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Ice Cats Rout St. Edward and University School in a Fun Weekend at Home

By Jack O'Rourke '20 , 12/30/19, 3:00PM EST

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The Saint Ignatius Wildcat hockey team played two huge games against Northeast Ohio rivals this weekend. The Wildcats played Saint Edward and University School, who were ranked No. 6 and No. 10 in the state respectively according to myhockeyrankings.com. 

Wildcat rout the Eagles on Saturday, 5-0

Saint Edward entered the contest at 9-5-2, while the home team came in at 11-0-1. The Wildcats and Eagles fought back and forth to open the first period. The Eagles seemed to draw first blood but a goal was waved off for an offsides after a puck sent in from the neutral zone took an odd bounce and beat senior netminder Zak Kovatch. 

That would be the only time a puck found the net against the Wildcats’ goalie. 

Kovatch and the Wildcats’ penalty killers made key clears on the Eagles’ lone man-advantage of the opening period. 

The Wildcats struck first on a first period power play. After a puck nicked off his stick and left the offensive zone, Clay Gazdak hustled and recovered the puck and zipped a pass to Alex Bilardo. The senior alternate captain danced around in the offensive zone before making a pass to Matt Sullivan. Sullivan, who was on the half-wall, started quick Wildcat puck movement involving Bilardo and Gazdak before finding a return pass. Sullivan whipped a shot, which was saved by Eagle netminder Nate Cappellazzo. The puck bounced behind the net, and Danny Cook and Alex Bilardo forced pressure before the puck found Rory Zawadzki in the slot. Zawadzki was left uncovered and went high blocker side to the back of the net. Pandemonium ensued as a swarm of “throwback” gold jerseys surrounded the three-year letterman. 

“I was standing in the slot,” said Zawadzki. “The puck got turned over right to me and I noticed I had time and shot far side.” 

The Wildcats continued to dominate possession and the defense held strong as the Wildcats led 1-0 after one period. Zak Kovatch saved all 8 shots on net in the first period. 

The Ice Cats continued to control possession throughout the beginning of the second period and had a very impressive penalty kill. The Wildcats tilted the ice following the penalty kill. 

An Eagle breakout pass was chipped into the Wildcat defensive zone, but Clay Gazdak made an excellent play to bat it down to his stick. Gazdak sent it towards the boards and Chuckie Wilson won a battle at the point and the puck continued to flutter through the neutral zone. Joey Morford knocked the puck around two Eagles and entered the offensive zone with Danny Cook by his side. Morford dished it off to Cook, who cut in on the breakaway. Cook wasted no time dangling and shelved the puck short-side over the glove. Cook channeled his inner Evgeny Kuznetsov as he flew to the boards and Wildcat student section. 

“I was swinging with a lot of speed,” said Cook. “Luckily, Joey moved it to me and I was able to go upstairs on the breakaway.” 

The Wildcats’ defensive efforts were strong all night, and Kovatch tallied 8 more saves in the second period. The Wildcats led 2-0 after two periods. 

Minutes into the final period, Aidan Conway dumped the puck into the offensive zone where it was chased by Aidan Millett and Camden Kurtz. The two seniors forced pressure and the puck found its way to captain Greg Langermeier. The senior took a slap shot from the blue line and beat the goalie under the glove. Langermeier “bow and arrowed” his way through the neutral zone. This goal was special to many in attendance. It was a big milestone in the captain’s comeback through injury and adversity. Greg worked hard to be able to play with his brothers as soon as possible. The senior’s presence has already made an impact. 

“The puck just popped out from a scrum down low.” said Langermeier. “I had a one-timer against the boards and just tried to put everything into it. Glad I was able to give us a momentum boost for the third period.”

The Wildcats continued to finish in the third period when given chances. Danny Cook won a faceoff back to Christian Radke. Radke released a hard shot off the goalie’s pad and Chuckie Wilson found the open net to extend the Wildcat lead. The junior was mobbed by his linemates. 

“It was a great faceoff play,” said Wilson. “Danny and Christian executed perfectly leaving an easy rebound goal for me.” 

The Wildcats were granted a power play in the final minutes of the third period. Aidan Millett and Michael Boehm passed the puck back and forth before Boehm found Millett. Millett’s one-timer went high glove-side in the back of the net and completed the Wildcat victory. 

“Mike (Boehm) and I were passing back and forth,” said Millett. “I just had an opportunity to take a slap shot and it went in.” 

Zak Kovatch got the shutout, stopping all 22 of the Eagles’ shots. The Wildcats produced 45 shots on net in the win. 

Wildcats’ offense rolls in 10-1 Sunday win over University School

The ultimate trap game followed Saturday night’s huge win. The Wildcats had to face a top ten team in the state and perennial championship contender, University School. The Preppers came into the game at 8-8-1, but the Hunting Valley team always seems to hit their stride in big games and in the stretch run of the season. 

Junior Aidan McLaughlin graced the pipes for the Wildcats in the Sunday afternoon game. The Wildcats held possession most of the period, posting 14 shots to the Preppers’ 2. The Preppers’ defensive effort was commendable as they blocked many shots and forced quite a few tough-angle shots. 

Following a stern locker room talk, the Wildcats came out firing in the second period. 

After an Erik Galauner shot forced an offensive zone faceoff, the Wildcats struck. Rory Zawadzki won a faceoff to Alex Bilardo. The senior backhanded a puck on net which fluttered five-hole and into the net. The Wildcat scoring wouldn’t end there. 

Aidan Millett made a pass to Galauner, and Galauner cut into the offensive zone on the circle. Galauner’s shot was blocked directly to Aidan Millett. Millett found a way to get the puck over to Michael Boehm. The senior rocketed the puck into the open backdoor to extend the Wildcat lead to 2-0. 

Nine seconds later the Preppers struck back and beat McLaughlin for the only time on 14 shots. The Wildcats would answer with 8 consecutive goals.

The Wildcats earned a power play soon thereafter. The puck movement was perfect. Langermeier and Boehm drew players their way while Kurtz and Galauner won a puck loose behind the net. Kurtz made a pass to Galauner. From behind the net, Galauner fed Millett, and Millett finished blocker side. 

The onslaught continued as Camden Kurtz and Matt Sullivan added second-period goals. 

Sullivan, Bilardo, and Millett all scored their second goals of the day in the third period. Danny Cook added two of his own in the final period. 

The Wildcats won 10-1 with shot totals being 37-14 in favor of the Ice Cats. 

The 13-0-1 Saint Ignatius hockey team will head to Yost Arena on the campus of the University of Michigan to play 2 games against A21 Academy (out of Windsor, Ontario) next weekend. Jack O’Rourke, Pat Keane, and Ethan Schum will provide the coverage on the SIBN.