Season+3

The new season soon to be off and running. The eight schools are returning. The schedule reduced to 14 games due to cost restrictions and arena availability. The home/away set-up to be repeated. The playoffs to mirror the previous season - the 6th and 5th place schools to meet in a "play-in" game for the right travel to the 4th seed for another "play-in" game to enter the Final Four. The semi-finals (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3) to be best-of-3 series. The championship final to be a best-of-5 series. Can the Catholic Central Crusaders complete the "three-peat"? School profiles to follow...
 * __Update 1__**[[image:ldsshockey/photoblog_chicago_freelance_photojournalist_michaeljarecki_highschool_hockey_action_loyola_goaltender_deerfield.jpg width="375" height="265" align="right"]]

__School Profiles__
 * __Update 2__**

__//Banting Broncos//__ //Out of the playoffs in S1, lost to Oakridge in the semis in S2.// //Graduated: Blackwater (13-19-32), Guendler (10-22-32), Berthiame (9-8-17).// //Returning: C 4Naglich (14-29-43), RW 3Novakov (10-21-31), RW 3Bempechat (7-18-25), G 3Brossoit (3.38).//

__//Central Golden Ghosts//__ //Out of the playoffs in both S1 and S2, finished last.// //Graduated: Storlazzi (12-13-25), Phipps (6-11-17).// //Returning: RW 3O'Keefe (9-16-25), C 3Aubin (5-18-23), D 4Elkies (5-12-17), G 4Reid (3.78).//

__//Oakridge Oaks//__ //First-place finishes in both S1 and S2; lost in the semis to RMC in S1, lost in the final to CCH in S2.// //Graduated: G Pielmeire (2.48), Garavini (14-24-38), Ndoh (8-13-21).// //Returning: C 3Macinauer (25-22-47), RW 4Deardorff (17-30-47), LW 4Burt (10-24-34), D 3Karovska (6-20-26), G 3Gaebel (1.99).//

__//Laurier Rams//__ //Out of the playoffs in both seasons.// //Graduated: G Serafin (4.03), Galbreith (11-8-19), Rushing (2-11-13).// //Returning: C 4Paix (8-16-24), RW 4Dini (9-14-23), C 4Pokuluk (8-14-22), G 4Vargas (3.40).//

__//Catholic Central Crusaders//__ //Two-time defending champions.// //Graduated: Sanschulte (14-21-35), Rhodes (0-15-15).// //Returning: C 3Mekala (19-21-40), LW 4Hoyle (13-20-33), C 2Namdar (13-17-30), RW 2Sonnenfeld (3-19-22), G 3Cervantes (2.56).//

__//Regina Mundi Titans//__ //Lost in the final to CCH in S1, lost in the semis to CCH in S2.// //Graduated: Parn (14-13-27), Giot (8-19-27), Sassetti (10-12-22).// //Returning: C 4Clouzot (12-18-30), LW 3Hagen (11-11-22), D 3Kaxiras (2-21-23), RW 3Beaty (6-12-18), G 3Bengtsson (2.79).//

__//Lucas Vikings//__ //Out of the playoffs in S1, lost to Banting in "play-in' game in S2.// //Graduated: Johns (9-9-18), Alfaro (1-11-12).// //Returning: RW 4Urbey (12-20-32), C 3Xie (6-24-30), LW 2Gee (17-7-24), C 3Chabris (4-15-19), G 4Grove (3.13).//

__//South Lions//__ //Lost to CCH in the semis in S1, out of the playoffs in S2.// //Graduated: Arrington (4-20-24), Kjonegaard (7-15-22), Coy (9-12-21), Eliasson (2-18-20).// //Returning: C 4Yilmaz (18-17-35), C 2Orsozova (7-21-28), LW 2DeFreitas (13-8-21), G 4Crawley (3.43).// --- __**Update 3**__ The first half of the season completed. The standings:

Goalies: Bengtsson (RMC), 5.97 games, 1.68 .. Crawley (SOU) 6.07 games, 2.31 .. Reid (CEN) 5.97 games, 2.35. Scorers: Macinauer (OAK) 5-5, 10 .. Mekala (CCH) 5-5, 10 .. Sonnenfeld (CCH) 4-6, 10.

__**Update 4**__ The regular season schedule completed, the RMC Titans earning the top seed.

__Goalies:__ 3Bengtsson (RMC), 9.98 games, 2.10 .. 4Reid (CEN), 11.73 games, 2.47 .. 3Cervantes (CCH) 12.37 games, 2.59. __Scorers:__ 3Mekala (CCH), 7-16, 23 points .. 2Sonnenfeld (CCH), 6-12, 18 points .. 3Valli (LAU), 3-15, 18 points .. 3Crownover (LAU), 11-6, 17 points .. 4Paix (LAU), 9-8, 17 points .. 4Hardison (OAK), 3-14, 17 points.

