St. Paul's has designs on winning its first MIAA A Conference ice hockey title and it proved it is ready to challenge for that honor, on Wednesday, as it defeated two-time defending league champion Calvert Hall, 3-1, to complete and undefeated regular season and lock up the top seed for the upcoming league playoffs.
The St. Paul's front line of Pat Powderly, Jack Burton and James Tautkus all scored in the victory, at the Mount Pleasant Ice Rink, as the Crusaders moved to 7-0 in the league and 11-0 overall. St. Paul's, which won the B Conference title a year ago, defeating Calvert Hall along the way, looked to be a major force when the MIAA's two conferences were combined into one after last season and they have proved that estimate on the ice.
Crusader goalie Ian Mackubin had 23 saves for St. Paul's, which took a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game, on a score by Jack Burton, and they held that lead until late in the third period, when Calvert Hall's Jack Brust tied it at one, on an assist from Matt Williams.
The Crusaders regained the lead with one minute left in the game when James Tautkus tallied, and Powderly made it 3-1 on an empty net goal with just four seconds to go.
St. Pauls would have won the top seed in upcoming playoffs even if the game had ended in a tie.
Crusader coach Eric Nordstrom praised the play of Mackubin.
"He was fantastic," said Nordstrom," who also raved about his front line. "They are our big guns. So far, nobody has been able to stop them."
Calvert Hall coach Mike Shamrek, who has guided his club to two consecutive A Conference championships and last season's state championship, said that his team had a lot of opportunities.
"We just couldn't bury it today. They got a ton of shots, and they're up and down the ice all day."
The Hall finished the regular season 5-1-1 in the league and 12-10-3 overall.
"It was very, very close until the end," said Nordstrom.
Both teams will enjoy first round byes in the playoffs before hosting semifinal contests. The MIAA playoffs will get underway on Friday when Saints Peter and Paul hosts Archbishop Spalding (3:15 p.m.) in Talbot County. The other quarterfinal will take place on Monday as Mount St. Joseph hosts Loyola at Laurel Ice Gardens (6:00 p.m.).
St. Paul's will host the Saints Peter & Paul/Spalding winner on Tuesday at Patterson Park (5:15 p.m.) in one semifinal and Calvert Hall will face the St. Joe/Loyola winner on Wednesday at Mount Pleasant (4:25 p.m.). The league championship game will then take place on Friday, Feb. 12 at Piney Orchard Ice Rink
St. Paul's 3, Calvert Hall 1
CH - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1
SP - 1 - 0 - 2 - 3
Goals: CH-Burst; SP-Burton, Tautkus, Powderly. Assists: SP-Tautkus, Schiech, Burton. Saves: CH-Kokkinakos 23, SP-Mackubin 23.
