CATHOLIC MEMORIAL/PIUS CO-OP 5 vs USM 2

    The Catholic Memorial/Pius Co-op hockey team defeated University School 5-2 to capture the championship of the Paul Meyer memorial Tournament at University School Saturday evening.

     The Wildcats looked like they came to play as they scored the game’s first goal on a power play early in the first period.  In the CMP zone USM junior Simon Leahy got the puck along the right side-boards and quickly sent a cross-ice pass to Alex Tesensky.  Tesensky one-timed a slap shot that whizzed past CMP’s senior goalie David Chapin at 5:37.

    CMP tied it up at 9:53 of the first period.  Senior defenseman Tom Chapin stopped a USM clearing attempt at the USM blue line and quickly sent the puck forward to junior Kyle Fink.  Fink spotted junior Joe Heckes skating behind the USM defenders and slid the puck to him.  Heckes cut across the slot, waited until USM’s junior goaltender Ben Myers committed himself, and fired the puck into the net.

     USM went back in front at 14:30 of the first period..  A CMP defenseman tried to clear the puck from the CMP  zone along the right boards.  Junior defenseman Zach Hafeman got it and blasted a low shot past David Chapin who was blinded by players in font of him.

     The Catholic Memorial/Pius Co-op team was undaunted by this turn of events and scored one more before the period closed.  Senior Goyko Rajak pulled the puck from a scramble behind the net and sent it out front.  Sophomore Sam Chapin was free and shoved the puck past Myers on the short side at 15:00.

     As the second period opened, it looked as though the fans were going to witness a close, exciting, hard-fought battle.  The Catholic Memorial/Pius Co-op team soon dispelled that notion as they took firm control of the play in the second period.  Fink got things going on a power play.  He chased down a USM defender who was skating behind the USM net with the puck exposed.  Fink stripped him of the puck, stepped out front and stuffed the puck inside the pipe at 5:30.

     CMP gained confidence from the play and began to dominate the game.  CMP furthered its momentum by scoring another goal at 12:39.  Forechecking ferociously, Rajak sent the puck toward the crease.  During a mad scramble for it, Fink fired a shot and the rebound slid into the slot.  Junior defenseman Cody Dixon rushed in and blazed the puck through the crowd to put CMP ahead 4-2.

     CMP added to its rout with a fifth and final goal in the third period.  Junior Dominic Zanoni sent the puck into the slot and junior Matt Baldwin fired it on net.  The rebound came out toward the point to Heckes who gunned it past Myers at 6:36.

     In the game David Chapin made 24 saves.  Myers stopped 20, and his replacement junior Alex Langer who entered  the game with 6:20 left made 5 saves.

   The Catholic Memorial/Pius Co-op team is now 7-6-1.  It plays the Greendale Co-op on Thursday January 14th at the Ponds of Brookfield at 8:15 p.m.  USM’s record slipped like an old lady crossing a field of mud to 3-6-1.  The Wildcats face CMP once again at 7:30 on Friday, January 15th at Eble Park.