Another overtime setback prevents the 'Cats from playing for that elusive Baron Cup.

An emotional Lake Catholic Team rallies from a 3-0 deficit after the first period and goes on to its second consecutive overtime victory in Baron Cup play.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, Feb. 2011

For more than 15 minutes on Saturday night, Saint Ignatius appeared to be headed for its second consecutive Baron Cup championship game.

The Wildcats, scoring three times in the first period and keeping Lake Catholic off the scoreboard until late in the second period, looked like the team that entered the Baron Cup I semifinal game with a 28-5 record and riding a 12-game winning streak.

However, after Cougars gifted all-around athlete Tommy Michals scored off an assist from Brad Rosser with 1 minute, 12 seconds remaining in the second period, that fickle friend known as momentum started icing his way toward the Lake Catholic bench.

And the emotion that followed only added fuel to the Cougars' rallying fire.

Lake Catholic, scoring three times after teammate Nigel Bennett was injured with 11:35 left in the third period, defeated top-seeded and Red North Division champion Saint Ignatius, 4-3, in overtime.

With the victory, the Cougars (12-15-4) advance to tomorrow's Baron Cup I championship game against defending BC champion University School (17-9-5). The puck is scheduled to drop in Brooklyn's John M. Coyne Recreation Center at 5:30 p.m.

Saint Ignatius, which won both of its Red North Division matchups against Lake Catholic this season, including a 5-3 victory two weeks ago on the Brooklyn ice, was defeated during Baron Cup play in overtime for the third consecutive year. The 'Cats lost to University School in OT during the BC semifinals two seasons ago and were defeated by the Preppers in overtime last year in what was a memorable Baron Cup I title game. Saint Ignatius' last Baron Cup championship came in February of 1992.

“Giving up a goal late in the second period changed it a little bit, but I still thought we were in good shape,” said Wildcats head coach Pat O'Rourke '90. “But obviously they get the penalties and see their teammate hurt, and they're pumped up to win the game for him.”

The penalties Coach O'Rourke referred to were both called on Saint Ignatius' outstanding junior center and captain Paddy Spellacy. Paddy was given a 5-minute major for “checking from behind” on Bennett and then, after Bennett was attended to on the ice and eventually taken by ambulance to MetroHealth Medical Center, officials ruled that Paddy would also receive a game disqualification penalty.

Before he left the ice, Paddy skated over to Bennett and Bennett's parents to express his concern. Off video from the game, it appeared that Bennett was already falling off-balance to the ice before contact with the boards. There was no malicious intent, but the rules state that the disqualification penalty had to be called.

With the disqualification penalty, Paddy, said Coach O'Rourke, will have to sit out the next two games for the defending state champions, which are both OHSAA tournament games. The Wildcats open tournament play on Feb. 21 against Parma. Spellacy, who has 35 goals and 30 assists this season, is Saint Ignatius' all-time goals, assists and points leader.

“They were saying that if a player gets hurt or the ambulance comes, it's mandatory (the disqualification penalty),” Coach O'Rourke said. “But we just watched it on tape, it should have been a 2-minute hook. “I just talked to the (Lake Catholic) coach and he said the kid is going to be okay, so I feel comfortable saying that. If someone hits a player from behind it's a dangerous play and we don't tolerate that, condone it or encourage it.”

Saint Ignatius, which is now looking for history to repeat itself, rebounded from last season's Baron Cup loss by going on to win the OHSAA state championhip. The 'Cats defeated University School, 5-1, and Sylvania Northview, 4-1, in the final four.

As for Saturday night, Saint Ignatius looked like world beaters in the first period. Standout junior forward Mike Abood scored off an assist from Spellacy, an authoritave rebound stick side, and the 'Cats led, 1-0, with the game seven minutes old.

Gifted junior forward Liam Geither had fans, both partial and neutral, applauding his effort, as Liam, behind a highlight-reel move, scored off an unassisted back-hander with just over three minutes to go in the first period. It was Geither's 25th lamp lighter of the season.

With 1:54 left in the first period, senior co-captain Kevin Joseph made it 3-0 by taking an assist from sophomore defender Joey Malone and firing home a lazer from the blue line.

But that would be the last offensive spark from the 'Cats, as after Michals' momentum goal, the Cougars sent the game into sudden-victory overtime on third-period goals by Andrew Mitch and Patrick Dunning. Dunning's goal came shortly after a big-time glove save by Lake Catholic goalie Keith Parker.

The Cougars, who advanced to Saturday's game by defeating Strongsville, 5-4, in overtime during Wednesday's quarterfinals, scored the game-winner with 3:09 remaining in the 8-minute overtime. Luke Turk did the honors off an assist from Mitch.

“We just have to deal with it, we won't appeal it,”said Coach O'Rourke of having to play the first two tournament games without his team's top all-around player, one of the best the state has to offer. “We don't want to lose Paddy for two games or anybody for any games. If somebody does something maliciously, we would sit him for more games ourselves.

“The person's hurt and you're worried about that. But I have to be honest, I didn't think it was our player's fault.”