Another season of high school hockey got underway last night at the SportONE Parkview Icehouse with season-opening ceremonies and a pair of rematches from last year’s Memorial Cup Semifinals.
Carroll 6, Homestead 0
It was a good night from start to finish for the Chargers, starting with the unveiling of their state championship banner all the way until the final buzzer of a decisive 6-0 win over the Spartans. Carroll was slow out of the gate and didn’t put their best foot forward in the first 20 minutes or so. Penalty trouble kept Homestead on the Power Play for a solid portion of the first period but a big shot block by Dylan Braun led to a shorthanded goal at the other end 6:30 into the game. From there Homestead was back on the attack at 5v5 through about the first five minutes of the second period but when the Spartans ran into penalty trouble of their own it started to unravel.
Carroll ended up with a 5-on-3 power play advantage and Carter Gnau capitalized at 5:21 of the second period, cleaning up a rebound from the high slot. A minute and 17 seconds later Gnau scored again on another 5-on-3 power play, this time a rebound from just above the goal line along the left side. The Sophomore would add an assist later in the period to make it a three-point opening night.
Not to be outdone though was Braun. Last year’s leading scorer picked up right where he left off and put in a four-point night. Braun’s second shorthanded goal of the game capped off a three-goal second period for Carroll in which they gave Homestead the run around from Gnau’s power play goals on. The intermission couldn’t have come at a much better time for Homestead as they simply had no answer for Carroll’s momentum late in the period and had to resort to icing the puck just to get a line change and catch a breath.
After four special teams goals Carroll tacked on a pair of even-strength goals in the final frame, one on a wrister from the point by Max Fiedler and another by Braun to claim the season’s first hat trick. That made it a five-point night for Braun including his two assists on Gnau’s power-play goals.
Leo 2, Fort Wayne 1
Game Two of the night lacked the number of goals that the previous one provided but it was certainly a closer contest. The goaltending matchup was intriguing as it was established starter Andrew Baumert in goal for Leo and Ben Marques stepping into the crease as the number one goalie for the Vipers after the departure of Aiden Orlikowski, last year’s starter. Both goalies were tested early as the teams went back and forth early in the game. Marques was particularly sharp early on a good chance by Leo Freshmen Colten Calhoun that kept the game tied at zero.
Leo got on the board first courtesy of Anthony Serafini who opened the scoring at 12:06 of the first period on a bit of a fluky play. Dylan Davis collected the puck behind the goal and looked to send it out in front. At first, it looked like Davis had banked it in off Marques’s skate and into the net but the puck had actually squeaked out in front of the goal through Marques’s legs which is when Serafini was able to finish the play and give Leo the first lead of the game.
The Vipers started to establish more control in the second period and Baumert shined with 10 saves in the period but allowed one past as the Vipers tied things up on a power play goal. Michael Scully took the puck coast to coast and a gorgeous toe drag in the offensive zone was finished off with a quick shot to the top corner on the short side for what might have been the goal of the night.
The feeling coming out of intermission was that a down-to-the-wire finish was in store and overtime was certainly in the equation. JJ Scott didn’t feel like staying late though and fired a one-timer from the slot into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal with 5:20 to play on a pass from Calhoun who impressed in his FWAHA debut.
There was more drama still to unfold as Davis took a slashing penalty 35 seconds after Leo took the lead. The Lions killed that off only to go right back on the penalty kill when Calhoun was sent off for tripping with 2:35 to play, ten seconds after Davis had stepped out of the box. No doubt it was an intense and nervous few minutes for the Freshmen but his team was up to the task yet again, killing off the penalty and hanging on for the win. It was clear from the reactions at the final buzzer how much this win meant to a group that had to wait until Week 11 last year to get their first league win. Baumert was up to his usual activities and made 24 stops to Marques’s 18, who did enough to win this game but was just outdueled by Baumert.
Power Rankings
I’ll preface this by saying this part isn’t meant to be a week to week reaction to who won and lost. Leo won but that doesn’t mean they’re suddenly number two and the Vipers aren’t dropping. At the same time, I’m not just going to recite the standings each week. I’m trying to find a happy medium which probably leads to this section being included at the end of each rotation unless there’s a pressing need to update it. In short, I’m still deciding how to approach this section and how it fits our coverage. Anyways, on to the rankings…
1. Carroll
They’re our preseason number one and certainly didn’t do anything to change that opinion on Wednesday. Personal note: On Media Night I picked Gnau as one of my breakout players this year. So far so good.
2. Fort Wayne
Obviously not the Opening Night they wanted. I still think they’ll end up with the two seed in February but that game against Homestead next Wednesday suddenly looks bigger than it did on Tuesday.
3. Homestead
Well they looked really good in the first 20 minutes of the game last night… Penalty trouble just killed them in the second period and that was that.
4. Leo
Quality win last night but like I said this isn’t a weekly reaction to who won. It’s going to be a tough test next week against Carroll but as long as Baumert is in net I won’t be counting them out and a good performance next week could start putting some pressure on the two teams above them.
Week 2 Predictions
Last Week: 2-0
Perfect Games (Correct Winner and Score): 0/2
Carroll 5, Leo 2
Baumert does all he can but Carroll’s offense is just too much for Leo. He keeps the clock from running but it’s never much doubt about who’s going to win. (Personal Note: Quick pat on the back for picking the Leo upset last night)
Vipers 4, Homestead 2
Really not sure what to think about this one. It’s not like the Vipers were bad last night. That game came down to Baumert just doing his thing. Homestead wasn’t rolling Carroll but they had the game in hand until the penalties started flowing. I’ll go chalk here and take the Vipers but this pick is the first one that I’m uneasy on the winner.
