GAME IS CALLED AFTER TWO FULL PERIODS BECAUSE OF THE OHSAA MERCY RULE. THE FOCUS IS NOW ON A TALENTED ROCKY RIVER TEAM.
BY EDDIE DWYER, COPYRIGHT FEBRUARY 2012
Saint Ignatius head hockey coach Pat O’Rourke ’90 said his team did what it had to do on Saturday afternoon, with an emphasis on doing it in a classy manner.
It was a job well done.
The Wildcats, scoring four times in the first 15 minutes and adding seven more goals in the second period, defeated Elyria Catholic, 11-0, in the second round of playoff action in Brooklyn’s John M. Coyne Recreation Center. The game ended after two periods because of the mercy rule.
Saint Ignatius, which improved its all-time, state-best record to 38-0, will face Rocky River (27-6) on Tuesday night in the semifinal round of the state-qualifying district bracket. A puck will drop in the Coyne Recreation Center at 7 p.m.
Rocky River advanced to the showdown with the ‘Cats by defeating Amherts Steele, 6-4.
“We had a close game with them in the tournament last season,” said Coach O’Rourke of Elyria Catholic, which closed its season at 11-21. ‘But I think they graduated some key players. You just want to win it in the right manner.”
The ‘Cats wasted little time in establishing their superiority, as standout senior center Paddy Spellacy took assists from senior forward Liam Geither and junior defender Joey Malone and lit the lamp with the game not two minutes old.
Less than two minutes later, sophomore forward Harry Smith went top shelf from the left side for Saint Ignatius’ second goal and Harry's first of three lamp lighters. It came off assists from gifted senior forwards Colton Riemenschneider and Mike Abood.
The Wildcats, who are seeking their third state championship and the second since March 2010, closed the first-period scoring on back-to-back goals by underrated senior forward Taylor Wolf. Geither, who is having a dream season (105 points), assisted on Taylor’s first lamp lighter and Spellacy had the helper on the second of Wolf’s three goals.
It was a bit of a family affair in the second period, as Harry Smith‘s second goal came off assists from his brother, talented and tough senior defender Will Smith, and Riemenschneider.
Wolf completed his hat trick, which was Saint Ignatius’ ninth goal, off assists from the Spellacy brothers, Paddy and sophomore defender Kevin.
In between those family-flavored goals, Abood, off a veteran move, skated from the right corner into the slot and fired home his 31st goal of the season.
Sophomore forward Beck Schultz got into the scoring act off a helper from senior forward Eamonn Walsh. Paddy Spellacy delivered his second lamp lighter with assists from Wolf and his life-long pal Geither, Harry Smith locked up his first varsity career hat trick off assists from Riemenschneider and Abood, and sophomore forward Riley Ellis closed out the scoring with his first varsity lamp lighter.
Wildcats senior Bobby Fricker got the start in goal and finished his shutout with nine saves, including six in the first period.
“Rocky River is a very good team, very dangerous,” said Coach O’Rourke, whose attention immediately turned to Tuesday night’s district semifinal. “They have a high-flying first line, their second line is very good, too, and their goalie is very talented.”
The Pirates’ Tyler Harkins and Eric Sperli each came up with hat tricks against Amherst and Max Lurie assisted on four of those lamp lighters. Rocky River goalie Jake Nicholson turned away 32 shots.
We thought you would like a few names from the Pirates’ Port to take note of. Have a great rest of the weekend.