With his fifth shutout, Calvert Hall goalie Michael Blount helped his team earn a return trip to the MIAA A Conference championship.
by Joe DiBlasi Calvert Hall's Senior Goalie Stefen Blount registered his fifth shutout of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time, as
Calvert Hall blanked
Archbishop Spalding, 5-0, in a MIAA A Conference ice hockey semifinal yesterday at Mount Pleasant Ice Rink, to advance to the Friday's A Conference Championship against Mount St. Joseph, at Piney Orchard.
St. Joe has won every previous MIAA A Conference ice hockey title and will enter Friday's final as the top seed once again. However, Calvert Hall will enter with more confidence than any previous challenger, having claimed two draws in three regular season meetings with the Gaels.
Calvert Hall coach Mike Shramek pointed to Blount as one of the keys for his team.
"He's a four year player, who has greatly improved in the nets," said Shramek of Blount. "He's been confident and consistent and he keeps us in the game."
Blount had 12 saves on the day, giving him 322 on the season. His goal's allowed per game dropped to 1.44.
Offensively, the Cardinals got two goals from junior Andy Yancone, and one each from Heath McLean, Andy Klick and Zack Walz. Klick, who notced his 24th goal of the season, had three assists on the day, and McLean had two.
Yancone scored the first goal of the day at 9:07 in the first period on a perfect feed from McLean to give the Cards a 1-0 advantage. Six minutes later Klick fed McLean, who slotted one by Cavalier goalie Austin Short to make it 2-0. The Cardinals added two more in the second stanza, and one in the third.
Shramek also praised Yancome and Klick. "He (Yancome) anchors our defense, and plays smart hockey. "Andy prides himself on hard work. He won't let anyone out work him in practice, and that has helped make everyone better."
Calvert Hall (11-4-3, 5-2-2) lost to St. Joe, 5-0, last year's final, but it may due to defeat the Gaels after three near misses this season. A late St. Joe goal prevented a Cardinal victory in a 2-2 tie, in December, and the clubs battled to a 3-3 draw in early January. Late last month they met for a third time and the Gaels edged the Cardinals, 5-3, in another competitive game.
St. Joe (11-2-4, 6-0-3), however, won't surrendered the title easily. The Gaels, who beat Loyola, 14-2, in their semifinal on Monday, are the only champion the A Conference has ever known and, despite three ties in league play, they still were unbeaten in the conference.
"We're looking forward to our rematch with them," said Shramek. "They're a very good team and we'll have to play great hockey to beat them."
The opening face-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday at Piney Orchard, immediately following the B Conference championship game which match St. Paul's and St. Mary's at 4:00 pm. There will be an admission charge of $5.00 per person.
Calvert Hall 5, Archbishop Spalding 0
CH 2 2 1 - 5
AS 0 0 0 - 0
First Period: Calvert H Goals -- Yancone (assist MClean); McLean (assist Klick).
Second Period: Calvert Hall Goals - Klick,(assist McLean); Walz (assists Vonakis and Klick).
Third Period: Calvert Hall Goals - Yancone (assist Klick).