Senior captain Miles McQuinn scores his 35th and 36th goals of the season and moves into second place behind Paddy Spellacy '12 on Saint Ignatius' all-time career points list.
Coach Pat O'Rourke's top-seeded Wildcats (29-5-3) will face fourth-seeded Rocky River (25-7-1) in Tuesday's district semifinal match up at the Brooklyn Ice Arena in the John M. Coyne Recreation Center. The puck will drop at 7 p.m.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright February 2013
Brooklyn, Ohio - Elyria Catholic's sophomore goalie Luke Farmer has a bright future and will only learn and get better from Saturday afternoon's 10-0 loss to the state's No. 1-ranked Wildcats from Saint Ignatius in the Brooklyn District quarterfinals.
In fact, if ever there was a game in which a goalie surrendered 10 goals yet still played pretty well, Farmer did that en route to 34 saves. And the young Panther had nothing but glowing praise for Saint Ignatius after he joined a long list of keepers who have had difficulty solving the Wildcats' deep and talented lines.
Moments after he and his teammates closed their season at 15-11, Farmer spoke of Saint Ignatius' speed on the ice and how the Ice Cats are so adept at screening, that he didn't even see several of their goals.
Screening, positioning, quickness, sharp passing, hard-nosed defensive play and an unselfish approach.
Coach Pat O'Rourke's Wildcats put it all on display in the John M. Coyne Recreation Center at high noon in a game in which the running clock was implemented after the 'Cats scored six goals in the first period. The day came to an end early in the third period after sophomore forward Ethan Whitney lit the lamp for the 10th goal.
"It's a game in which we can tweak things and practice on some stuff for the competition that begins on Tuesday," said Saint Ignatius' brilliant senior center and captain Miles McQuinn. Miles was referring to the Rocky River Pirates, who played the Wildcats to the end in what was a very deceiving 4-1 final en route to Saint Ignatius' Baron Cup I championship. The Pirates advanced to Tuesday's district semifinal face off with Saint Ignatius by defeating Padua, 8-2, in Thursday night's quarterfinals. Rocky River's standout forward Eric Sperli scored seven goals against the Bruins.
"A lot a credit for that goes to Coach Biondo (Wildcats assistant coach Nick Biondo)," McQuinn said of the Wildcats' ability to screen around the net on scoring plays. "We've talked about positioning all year."
McQuinn also emphasized that the 'Cats will be sure to keep an eye on Sperli and Tuesday night will not be a game in which they let one player end their season. "I can promise you that," Miles said.
Miles got things started on Saturday with his 35th goal of the season, which came off assists from senior defenseman and assistant captain Alex McNulty and junior wing Riley Ellis.
Sophomore forward Matty Geither scored off an assist from McQuinn and the first-period six bagger was completed with a power play goal by sophomore forward Jack Wiegandt off a helper from senior defenseman and assistant captain Joe Malone, a powerful lamp lighter by junior defenseman Kevin Spellacy, McQuinn's 36th goal of the season that saw him work the back line and come out around the front of the circle, and a score by sophomore forward Kevin Yarcusko that was assisted by McQuinn and Ellis.
At 8:03 of the second period Malone provided a power play goal and sophomore forward Logan Sellers scored his second goal of the season as the Wildcats entered the third period with an 8-0 lead. Less than two minutes into the third period junior forward Brian Fitzgerald made it 9-0 off the umbrella look and Whitney's game-ender was Saint Ignatius' 23rd goal in two district games.
Wildcats senior goalie Mike Mulach turned away five shots en route to the shutout.
"They were tough, they threw some things at us and their goalie hung in there," said Coach O'Rourke of the Panthers. "And Lester (Elyria Catholic all-league defenseman Collin Lester), as promised, was playing like he was shot out of a cannon. They put up a good effort with such a short bench. Our depth hurt them more than anything.
"I'll tell you, they scare me," Coach O'Rourke continued, in reference to Rocky River. "We'll have to put in a plan on Monday for them and their high flying forwards. Sperli is one of the best forwards in the area."