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Varsity Blue Ice Cats March Past Namers, Find Themselves in Elite 8

By Jack O'Rourke, 02/27/17, 9:00AM EST

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Also, the Varsity Gold Wildcats won the JV State Championship on Sunday.

The New England Patriots took on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. Despite being down 25 points, ironically, the Patriots were “2 Legit 2 Quit”, and came back to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots are constant contenders, and that rings true for your Saint Ignatius hockey team.

The Wildcat hockey team has proven to be “too legit to quit” so far, and are now turning the corner with the stretch run in view. The Cats have outscored opponents 29-1 in their three playoff victories over Brecksville-Broadview Heights (11-0), Avon (9-1), and Holy Name (9-0).

Before the Wildcats get their chance to make the Frozen Four with a matchup against the St. Edward Eagles, the Wildcats had to go through the Holy Name Green Wave, led by senior stud Sean Bauchens.

Several back and forth minutes opened up the game, including a beautiful Benny Savarino save on a Sean Bauchens breakaway opportunity. Then Matt Wiegandt went through a few defenders on his way to the net and lit the lamp on a finish comparable to his game-winning goal against St. Edward in last year’s District Final. Wiegandt has been an excellent defender in his final campaign for the Wildcats, and is a candidate for the Wirtz Athlete of the Year.

Holy Name’s Anna Cvitkovich stood on her head throughout the rest of the period, and as a result,  the Wildcats led by only one goal after the 1st period.

The fireworks began early on in the second period, as the beautiful chemistry of Mike McCaffrey and Bain Kurtz resulted in an outstanding goal, as McCaffrey found Kurtz, who found twine. Under two minutes later, McCaffrey scored off an assist from Kurtz to put the Wildcats up by three goals. Superb sophomore Connor McGowan took a great feed from Cullen Frebes and finished the one-timer to give the team a four-goal lead. Star senior Connor Koehnke scored a shorthanded goal from Grayson Gerard soon after, and Gerard put a slapshot past Cvitkovich as time ran out on the second period to secure a six-goal lead. Gerard has been a major piece in the Wildcats defense this year, leading the team in hits and providing crisp passes on the power play.

Santino Pignatiello scored on a wraparound goal and Frebes added a mid-3rd period goal. Michael Boehm added the last Wildcat goal and secured the Wildcat win. Benny Savarino picked up his 22nd win on the season with a 14-save shutout.

The win clinched the Wildcats’ spot in the Elite 8, and an Eagles’ win over Rocky River 3-1 later on that day made the Wildcats’ Saturday date with the Eagles official.

Tickets for the game will go on sale in the Athletic Department Monday morning and will cost $7.

NEWS & NOTES:

Congratulations to the Varsity Gold Wildcats team, which won the JV State Championship on Sunday afternoon. Nick Bernstein put forth a great effort in net and Andrew Denk notched a  hat trick. Denk’s third goal clinched the 3-2 overtime win in dramatic fashion. Congratulations to Coach Drew Vilinsky ‘97 on winning his second JV State Championship in his final year leading the Gold team.