| RECORD: 20-5-0 | ||
| Date | Visitor | Home |
| 2/18 | Cathedral 7 | Marshall School 5 |
| 2/16 | Cathedral 3 | Orono 0 |
| 2/14 | Cathedral 3 | Rogers 4 |
| 2/11 | Princeton 1 | Cathedral 6 |
| 2/10 | Cathedral 7 | Hutchinson 2 |
| 2/4 | Little Falls 1 | Cathedral 7 |
| 2/3 | Fergus Falls 0 | Cathedral 11 |
| 1/26 | Wadena-DC 2 | Cathedral 13 |
| 1/24 | Cathedral 7 | L/D-C 2 |
| 1/21 | Cathedral 8 | Alexandria 1 |
| 1/17 | Apollo 1 | Cathedral 5 |
| 1/13 | Cathedral 1 | Hermantown 2 |
| 1/10 | Mound-Westonka 3 | Cathedral 6 |
| 1/7 | Cathedral 3 | Warroad 2 |
| 1/6 | Cathedral 7 | Crookston 3 |
| 1/3 | Cathedral 1 | Holy Family 4 |
| 12/22 | Mora 0 | Cathedral 14 |
| 12/19 | Proctor 0 | Cathedral 6 |
| 12/17 | Sauk Rapids 0 | Cathedral 6 |
| 12/15 | Delano 1 | Cathedral 2 (OT) |
| 12/9 | Lourdes 4 | Cathedral 1 |
| 12/6 | Cathedral 4 | Little Falls 3 |
| 12/2 | Cathedral 8 | Sartell 0 |
| 11/26 | Cathedral 8 | Providence 2 |
| 11/25 | Breck School 8 | Cathedral 1 |
CHS tops the Toppers for 20th win
Team speed and roster depth, combined with a never-quit attitude, powered Cathedral to a 7-5 defeat of fifth-ranked Marshall School Feb. 18 in Duluth. It was the first road win over the Hilltoppers in recent memory. The Crusaders now gear up for post-season play 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the MAC.
Trailing 2-0 in the second period, CHS got a goal from its third line, in the person of Peter Spethmann. The junior center teamed with linemates Travis Gadbois and Cory Wheelock to wreak havoc in the Toppers' defensive zone throughout the game. Coach Eric Johnson played his team-depth card to the hilt, wearing down a Marshall School squad that needed four goals from its oft-shifted senior forward Judd Peterson to keep pace.
The Crusaders then got a confidence-booster from alternate captain Austin Swingle. The junior defenseman carried the puck through two zones, skated behind the Marshall net and then backhanded a pass to the slot for a Mitch Fritz score. Game tied 2-2.
With Cathedral trailing 3-2 at the end of the second, Fritz scored a powerplay goal as time expired, sending equipment flying on the Marshall bench and ushering the Crusaders into a fired-up intermission locker room. CHS erupted for two goals in 60-seconds to start the third. The momentum had shifted in favor of the blue-and-gold, as evidenced by the 16-8 shots advantage in the final frame.
Peterson scored his fourth goal about four minutes into the third. Danny Johnston responded a short time later with a solid body check on the 190-pound D-I prospect, just feet from the Cathedral bench, a symbol of the shifting fortunes of the day. Cathedral sealed the deal with a goal from Tommy Hall and an empty-netter by Austin Poganski.
Poganski scored twice and earned an assist while enduring clutch-and-grab defense and public-address mispronunciations of his family name that made every Polish patriot from Tadeusz Kościuszko to Karol Wojtyla turn over in their graves.
Connor Amundson recorded 23 saves for his eighth win of the season.
As for Coach Johnson: He stuck steadfastly to his forward and defensive rotations with the same resolve he displayed in October when he led a Flash mob dance routine at a Homecoming pepfest. Dynomite!
CHS ends the regular season with 20 wins, the most since 2008-09 team that went 22-3-0 in the regular season and 4-2-0 in the postseason. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub game sheet. View the game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast.
