#1 Saint Ignatius (29-3-2) vs. #2 St. Edward (24-8-3)
1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7
Brooklyn Recreation Center; 7600 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn, OH

Season series:
December 28; Saint Ignatius 5, St. Edward 0

 

Ignatius.  Ed’s.  #1.  #2.  The latest chapter of The Holy War on Ice.

Saint Ignatius has defeated St. Edward in their last nine meetings.  That includes three straight district final meetings (2016, 2017, 2018) prior to last year, as well as their most recent tilt, a 5-0 Ignatius win at Brooklyn just after Christmas.

The Wildcats have won four consecutive state championships and five of the last six.  They have been the #1 team in every coach’s poll this season – most weeks by a unanimous vote – and did not suffer their first loss of the season until January 25.  It is safe to say they are the favorites, not only in the district tournament, but the state tournament as well.

Saint Ignatius head coach Pat O’Rourke has made sure the Wildcats have approached every tournament game like the do-or-die situation it is – even early-round games.  You can bet the team will be up for St. Edward.

“We are preparing hard for this game, like it's the Stanley Cup Game 7 – that's all I know for sure,” said O’Rourke.  “My guess is the other seven teams are preparing very hard, too, though.”

This is the fourth time in five years the Brooklyn District has come down to the ancient rivalry between the Eagles and Wildcats.

“The rivalry game is always fun and a tough one to win,” O’Rourke said.  “It is the only game we are thinking about I can tell you that much.  If we don't win that one, there are no other games this season.”

Despite the final score (6-1), the Eagles did not look their best in their semifinal win over Rocky River on Saturday.  O’Rourke says he did scout that game and puts equal weight on it along with the first-hand experience against the Eagles in December.

“I was able to just sit and watch that game while the other game I was busy coaching and you don't get to assess much in real time,” O’Rourke said.  “We do have film from our own game, which is helpful, so we've used a bit of both in our preparations.”

While Saint Ignatius has played a competitive schedule based primarily on out-of-state competition, St. Edward has played by far the most games against the other district finalists.  The Eagles seek elite competition outside Ohio, but have played 10 games this season against the remaining OHSAA contenders, going 4-4-2.

“When we put our schedule together, we want to play the best teams in the state,” Sullivan said.

St. Edward will obviously try to limit the chances that Saint Ignatius is able to generate, but the team that interrupts the Wildcats’ string of state championships will likely get a stellar game from their goaltender.  St. Edward senior goaltender Nate Cappellazzo has started four of the last six games – the last two games of the Cleveland Cup and the district quarters and semis – and has stopped 88 of 92 shots for a .957 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in those high-stakes games, posting shutouts against Walsh Jesuit and Holy Name.

“We really need for ‘Cap’ to play well but we need to do something in front of him,” said Sullivan.  “We’ve got to make sure we give him a lot of help, too.”

He says if Cappellazzo faced 92 shots over his last four starts the team blocked another 30 that did not get to him.

The Eagles have seven players with double-digit goals, but junior Sean Kolenich has had the hot hand, scoring nine goals in his last nine games.  Another junior, Noah Schultz, has been a consistent producer, picking up points in 18 of the last 20 games.

The Eagles cannot get into a track meet either. A slow, choppy game that makes it a challenge for Ignatius to get into a rhythm would play to St. Edward’s advantage.

Saint Ignatius
Against the field:  3-0-0

12.11.19         Gilmour Academy     W, 2-1
12.28.19         St. Edward               W, 5-0
02.14.20         Toledo St. Francis     W, 8-1

St. Edward
Against the field:  4-4-2

11.30.19         Toledo St. Francis     L, 1-2
11.30.19         Sylvania Northview   W, 2-1
12.01.19         Toledo St. Francis     W, 3-2
12.20.19         Olentangy Liberty     T, 2-2
12.28.19         Saint Ignatius          L, 0-5
01.11.20         Gilmour Academy     L, 1-5
01.17.20         New Albany              W, 4-1
01.19.20         Sylvania Northview  OTW, 4-3
01.24.20         Gilmour Academy    T, 2-2
02.15.20         Gilmour Academy    L, 1-3

 

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest