Mount St. Joseph skates to its first MIAA A ice hockey crown since 2020

by Derek Toney

Mount St. Joseph is back on the MIAA A hockey mountaintop. 

The Gaels completed their triumphant return with a 2-1 decision over Calvert Hall inside a packed Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton Thursday evening.

Senior Aaron Werner and junior Cole Zoran each tallied for the Gaels (20-3 overall). Jack Tanton accounted for Calvert Hall’s lone goal late in regulation. 

Mount St. Joseph gained command in the opening period before withstanding the Cardinals’ final push to complete a perfect run through MIAA A play and capture its first title since 2020. 

The Gaels lost to Archbishop Spalding in last year’s title game at Piney Orchard.

“It’s always better this way,” said Mount Saint Joseph coach Mike Marley, referring to last year’s 4-2 title game loss. “It’s crazy…sometimes you get these runs with a group of guys who really care about each other. The effort’s always there, the camaraderie, they do it all for each other and it goes a long way.”

“We really clicked all year ever since workouts back in September,” said Gaels senior Ryan Currie. “We’ve just been tight all year.”

Currie and senior Jake Boarman, both reigning All-MIAA A performers, headlined a veteran core ready to breakthrough this season. The Gaels lost three straight semifinal decisions before falling in the 2025 final.

“My freshman year we won one game, so to be on top my senior year means the world to us,” said Boarman. 

Boarman assisted on Werner’s goal, putting Mount St. Joseph up 2-0 inside the first 10 minutes. The Gaels capitalized on an extra-man opportunity with Zoran scoring off an assist from Currie with 12:12 remaining in the opening period.

Senior goalie Nate Carr (four saves) kept Calvert Hall (11-15-2) at bay until 2:03 left in regulation when Jack Tanton got an even-man score. The Gaels were able to clear the puck off a couple of end-zone face-offs near their goal in the final seconds.

It was Mount St. Joseph’s fifth win - including Mid-Atlantic Prep League play - this season over the Cardinals.

“They got a great senior class,” said Calvert Hall coach Paul Kansler. “They persevered through everything…things went their way this year.”

Kansler tipped his head to his senior class, led by Jack and Michael Tanton, also returning All-MIAA A performers. 

“Easily the best leadership group I had in my 10 years,” said Kansler, whose team ended Spalding’s bid for a fourth straight title in Tuesday’s semifinal. “Early morning practices, playing club hockey all weekend…they don’t complain about it, they show up.”

The Gaels and Cardinals could meet again next week in the MAPHL AA Division quarterfinals. Calvert Hall plays Paul VI (Va.) in an opening round match at Mount Pleasant Tuesday. Spalding plays Bishop O’Connell (Va.) at Piney Orchard in another first round contest Tuesday.

Mount St. Joseph is the No. 2 seed in the MAPHL playoffs. Calvert Hall (2009) is the only MIAA team to win the MAPHL AA crown, also known as the Capitals Cup. 

The Gaels captured their record 13th MIAA A championship Thursday.

“We got our championship years painted on bricks in the locker room,” said Marley. “We told them one thing before the game: Go get yourself a brick.”