__**Update 5**__ The post-season ready to roll, the 6@5 play-in game, first. The South Lions @ the Oakridge Oaks. The goalies .. SOU's senior Crawley (2.96) and OAK's junior Gaebel (3.00). The scorers .. SOU led by senior C Yilmaz (8-8, 16), freshman LW Strohschein (7-7, 14), and sophomore C Oroszova (5-5, 10) .. OAK led by senior RW Hardison (3-14, 17), senior RW Deardorff (9-7, 16), senior LW Burt / junior C Macinauer (7-8, 15).

P1: The Oaks connected twice in the first seven minutes, took control early (reserve F Stuppy, winger Deardorff on the PP). P2: The Oaks upped it to 3-0 in the first minute (RW Hardison, SH), but the Lions rallied for two quick ones from freshmen Norwinn and Stayton, 3-2. Late in the period, OAK regained control, scoring twice (reserve D Pecora, C Fela). P3: The Oaks smothered the visitors, scored twice more (C Macinauer, D Karovska), coasted home, 7-2. Star junior Macinauer with a goal/three assists; senior Deardorff, a goal/two assists. The Oaks to meet the Lucas Vikings for the right to meet top-seeded RMC in the semi-final.

The second play-in game, Oakridge trying to get past the Lucas Vikings for a shot in the semis. LUC led by senior G Grove (4.20), who was blitzed by CCH 8-0 in the season finale. Ugh. LUC led in scoring by junior C Xie (6-9, 15), senior RW Urbey (3-10, 13), and sophomore C Gee (6-6, 12).
 * __Update 6__**

P1: A 1-1 tie, evenly played, LUC sophomore D Olumba in the first two minutes, senior Deardorff at 7:16. P2: The Oaks struck twice for a 3-1 edge, senior Hardison at 6:04, then senior Burt (SH) three minutes later. LUC sophomore Gee connected late, 15:52, to get things to 3-2 after 40 minutes. P3: The Vikings chased the Oaks out of the rink, scoring three goals within nine minutes mid-way through the session, wiping out the one-goal deficit. The stars showed up, junior C Xie, Gee again (SH), and freshman Berofsky added the clincher at 17:16. LUC with the 5-3 win. The Vikings earned a semi-final series with the #1 seed, Regina Mundi.

__**Update 7**__ The opener of the semi-final, Lucas @ RMC. The Titans won both meetings earlier, 7-2, 4-3.

P1: A 1-1 tie at the close, freshman RW Adcock counting for LUC (6:44), freshman RW Duplantier for RMC (9:05). The Vikings +4 in chances. P2: The Vikings took a 2-1 lead, sophomore D Olumba on a blast (Adcock, Lemerre) at 15:38. Evenly played. P3: The Titans roared from the dressing room, two goals from an unlikely source, junior reserve F Nychka, at 4:14 and 8:51 on the PP, a 3-2 lead. The Vikings tied it at 15:16, reserve D Parks (Adcock, Quillan), stunning the crowd. RMC controlled the last few minutes, but couldn't bag the winner. Overtime, it was. OT1: The teams traded chances early. Finally, at 10:28, even strength, RMC snatched victory, Duplantier's second of the game, third point, off a crisp pass from junior winger Beaty. **(LUC 3, RMC 4)**

The opener of the semi-final, two-time defending champion CCH @ Central. The teams split the earlier games, home wins, CEN, 7-1, CCH, 3-1.
 * __Update 8__**

P1: The Crusaders had an edge in play, and opened the scoring, junior C Zengelowski on a SH effort, 7:44. P2: CCH busted quickly, a PP goal from senior RW St. Cyr (Zengelowski, Todd) at 1:56. Just two minutes later, sophomore reserve F Emmini connected (Namdar, Hoyle), and the Golden Ghosts were in big trouble, scoreless for the rest of the period. P3: A soul-crusher at 2:16, on the PP, junior RW Kohl (Todd, Sonnenfeld) put the game on 'ice'. **(CCH 4, CEN 0)** The 'Ghosts held scoring star Mekala off the sheet, but that made little difference in the opener.

