CATS DOMINATE WALSH JESUIT IN BRINGING HOME THE THORNTON PARK CHAMPIONSHIP.

POSTED ON 12/19/10.
The Saint Ignatius Wildcats, displaying the offensive firepower that helped them to a state ice hockey championship last season, overwhelmed the Walsh Jesuit Warriors, 8-1, in Sunday evening's title game of the Thornton Park Tournament in Shaker Heights.

In defeating Walsh Jesuit for the third time this season, the Wildcats won their sixth consecutive game and improved to 11-3 overall.

Junior forward and captain Paddy Spellacy got things started with the first of his two goals and junior forward Mike Abood and senior forward and co-captain Kevin Joseph made the score 3-0.

Spellacy's 17th goal of the season pushed the 'Cats' lead to 4-0 in the second period and, after Walsh scored off a power play, Wildcats junior defenders Andrew Steed and Jacques DeVilliers left no doubt with their lamp lighters. Spellacy also had two assists and standout junior forward Liam Geither totaled four assists.

Sophomore forward Miles McQuinn, who was celebrating a birthday on Sunday, closed out the offensive barrage with two goals. Honored as a Plain Dealer Player of the Week on Friday, Miles now has a team-leading 21 lamp lighters on the season.

Saint Ignatius returns to its home ice on Wednesday, when it takes on Red North Division rival University School in Brooklyn's Coyne Recreation Center. The puck is scheduled to drop at 3:15 p.m. Saint Ignatius and University School split their four meetings last season, with the Wildcats winning the one that mattered most - a 5-1 victory in the state semifinals. US entered that March 13th game as the defending state champion.