Coach Pat O'Rourke's Wildcats grab the momentum on junior wing Matty Geither's second-period goal, take command on senior defenseman and Captain Harry Smith's third-period lamp lighter, and add the finishing touches on an empty-netter by junior forward Kevin Yarcusko with 34 seconds remaining.
Sophomore goalie Dylan McKeon is again lights out, promising sophomore center Aidan Spellacy, the ever-present junior forward Ethan Whitney and the selfless, but oh so versatile and talented Smith provide the assists. Senior defenseman and Captain Kevin Spellacy, Aidan's brother, helps show the way in the toughness department.
The Ice Cats, who comfortably controlled the shots on goal, improve to 16-2-4 overall and stay atop the GLHL at 4-0-2.
LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS BOULEVARD - As part of the music that roars through Serpentini Arena at Winterhurst after every stoppage of play, it would have only been fitting if "Tuff Enuff" by The Fabulous Thunderbirds was among the final selections on Saturday night.
In what Saint Ignatius head hockey coach Pat O'Rourke '90 referred to as one of the few times, if not the first, that the Wildcats came into St. Edward's home arena and won the physical battle, the more than tough enough Ice Cats skated off the Serpentini Ice with a 3-0 triumph in a Great Lakes Hockey League match up.
"That's the transformation we've made as a program over the last year and it's not going to stop now," said Coach O'Rourke. "I can't guarantee that we're going to win every game, but we're going to play hard every game. We're going to take it to the other team and whatever happens, happens. That's why we've spent so much time in the weight room, really over the last five years. But it's just starting to pay off now. They have the confidence they can stand up to anybody."
Saint Ignatius, which improved to 16-2-4, stood tall and tough from the get-go as it peppered St. Edward with shots on goal throughout a scoreless first period. Speaking of being tough enough, Eagles sophomore goalie Warren Hill was certainly that, especially throughout the first 15 minutes. According to the official scoring sheet, Hill finished with 33 saves off 36 shots on goal. This corner thought he had at least 40 saves.
However, just 17 seconds into the second period the Ice Cats, who are probably too young to recall The Fabulous Thunderbirds, brought a roar from their outstanding student-body support as gifted junior right wing Matty Geither scored off an assist from Aidan Spellacy. A Spellacy-to-Geither goal, sound familiar?
After St. Edward (11-11) killed off a Wildcats power-play opportunity, Saint Ignatius got a sequence of impressive saves from sophomore keeper Dylan McKeon. Dylan had 27 saves on the night.
Following a spirited skirmish that took place near the Saint Ignatius goal with 6 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in the second period, the Ice Cats were hit with a 2-minute penalty. With McKeon and Coach O'Rourke's line of defense refusing to give in, Saint Ignatius killed off the Eagles' man advantage and the score remained 1-0 entering the third and final period.
"It will be much sweeter in February and March (in the OHSAA state tournament)," said senior Captain and defenseman Harry Smith, who last season willingly moved from a forward position, where he would have scored more frequently, to help solidify the defense. "Coach told us he wanted to set the tone right off the bat tonight, to be physical with them. I think it showed up at the end of the game. I think we dominated them. This team is getting a lot better. We played great."
Like many of his teammates, Smith was solid at both ends of the ice. Harry delivered the take-charge goal when he scored off an assist from junior forward Ethan Whitney with 8:09 left in the third period.
"I got the puck at the point," said Smith, who added that he had a line to an open net. "Things are starting to fall for me. I guess it's my turn."
Less than two minutes after Smith staked his team to a 2-0 lead, St. Edward was again on the power play. But again, McKeon and Co. were equal to the challenge and the Ice Cats left no doubt when junior forward Kevin Yarcusko took an assist from Smith and scored off a near length-of-the-ice empty netter with 34 seconds remaining.
"That's a good team over there," said Coach O'Rourke, pointing to the St. Edward locker room. "We'll probably play them four or five more times this year when you count the tournaments. And we'll see them at our place (the Brooklyn Ice Arena) on Jan. 24 (for the second GLHL regular season match up). It's round one and it really doesn't settle anything. But you like to see how you stack up against them. They are the 11-time state champions. Everybody in Ohio measures themselves against St. Eds."
No, the Ice Cats didn't walk ten miles on their hands and knees, but it is definitely Coach O'Rourke and the Saint Ignatius faithful that they aim to please.
ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST: Taking in Saturday night's game at Winterhurst was one of the greatest players in the history of area ice hockey and one of the all-time best in Wildcats athletics history, Miles McQuinn from the Class of 2013.
Miles, who has a deep interest in pursuing a career as a broadcast journalist, is currently broadcasting varsity hockey games for The Ohio State University, where he is furthering his education. Miles is playing Club Hockey for the Buckeyes and is joined on the same line by former Rocky River standout Eric Sperli. Sperli, whom Miles describes as not only an outstanding hockey player, but a classy young man, needs no introduction to Saint Ignatius hockey fans. Eric's momentum-changing goal, a blast from up top, helped Rocky River upset the Ice Cats in last season's OHSAA District Tournament at the Brooklyn Ice Arena. The Pirates went on to advance to the state final four.