The second game, RMC @ Lucas.
 * __Update 9__**

P1: The home side, the Vikings, led 2-1 after 20 minutes. RMC senior LeBlanc scored on the PP at 2:28, quick start. But the Vikes countered, senior C Lemerre, SH, huge individual effort (Gee), 6:46, then senior winger Urbey (Gee, Berofsky) at 18:51. P2: The teams traded goals late, with the Titans carrying the play in the middle period. RMC junior D Kaxiras (LeBlanc, Dunshee) at 15:01, then LUC freshman winger Adcock (Xie, Gee) at 19:32. The Vikes with the edge after 40 minutes. P3: It was all Lucas, a barrage of offence - and goals - for the win. Senior Lemerre scored again (Gee, Olumba) at 4:53 for the 4-2 lead. It was extended in the second half of the period, sophomore winger Gee with his fourth point, a goal at 10:33, and junior C Xie connecting at 13:41. Thus, a deciding third game scheduled back in the Titans' rink. **(RMC 2, LUC 6)**

__**Update 10**__ The second game, CEN @ CCH.

P1: A scoreless opening period, the Crusaders with the edge in play. Their star C Mekala missed half the period with injury. P2: Freshman LW Kammerinke connected (St, Cyr, Namdar) at 4:27, 1-0 CCH. The 'Ghosts tied it late, sophomore winger Hasty (Grosshoff) at even strength, 17:46. P3: CCH continued to dominate, twice as many good chances, scored the 2-1 goal early (sophomore C Namdar, off a pass from Mekala). In desperation, CEN rallied for the tie on the PP, sophomore winger Searles (senior D Tays) at 17:34. Whew. Overtime, it was. OT1: Again, the Crusaders with the edge in play, CEN senior G Reid stood on his head. CEN junior C Aubin had the win on his stick, missed an open net off a rebound about seven minutes into the period. Ugh. CCH finally broke through, at 15:16, junior C Zengelowski (Kohl, Mekala) sending the two-time defending champs back to the league final. Wow. **(CEN 2, CCH 3)**

__**Update 11**__ The decider, winner moves to the league final, Lucas @ RMC.

P1: The Titans struck first, 10:45, even strength, senior C Clouzot (freshmen Dunshee, Bukasukas). That was it. A toss-up period. P2: Chippy play, no one taking advantage of puck movement. LUC sophomore F Gee hit a crossbar late in the period. Otherwise, as is. RMC with a 1-0 edge, 20 minutes to play, or more? P3: Solid goaltending from LUC's Grove and RMC's Bengtsson, some chances squandered by both. The Titans sealed the deal at 15:53 when junior F Beaty connected off a sweet feed from Clouzot! The Vikings were smothered in that second half of the period, no real scoring chances. RMC to make a second appearance in the league final. **(LUC 0, RMC 2)**

__**Update 12**__ The league final, the two-time champs, CCH Crusaders, but as an underdog against the top-seeded RMC Titans. Some definite history between them, CCH beating RMC in the final in Season 1, eliminating RMC in the semis last season. The Titans won 3-1 earlier in the season, and the teams tied in the follow-up game. Two of the Catholic schools in the city of London, plenty of pride on the line.

__**Update 13 - Game One, League Final, CCH @ RMC**__

P1: The Titans completely dominated the opening 20 minutes - and yet could only test CCH G Cervantes a couple of times due to poor execution in the slots. The Crusaders with NO clear scoring chances. None. At 18:17, RMC got on the scoresheet, junior F Hagen (1st of the playoffs, 6th of the season) connecting off senior F Clouzot's pass. P2: The Crusaders weathered another early barrage of chances, Cervantes standing tall. RMC G Bengtsson, a league-best showing during the season, gave up TWO softies back to back - and both from sophomore reserve F Emmini! At 7:31 (Zengelowski, Sonnenfeld) and 12:02 (Todd, Mekala). Ugh. Crushing. Despite the Titans' thorough control of this game, they trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes. P3: The defending champs found another gear off the puck-drop, chasing Bengtsson from the pipes. Sophomore F Sonnenfeld (2:18), Emmini again (6:27), and star F Mekala (10:11). Wow. RMC back-up G Zaytezev replaced his 'mate the rest of the way. RMC freshman F Rekers connected at 14:51 - but the damage had been done. CCH stole one on the road despite a -8 in possessional scoring tries. **(CCH 5, RMC 2)**

__**Update 14 - Game Two, League Final, RMC @ CCH**__

P1: An evenly played opening period, the visiting Titans striking quickly on the PP, the freshmen and senior - F Rekers (Dunshee, Clouzot) at 4:17. The Crusaders dug in, fore-checked, forced some mistakes, and it paid off. Two goals in two minutes, star F Mekala (Kohl, Todd) and sophomore F Namdar (Mekala) on the PP. CCH with the edge, 2-1. P2: After RMC D Kaxiras drilled a point shot (Clouzot, Eccher) in the first minute to tie things up, the Crusaders dominated, out-chanced the Titans +4, regained the lead at 16:46 on the PP; Namdar's second goal (Zengelowski, Mekala). CCH, 3-2. P3: The surge of the Crusader offence just too much for the visitors. Another dominant period, +4 in key scoring chances. Namdar put it away with his //third straight goal// (Zengelowski, Mekala) at 7:40. (He had four goals during the season, four in the post-season.) At 14:19, Mekala scored (Hoyle) his second of the game, figured in all FIVE goals, super-stardom, to be sure. Nine points in the post-season. For the second game in a row, RMC G Bengtsson looked ordinary. A change in Game 3? That would be gutsy, season on the line. **(RMC 2, CCH 5)**


