Saint Ignatius jumps on the Lancers early and plays a solid three periods of hockey on the ice inside Brooklyn's John M. Coyne Recreation Center.
The Wildcats will now gear up for two major tests this coming weekend - versus staunch rival St. Edward on Friday night at Winterhurst and an encounter with the highly regarded Raiders from Shaker Heights in Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday.
*On a personal note, the corner wants to express how enjoyable it is to work side by side with the hockey broadcasting crew from the SIBN - Trent Kennedy, Scott Geyman and Sean Reynolds - and of course, the versatile and colorful John Fanta, who was manning the camera on Sunday night. Gentlemen, you do an outstanding job.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright December 2012
Brooklyn, Ohio - Speaking in a calm, but firm manner one associates with every young man who is privileged to wear the C for Saint Ignatius’ varsity hockey team, gifted senior forward Miles McQuinn talked about what it was specifically that made Sunday night’s victory over Gilmour Academy satisfying.
“What pleased me is that we put together a whole game,” said the Wildcats’ captain, after his three goals fueled a 6-2 triumph over the Lancers on the Brooklyn Ice Arena inside the John M. Coyne Recreation Center.
The victory ended a three-game winless streak (2 defeats and a tie) for the Ice Cats and improved their record to 5-2-1.
“I think it is one of the few times that we have done that this season (play a solid three periods),” Miles continued. “Playing a whole game together, that was a big key. “It’s a big weekend coming up and this was a
huge momentum builder for it. This is what this hockey team needed.”
McQuinn was referring to Friday night and Saturday afternoon’s headliners, games that will give hockey gurus from around Northeast Ohio a better grasp on who could be the team to beat come February and March. Saint Ignatius faces St. Edward on the Winterhurst Ice Rink in Serpentini Arena Friday night at 6 and takes on a veteran Shaker Heights team Saturday at 4 in Quicken Loans Arena.
In compiling a state-best 39-1 record last season, the Wildcats’ only setback came to St. Edward in the Brooklyn District state-qualifying game, 3-2. It was an historical match up that McQuinn had to sit out because of a season-ending injury.
“A lot of these guys are going to grow up Friday,” McQuinn said of a Saint Ignatius team that features several new and younger faces this winter. “From what’s happening this year, with all of the parity, if we don’t show up, we’ll get beat. I can guarantee that.”
Although this appears to be a season in which there are several good area teams, but currently not a great one that stands out, Gilmour Academy (4-5) couldn’t find that equal playing level on Sunday night against
the Wildcats.
With the game not two minutes old, McQuinn started his hat trick with a goal off assists from sophomore forwards Brady Wells and Matty Geither.
Less than two minutes later, Geither made it 2-0 by scoring off helpers from McQuinn and senior defender and assistant captain Joey Malone.
The Lancers would close to 2-1, only to have Saint Ignatius recapture the momentum on a goal by McQuinn with 22.3 seconds remaining in the first period. Geither and junior forward Riley Ellis assisted on Miles’ second goal of the night.
Leading, 3-1, entering the second period, the Wildcats began to take control on McQuinn’s third goal, which was assisted by senior defender and assistant captain Alex McNulty and freshman forward Cam Gerard, and a long-range shot by sophomore forward Jack Wiegandt that saw Jack send the puck rolling past the left leg of the Gilmour goalkeeper. Jack’s effort was assisted by McNulty and freshman forward Jared Stepka.
After a nice glove save by Saint Ignatius senior keeper Mike Mulach closed out the second period, junior forward Beck Schultz tallied the Wildcats’ sixth goal less than two minutes in to the final 15 minutes. Sophomore forward Kevin Yarcusko and Stepka provided the helpers.
McQuinn, who now has nine goals on the young season, credited a nice up pass from Geither on his first goal, sent his second goal through a defender’s legs and went upstairs on the goalie and completed his three-bagger with another top-shelf score. Saint Ignatius outshot the Lancers, 41-24.
“A big key was getting up early on them, considering what happened last night,” McQuinn said, referring to Saturday evening’s 2-2 tie against University School on the Brooklyn ice. The Wildcats led US, 2-0, entering the third period.
“We let up (last night),” McQuinn continued. “We didn’t do that tonight.”