The Saint Ignatius Prep hockey team had had opponents reeling as of late. Following a disappointing 6-0 loss to Fox Motors, the Ice Cats have won seven consecutive contests.
After last weekend’s 3-0-0 performance against Michigan’s best, the Cats traveled to Toronto, Canada for the PHSF Showcase.
In the first contest, the Wildcats played Everest Academy. Captain Bain Kurtz scored an early goal to put the Cats up by one over Everest before a breakaway evened things up.
Joey Trobenter capitalized off a turnover and finished a breakaway. Trobenter, who “read it like a book” in his own words, has worked wonders for the Wildcats this year and is third on the team in goals.
With five minutes left in the first period, Alex Bilardo picked his corner and multiplied the lead by two.
The Wildcats continued their success with two second period goals with one off the stick of defensive stalwart Michael Boehm. Everest made it a 5-2 contest before the third period with a late goal.
Kurtz continued his excellent night by adding two late third period goals and helped give the Cats a 7-2 victory.
“He’s a pleasure to play with, and always helps us on the defensive side, while still putting up points,” said Aedan Conway on Bain Kurtz.
Conway has been a great two way player for the Wildcats this year, and will play center in place of Connor McGowan this weekend. When asked about playing center Conway had to say “I’m just happy to do what the team needs me to do while McGowan is out.”
Against Victus Academy, the Wildcats hopped to an early lead due to two goals off the sticks of Camden Kurtz. Cam has done a great job for the Wildcats since cracking the top nine, and shows flashes of what will be a name to remember when all is said and done.
Only two marks were against Nick Bernstein on this night, and they came in the first as we had a 2-2 game after one period.
No scoring happened in the second period, and a Mike McCaffrey goal proved to be the difference as he crashed the net and the puck found its way over the line. Connor McGowan added an empty netter and gave the Cats win #20 on the year, and improved Nick Bernstein to 6-0-0 with under two goals a game allowed on average.
Camden Kurtz came to play once again, as he provided two of the three Wildcat goals against Andre Grasset. A snipe and a tip-in goal did the trick for Kurtz. Mike McCaffrey scored off a set play on the powerplay and the Cats won a slow-paced back and forth game 3-0. Benny Savarino played perfect for the Wildcats, but what else would you expect at this point?
Captains showed why they are captains in the Wildcats night contest against host Blythe. Bain Kurtz jammed in a rebound goal early, and the Wildcats played well defensively all night and held Blythe to few grade A opportunities. McCaffrey also scored a rebound goal, and added an empty net goal. Both captains played great and Savarino stood on his head in his second immaculate sheet of the weekend.
Savarino improved to 16-3-1 and holds a 1.5 goals against average. “My defense has been playing really well, and they have helped me make the saves I should make, and I’ve made a lot of the ones I shouldn’t,” Savarino said.
This weekend the Cats play Hill Academy and we will have that one for you on the SIBN, with a preview tomorrow.