Crusaders shut out Orono
A revitalized powerplay and perfect goaltending helped Cathedral defeat Orono 3-0 Feb. 16 in Long Lake. Junior netminder Josh Robak saved 15 for his 12th win and fifth shutout of the season. Michael Kerber and Austin Poganski each scored on the powerplay. Tommy Hall scored on an assist from sophomore defenseman Jordan Maetche. CHS' penalty killers protected a one-goal lead in the second period by killing off a five-minute man-disadvantage. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub game sheet. View the game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast.
CHS loses in Rogers
After a month of feasting on lesser opponents, Cathedral met its match Feb. 14, losing 4-3, on the road, to Section 5A rival Rogers. Seniors Sam Wood, Danny Johnston and Ryan Kissner scored for CHS. An opportunity to take control of the game slipped through the Crusaders' gloves early. Leading 2-1, Cathedral was unable to score during a five-minute man-advantage that put one of the Royals' top forwards in the penalty box. Ill-advised penalties in the second and third periods plagued Cathedral's ability to keep pace with the Royals. The Crusaders out-shot Rogers 35-30, but went scoreless on four powerplay chances. Rogers converted two-of-three powerplay opportunities. Connor Amundson was in net for the visitors. CHS averaged eight goals a game during an eight-game win streak that dated back to Jan. 17. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub game sheet. View the game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast.
Cathedral earns 18th win over Princeton
Even-strength goals by Austin Poganski and Austin Swingle set the tone for a 6-1 Granite Ridge Conference win over Princeton Feb. 11 at the MAC. Mitch Fritz maintained his hot hand, scoring twice and recording two assists. Danny Johnston and Ryan Kissner also scored. Johnston reached the 50-point threshold on the season with an assist on the final goal of the game. The senior captain electrified the crowd in the second-period with breakaway goal over the Princeton goalie's right shoulder. Josh Robak saved 25. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF). View the game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast. Photos by Mike Hornung and Jeff Wood.
Fritz fries the Tigers
Junior wing Mitch Fritz continued his torrid scoring spree, notching four goals and an assist in Cathedral's 7-2 road win Feb. 10 in Hutchinson. Senior defenseman Michael Kerber recorded two assists, including a faceoff-circle-to-red line pass to a streaking Fritz, who buried a breakaway goal, his second, to give CHS a 2-1 lead with 4:30 remaining in the first. Tommy Hall scored the oddest goal of the game. While racing down the right boards in the first period, the sophomore forward wristed a at the goalie. The pucked rebounded high into the air. As the puck came down it bounced off the goalie's back and into the net. Austin Swingle and Danny Johnston each scored a goal for CHS. Connor Amundson saved 13. Fritz has recorded 14 goals and five assists in the last seven games. With three regular season games remaining, the Crusaders' 17 wins surpass the season-win totals of the 2010 and 2011 Cathedral teams. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub game sheet. View the game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast. Photos by Andy Golebiowski.
Coaches
Eric Johnson, coach
Ron Brown, assistant
Tom Bruce, assistant
Dave Erickson, goalies
Nick Thibault, assistant
Nick Maiers, assistant
Managers
Tommy Weisbrich
Tom Baker
Statistician
Elliott Jaye
Blue Line Club
Scott Bailey, president
Keith Swingle, past president
Jeff Spethmann, vice president
Mary Jo Robak, treasurer
Brigid Golebiowski, secretary
Jeff Wood, website
Activities
Emmett Kennan, activities director
Julie Murphy, administrative assistant
Administration
Mike Mullin, president
Lynn Grewing, principal
2010-11 Season Summaries
16-10-1 record
Wright County Conference title
Section 5A quarterfinal win
Section 5A GPA Champions
Season ends in Section 5A semifinal
St. Cloud Cathedral lost 7-1 to Hermantown Feb. 26 at Hermantown Arena in a Section 5A seminfinal match-up. Hermantown jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead and sent the game into running time mid-way through the third.
Senior captain Bret Schwinghammer scored the Crusaders' lone goal with four seconds remaining in the opening frame. His defensive partner for the game, senior Patrick Larkin, earned an assist on the powerplay tally. Connor Amundson saved 30.
