skip navigation

FROZEN FOUR PREVIEW: Ice Cats Make 4th Consecutive Appearance

By Jack O'Rourke '20, 03/07/19, 10:00AM EST

Share

Clinching its bid to Columbus thanks to a 6-0 win over Holy Name, the Saint Ignatius hockey team will prepare this week for the State Semifinal versus Sylvania Northview.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 by MHR, will face No. 11 Sylvania Northview. After coasting through three postseason rounds, the Wildcats played one of their best games of the season versus No. 5 Holy Name.

Sylvania Northview, coming into the game with a 13-14-6 record, has had an impressive run of exciting wins leading them to Columbus for the first time since 2014. After beating Anthony Wayne 6-3 in the opening round, the Wildcats of Northview beat Findlay in overtime, 5-4. Northview had lost to Findlay earlier in the month of February but responded with a comeback win when it mattered most.

The win versus Findlay set up a District Final versus Toledo St. John. The Wildcats, who had fallen to the Titans twice in the regular season, were tied 2-2 with St. John's before pulling away to an eventual 4-2 win.

Northview is a very dangerous team heading to Columbus, riding momentum from huge wins over two of their biggest rivals. The Wildcats have seen lots of offensive production including Devon Dohanos (17 goals-15 assists-32 points) and Trevor Klee (11-18-29). Klee scored the game-winning goal in overtime versus Findlay. The speedy Jared Barfell (13-15-28) has also made a major difference for the Wildcats all season long.

Northview has been anchored in the crease by sophomore goaltender Tyler Clem. Clem has recorded four shutouts this season and holds a solid 86.6 save percentage.

Northview skated to a 5-5 tie earlier this season with Kent District winner University School and fell 7-3 to the Columbus District winner Dublin Jerome.

The Saint Ignatius Wildcats have had production all over the place this season. Nine Wildcats have more than twenty points this season, and the defense has held up their end of the bargain.

Benny Savarino has had an excellent senior campaign in between the pipes. Savarino is 21-7-1 and holds a 1.96 GAA while shutting out seven different opponents this season.

When comparing team totals, the Blue and Gold have outscored and given up fewer goals per game than Northview. The Wildcats power play has also outdone the Northview power play and penalty kill this season.

While Northview is dangerous on the power play, they have also succeeded on the penalty kill. Northview has scored nine short-handed goals this season.

The battle of the Wildcats should be an excellent match when they play Friday at 1 p.m.

No. 2 Dublin Jerome and No. 8 University School will face off at 10 a.m. preceding the Wildcats’ contest.

The audio-only broadcast will be live from Nationwide Arena and cover the Wildcats’ contest. Jack O’Rourke ‘20, Pat Keane ‘20 and Max Marazzi ‘20 will broadcast the game. Ryce Federle ‘20 will take you wire-to-wire between periods with his in-depth analysis.