Saint Ignatius, which suffered two significant penalties that will result in players sitting out games, travels to Mercyhurst today to face Canisius. The puck will drop at 5:30 p.m.
Brooklyn, Ohio – As a veteran head coach who never offers excuses, Saint Ignatius’ Pat O’Rourke ’90, although obviously disappointed, looked at Friday night’s 3-2 loss to Walsh Jesuit in a very direct and correct manner.
“They have these new rules about checking from behind, which is a good thing,” said Coach O’Rourke, after his Wildcats were turned back by a talented group of Warriors in the home opener on the Brooklyn Ice Arena in the John M. Coyne Recreation Center. It was Saint Ignatius’ first loss in five games this season.
“We knew early in the season they would be stressing it (checking from behind), but sometimes a guy turns a little bit and ---. But ultimately, you have to hold up,” Coach O’Rourke continued.
In a game that saw 20 total penalties called, Saint Ignatius suffered the two most telling ones.
One penalty will result in a Wildcat having to sit out his team’s next league game and the most serious call of the night – a DQ (disqualification) – means the Saint Ignatius player has to sit out the next two games.
“And if he does it again, he’s done for the year,” Coach O’Rourke emphasized, adding that the player in question didn’t have any bad intentions.
“We’re trying to focus on finishing our checks, and they did a really good job of that tonight,” said Coach O’Rourke. “However, when you do that, sometimes a guy is going to be in kind of a delicate position.”
In game that saw both teams fail to take advantage of power-play opportunities, Walsh Jesuit (4-1), behind its outstanding goal keeper, Jamie Studer, and some solid team defense, battled the ‘Cats to a scoreless tie in the first period.
The Warriors broke the ice with a goal by sophomore Kevin Van Bokkelen at the 10:26 mark of the second period and, after the 5-minute major on Saint Ignatius, Walsh Jesuit pushed its lead to 2-0 on a goal by senior Ben Romanski with 4:11 left in the second period.
Walsh Jesuit, which lost its previous five meetings with the Wildcats and entering Friday’s game had won just one of its previous 10 encounters with Saint Ignatius, took what appeared to be a commanding 3-0 lead when senior Luke Matson tallied a lamp lighter at 10:53 of the third period.
Studer, who came up with 35 saves, including a diving stop with 8:44 remaining that capped off a highlight-reel sequence by the gifted junior, was finally scored on when Saint Ignatius’ outstanding senior forward and captain Miles McQuinn found the back of the net over Studer’s stick side. Senior assistant captains Alex McNulty and Joey Malone assisted on what was Miles’ sixth goal of the young season.
The Wildcats, who outshot the Warriors, 37-19, closed out the scoring when sophomore forward Ethan Whitney scored off assists from fellow sophomore forward Jack Wiegandt and junior defender Harry Smith with 2:35 left.
“Walsh played very well and it’s an early season game where both teams are working on things and trying to get their systems in,” Coach O’Rourke said. “Our main focus tonight was to come out and play hard. The second period was not so good. Walsh started faster than we did, we dug ourselves a hole and we really didn’t start playing furiously until the last five minutes or so. We have to play that way from the get-go.”
NICE TOUCH: Twelve-year-old Clare Geither, a member of a family whose name is prominent in Saint Ignatius hockey, dropped the honorary puck before the start of last night's Jesuit School matchup on the Brooklyn ice.
*Congratulations to seniors Tommy Zeigler (126), Jim Ferritto (113) and Dan Lynch (145), and junior Anthony McLaughlin (170), as they each advanced to today's semifnal round at the Solon Comet Classic wrestling tournament. The Wildcats are currently in eighth place with 58 points.