CHS ends the season with a 16-10-1 mark and a Wright County Conference title.
View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet.
Cathedral advances to Section 5A semi
Cathedral capitalized early on a roster problem to defeat St. Michael-Albertville (STMA) 16-1 Feb. 24 at the MAC. The win advanced the Crusaders to a Feb. 26 semifinal clash in Hermantown.
Illness and injury forced STMA to play senior forward Brian LaVallee in goal. The Knights were never in the game, giving up nine first-period goals and a game-total 72 shots.
Josh Robak saved 16. Danny Johnston scored shorthanded.
St. Cloud scoring highlights:
- T.J. Bruce, Ryan Kissner and Will Hammer each recorded hat tricks
- Sam Wood, Chris Knoblauch, Johnston and Bruce each earned three assists
View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Marshall goalie stymies Crusaders on Senior Day
Cathedral matched its opponent in most phases of the game, but couldn't solve goalie Christian Coffman, losing 6-2 to The Marshall School Feb. 19 at the MAC.
The Crusaders finish the regular season 15-9-1 and are Wright County Conference champions (12-1-1). The team is fourth-seeded for the Section 5A playoffs.
St. Cloud played a strong first period that featured training-video cycling by the Crusaders' top line and great saves by the aforementioned Coffman.
T.J. Bruce scored for CHS on assists from Will Hammer and Austin Poganski.
At the second intermission, CHS trailed 2-1, but enjoyed a 21-15 shot advantage.
The third frame saw Duluth collect two goals and an emptynetter. Poganski found the net with a helper credited to Bruce.
On the game, St. Cloud out-shot the Hilltoppers from Duluth 33-29. Another bright note was the penalty kill: CHS snuffed out all three Duluth powerplay opportunities.
Connor Amundson saved 23.
Following the game, the Blue Line Club hosted a meal for all CHS Hockey players and their families. Honored were seniors T.J. Bruce, Chris Knoblauch, Patrick Larkin, Craig Pfannenstein, Zach Polfliet, Bret Schwinghammer, Landon Strong, Andrew Thome and Tommy Weisbrich.
View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Hat tricks for Hammer and Poganski at Litchfield
Cathedral's speed and puck movement overmatched Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 9-1 Feb. 18 at Litchfield Civic Arena. Recording two goals and an assist in the first 10 minutes of the game was Austin Poganski. The frosh forward notched a third goal in the second period. It was his third hat trick of the season.
Linemate Will Hammer earned three goals -- his first high school hat -- and three assists. T.J. Bruce notched five assists.
Junior wing Ryan Kissner regained his scoring touch with a powerplay goal. Junior defenseman Sam Wood and sophomore forward Pete Thibault each recorded two assists. Beau Gerding, a sophomore forward, scored his first varsity goal.
Josh Robak saved 15. The Dragons' lone goal came on a delayed penalty with 37 seconds left in the second.
Seniors deliver in Orono win
When push came to shove, Cathedral's seniors were the difference-makers in a 4-3 win over Orono Feb. 15 at the MAC.
Senior Chris Knoblauch scored the gamewinner with 2:48 remaining on assists from seniors Patrick Larkin and Craig Pfannenstein. Senior T.J. Bruce recorded three assists, setting up back-to-back powerplay goals in the penalty-filled second period.
Austin Poganski scored two goals. Defenseman Austin Swingle scored for the second time in as many games. Connor Amundson saved 24, including 10 in the third period.
The game was marred by a game disqualification, a bench penalty and four unsportsmanlike conduct calls. The two teams combined for 51 penalty minutes. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Disciplined Crusaders dissect Waconia
A makeshift Cathedral lineup played a model team game, displaying extraordinary puck movement in a 9-0 win Feb. 11 in Waconia.
CHS scored goals on back-to-back 5-on-3 and 5-on-4 powerplays in a second period that had parents whipping their heads about like fans at a tennis match. With a 3-0 lead at the top of the second, Cathedral poured on the team play, scoring four more goals, none prettier than Austin Swingle's blast from the slot on a hard-work feed from Zach Polfliet.