 * __Update 15 - Game Three, League Final, CCH @ RMC__**

P1: The story of the evening, RMC's star G Bengtsson benched for the back-up, junior G Zaytezev. The home team roared out and dominated the opening period, but could only muster a goal from freshman F Leasher (Nychka, Clouzot) at 4:47. CCH managed to make good use of the one true chance at goal, senior D Chari jumping up in the play and scoring (St. Cyr, Hoyle) at 18:08. P2: An evenly played session, the Titans taking a 2-1 lead at 3:59, Leasher //again// (Clouzot, Dunshee). P3: Two minutes in, the Crusaders quieted the crowd, tying the game as sophomore F Namdar connected on the PP (Sonnenfeld, Chari). CCH then stunned the facility, scoring again for the lead four minutes later (senior D Thurston / Zengelowski, Mekala). But the Titans would not allow the season to end on this night. Junior F Beaty scored (Nychka, Clouzot) at 8:35, then freshman F Bukauskas pulled the trigger from the slot (Dunshee) at 12:43. The Crusaders had few chances to tie things up in the latter stages. Back to the Crusaders' rink. RMC announced post-game that G Zaytezev would start in Game 4. Interesting. **(CCH 3, RMC 4)**

__**Update 16 - Game Four, League Final, RMC @ CCH**__

P1: A slight edge in play to the visiting Titans, and a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Junior F Beaty's 3rd of the playoffs (Clouzot, Milburn) at 10:56. Clouzot's 8th assist of the post-season. P2: Stifling fore-checking, neither team with sufficient space, an even period, couple of chances at both ends. The Crusaders tied it at 11:41, sophomore F Namdar (Chari, Kammerinke). P3: CCH took control early, 6:45, Namdar //again// (Mekala, Zengelowski), finding a scoring touch in the post-season, his 7th! The youngsters from RMC kicked it into gear, tied the game 2-2 at 14:17, freshman F Dunshee (Rekers) with his first of the playoffs after sniping for nine during the season. Late in the period, RMC's Clouzot had the game on his stick, a break-away, but he was stoned by G Cervantes, forcing overtime. OT1: The Titans sent the final back to their home rink when Dunshee connected again (Sosinsky, Duplantier) at 12:32! A tremendous finish, a perfect ending to Season 3, the deciding game between the defending champs and the top seed. **(RMC 3, CCH 2, OT)**

__**Update 17 - Game Five, League Final, CCH @ RMC**__

The buzz around the building at RMC, junior back-up G Zaytezev starting his third straight game, replacing the league's best netminder during the season, junior G Bengtsson. Could the #2 guy bring the title home? It was the right move regardless, as Zaytezev won back to back elimination games. P1: The home side, the Titans, opened the scoring, freshman F Leasher connecting at 4:24, the play produced by fellow freshman F Dunshee (his 7th assist of the post-season) and junior D Kaxiras. The teams traded chances afterward, no one found the mesh. P2: A scoreless session, the Titans with a slight edge in play and possessions. The Crusaders pushed hard late in the period, but Zaytezev was solid when he had to be. P3: An early PP for the Titans panned out, junior F Hagen (stifled for most of the playoffs) scoring at 2:05, set up by Clouzot/Kaxiras. Huge. A two-goal lead. RMC managed the Crusaders in the neutral zone for the next several minutes. RMC freshman F Bukauskas missed a chance to put things away in the 11th minute, hitting the iron from the slot. The Crusaders weren't done. A PP opportunity presented itself a few minutes later, and CCH cut the lead in half, junior reserve Humphries off a fluky rebound (Sonnenfeld, Todd) at 15:27, a goal Zaytezev likely should have prevented. Ugh. CCH pressed in the final minutes, senior D Chari was denied by Zaytezev on an open point shot, and junior F Todd with one last opportunity from the corner. But the Titans did the unthinkable - down 2-0 in the series - to the two-time defending champs - winning one-goal games back to back to back - with the back-up goalie - while shutting down CCH star F Mekala, just two assists in the last three games! A wonderful finish to Season 3. **(CCH 1, RMC 2)** ---