shoot, and he picked the goalie with a beautiful snipe that proved to be the deciding factor.

“I thought he was going to come in on me to block it, so I held it for a second or two, but he didn’t so I just aimed and put it past him,” Millett said.  

To give Benny Savarino’s performance on Saturday (and for that matter this season), he’d need a few more paragraphs than War and Peace. Savarino posted a 40/41 against great competition and kept the Wildcats in the game the whole way. Savarino has been the best goaltender in the state of Ohio and has built upon last year’s state championship success.

Savarino’s defense helped all weekend as well with great play out of the pair of Michael Boehm and Greg Langermeier. Santino Pignatiello and Andrew Denk provided key plays all weekend also, and Aidan and Aedan Conway proved their worth with consistent play. Young defenseman Charlie Erbs held his own as well for the Wildcats and proved he can play against tough competition.

On Sunday, the Cats beat Novi, 3-2. Sophomore stud Alex Bilardo sniped early on in the second – he has improved upon his great rookie campaign. Bain Kurtz added the other two goals with help from fellow captain Mike McCaffrey. Nick Bernstein improved to 4-0-0 on the season in net.  David Strick and Rory Zawadzki played well for the Wildcats in a game in which they were featured often.

Clay Gazdak did a great job moving up to forward for the Wildcats. The young sophomore has done a great job of playing defense and showed great flashes at forward on Sunday. Gazdak is a young player to watch from both these roles.

Camden Kurtz played well also in his first full weekend of top nine play. Cam provides a similar role to how Bain played in his first days as a great puck facilitator.

The Wildcats will head to Canada this weekend.