by Brendan DeVenney ‘17
The 2014-2015 Varsity Hockey team is entering a season with great expectations and great promise, but with chemistry-building to do. After coming off a season that saw them make history in a way they may not have wanted to, all eyes will be on them to see how they will respond.
There are a lot of returning seniors on this year’s team, many of whom made their name last year and contributed a lot, especially in the 2014 OHSAA Division 1 State Hockey Championship Game, where the Wildcats tied Sylvania Northview 1-1 after seven overtimes to be crowned co-State Champions. Wesley Deacon ‘16 and Dylan McKeon ‘16 will be the promising junior goalies this year, after having standout seasons last year. Cage Cramer looks for a standout season as a defender, and Kevin Yarcusko ‘15 will also be an important man on the ice in his final season with the team.
Head Coach Pat O’Rourke always looks for strong leadership with his teams, and that, he says, is definitely found in his captains, who are arguably some of the best in the state of Ohio; senior forward Jack Wiegandt, senior forward Ethan Whitney, junior forward Aidan Spellacy, senior forward Jack Mazanec, and senior forward Matty Geither. Leading by example, they are Coach O’Rourke’s go-to guys on the ice this year. Joe Mertens is central figure on and off the field for the Saint Ignatius Wildcats.
There are also promising younger players on this years team who had standout seasons on junior varsity last year.
The schedule is another tough one this year, as they have the usual Great Lakes Hockey League matchups to take care of, which are always competitive, especially the two Saint Edward games. The Wildcats head to Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana this year to compete in the Culver Tournament versus some of the best teams in the region, such as Glenbrook North from Northbrook, Illinois and Shattuck Saint Mary’s out of Fairbault, Minnesota. On January 1, 2015, the Varsity Wildcats face Saint John’s Jesuit in an outdoor game at Fifth-Third Field, home of the Detroit Tigers’ AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens, which is part of the Toledo Walleye Winterfest. And they also host a Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend tournament at Brooklyn Ice Arena versus some of the top teams in the region as well, such as Saint Rita’s out of Chicago, Illinois, Findlay, and Culver Military Academy. Bottom line: a very tough schedule awaits the Ice Cats.
Even after coming off a season like last year, it doesn’t mess with the returning players, according to Coach O’Rourke.
They’ve stayed focus all throughout their preseason practices and games that they have already played. This is a team that is expected to compete hard in every game. The returning players are well aware that everyone is expecting a lot out of this team that made national headlines last year, and are focused and ready for the challenges ahead. As far as their tough schedule goes, they want to play a demanding and challenging schedule. They wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s going to be an exciting season for the 2014-2015 Varsity Ice ‘Cats, and their goal once again is a state championship.
