Coach Pat O'Rourke's varsity hockey team methodically wore down the Strongsville Mustangs on Tuesday evening and skated off the ice at the John M. Coyne Recreation Center with a 7-0 victory in a Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League Red North Division matchup.
The Wildcats, who will now focus on Thursday's game against St. Edward in Progressive Field at 7 p.m., improved to 21-0 overall and 5-0 in the Red North Division.
Saint Ignatius, on the strength of a goal by savvy senior wing Mike Abood, defeated St. Edward, 4-3, in overtime on Dec. 15 in Serpentini Arena at Winterhurst.
The Wildcats, who are averaging more than six goals a game, took a 1-0 lead on Strongsville, as standout senior center Paddy Spellacy circled the back of the net with the puck, skated out front and fired home an unassisted effort at 5:06 of the first period.
Coach O'Rourke's team tacked on two more goals in the second period, both of them coming off the stick of gifted junior wing Miles McQuinn. McQuinn found an open side of the net off a recound and then put his exceptional stick work on display in scoring off an assist from senior forward Taylor Wolf. Super senior forward Liam Geither and senior forward Eamonn Walsh assisted on McQuinn's first goal.
Following some outstanding play in goal by senior Matt Kovesdy late in the second period - a stretch that saw Matt stop a shot with his pad, make a diving save out front, turn away a 1-on-1 opportunity and make a text-book glove save - the 'Cats killed off a five-minute major penalty advantage for Strongsville and settled the issue with a four-bagger in the final 15 minutes.
Doing the honors in the third period were Spellacy with another unassisted lamp lighter, Walsh with a tip home off a rebound from a shot by senior defender Will Smith, Abood with an unassited wrister and senior defender Zak Shockley, who not only scored the final goal, but was solid defensively throughout the game.
FROM THE BLUE AND GOLD TO GO BLUE: This corner would like to say congratulations to former Saint Ignatius All-Ohio linebacker Jake Ryan '10, who as a red-shirt freshman made his presence felt all night in helping the Michigan Wolverines to a 23-20 overtime victory over Virginia Tech in Tuesday's Sugar Bowl.
How about the play Jake made from his sam linebacker position, an effort that saw him run down Virginia Tech's all-everything tailback David Wilson for a major loss? Jake also had a big-time sack in the second half, another play that showcased his quickness and relentless pursuit. The only disappointing thing is that ESPN referred to Jake as being from Westlake (his hometown) and didn't mention his high school. I guess they never heard of Ohio's record 11-time big-school state champions.
And way to go to former Glenville Tarblooder Frank Clarke, as the Wolverine freshman made a highlight-reel interception from his defensive end spot.