Through the peaks and valleys of a long season, Holy Ghost Prep has stayed on an even keel. That was evident Wednesday afternoon as the Firebirds closed out their APAC campaign against St. Joseph’s Prep at Grundy Arena.
The hosts took a one-goal lead after 34 minutes before erupting for the three goals in the third period. The resultant 5-1 win gave Holy Ghost Prep a perfect 8-0 APAC record (16-4 overall), the top seed in the upcoming Founders Cup playoffs and presumably the top seed in next month’s Class AAA Flyers Cup tournament, which the Firebirds will enter as defending champions.
St. Joseph’s Prep closed the regular season 14-6 overall and 4-4 in the APAC, sharing second place with Hun School. The Raiders will be seeded second in playoffs on the basis of having beaten the Hawks twice this season.
After two periods, Wednesday’s game was up for grabs. Jackson Foster got things started for the Firebirds, off a scramble in front of the Hawks’ net, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead with 4:58 left in the first period.
Cole Garson tied the game for the Hawks with 7:07 left in the middle period when he collected a feed from Bradan Fisher and tucked the puck inside the right post. Mason Thompson put Holy Ghost Prep in front for good with 3:47 left in the period and Lucas Gonzalez extended the lead 3:30 into the final stanza.
Junior defenseman Anthony Cerne had the primary assist on Gonzalez’s goal. He and his teammates knew what was at stake going into the final period.
“Coach {John Ritchie} said in the locker room that some guys were going to have to step up,” he said. “We went out there and we were like ‘We’ve got to win this game, it’s a big game,” he said.
Chase Logue made it a 4-1 game 3:38 remaining and Nate Romer completed the scoring with 2:19 left.
By that point, the game’s emotional temperature had risen several degrees. The Firebirds’ Jack Gavaghan drew a misconduct penalty in the wake of Romer’s goal and Garson was given a minor plus a misconduct for head contact a few moments later. The Hawks were accessed five penalties in the third period.
St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula voiced his frustrations.
“We fell apart in every way possible,” he said. “We’re not going win hockey games that way, especially against a team like that. They exploited us.
“We’ve been getting away with this stuff for a long time and still winning games. But {Holy Ghost Prep} played well, they’re a good team.”
Cerne notes that teamwork was at the heart of the Firebirds’ success, on this occasion and throughout the season.
“Everyone came together as a team,” he said. “We put in a lot of work after hours to match up the lines with the other teams.
“We really played as a team. Gonzalez had a great game. Chase had a great game. Everyone found a way to put the puck in the net today.”
- The Founders Cup semifinals are set for Wednesday, February 18 at Ice Line. Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep will face the winner of the February 11 play-in between fourth-seeded La Salle and fifth-seed Malvern Prep at 3:30. St. Joseph’s Prep and Hun School will meet in the other semifinal. at 5:45. The final on February 25 will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 0—1
Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 3—5
First-period goal: Jackson Foster (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote and Lucas Gonzalez, 12:02
Second-period goals: Cole Garson (SJP) from Bradan Fisher and Jake Ely, 9;53; Mason Thomas (HGP) from Chris Marshall and Jack Gavaghan, 13:13
Third-period goals: Gonzalez (HGP) from Anthony Cerone and Valeriote, 3;30; Chase Logue (HGP) from Valeriote and Foster, 13;22; Nate Romer (HGP) from Marshall, 2:19
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 25, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 25, Jack Botthof (HGP) 24
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