In a game where Cathedral's speed, size and maturity made for a mismatch, the play never devolved into me-first hockey. No unassisted goals and six goals each had two helpers.
With four players in street clothes and the bench salted with JV players, hockey reminded everyone at Waconia Ice Arena that it is the ultimate team game, a game in which process trumps people, a game whose scoring system values assists and goals equally.
Waconia managed just 16 shots, but forced Josh Robak to make two outstanding saves in the final minutes. The Wildcats battled to the end with just four upperclassmen on their roster, then skated off to applause from their fans.
Danny Johnston enjoyed a monster night, recording two assists and three goals. Bret Schwinghammer, Andrew Thome and Austin Poganski each had two assists. Michael Kerber scored twice. View all the scoring on the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet.
Pogo gets a Hutch hat trick
Austin Poganski scored a hat trick and Andrew Thome netted a pair to help Cathedral defeat Hutchinson 6-2 Feb. 8 at Burich Arena. The road win gives CHS a two-point lead in the Wright County Conference (WCC) standings.
The Crusaders blew the game open with three goals in a 1:32 span of the second period. Patrick Larkin scored the game's most interesting goal. Mid-way through the sleepy first period, the senior defenseman fired a wrister from the top of the right circle. The pucked slipped through the Hutch goalie's five-hole and came to rest inches in front of the goal line. While most everyone else on the ice stood around, Larkin followed his shot, skated past the goalie and slapped the puck home.
Mitchell Fritz and T.J. Bruce each recorded a pair of assists. Also earning helpers were Bret Schwinghammer and Jordan Revier.
Connor Amundson saved 13. The game marked the return from injury of frosh forward Will Hammer.
Cathedral is 12-8-1 with two road games and two home games remaining in the regular season. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet. View 26 game photos in in the CHS Hockey Photocast.
Robak saves 38 in Mound Westonka win
Four goals by four players and Josh Robak's 38 saves earned Cathedral a 4-2 victory over Mound Westonka Feb. 5 in Minnestrista. The win moved the Crusaders into first place in the Wright County Conference standings.
Robak made 16 saves -- nearly half his game total -- in the third period when the White Hawks made a bid at erasing the Crusaders' three-goal lead.
The team nature of the win was exempflied by Danny Johnston's second-period goal. Senior forward Craig Pfannenstein won a puck battle on the left post and sent the puck into the slot where Johnston banged it home. Sophomore forward Peter Spethman earned an assist on the play.
The team's leading playmaker, T.J. Bruce, reached the 30-point threshold (9g, 21a) on the season with a goal and an assist. His game opener late in the first was set up by Austin Poganski. Poganski scored the eventual game-winning goal 6:14 into the third on assists from Bruce and Ryan Kissner.
Chris Knoblauch delivered the coup de grâce mid-way through the third, with assists going to Johnston and Patrick Larkin.
Each team failed to score on three powerplay opportunities.
The game marked the return from injury of defenseman Austin Swingle. CHS is 11-8-1 with three road games and two home games remaining in regular-season play. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet.
Revier nets Delano gamewinner in OT
A Jordan Revier goal near the end of overtime lifted Cathedral to 5-4 win over Delano Feb. 3 at Delano Area Sports Arena. Assisting on the play were Danny Johnston and Andrew Thome.
The win moves Cathedral to within a point of first-place Delano for the Wright County Conference standings.
Austin Poganski struck first for CHS, scoring 12:50 into the first on helpers from T.J. Bruce and Ryan Kissner. Bruce scored back-to-back goals in the second period, including a powerplay backhander that wowed the crowd.
Junior defenseman Sam Wood scored a go-ahead goal at the start of the third after a nifty rush and some two-man play with Bruce below the goal line. Bruce and Kissner earned helpers on Wood's first varsity goal.
Connor Amundson saved 18, including four in the extra frame.
Cathedral swept the Delano series, beating the Tigers 4-3 Jan. 7 at the MAC on an overtime goal by Mitch Fritz. CHS is 10-8-1 with four road games and two home games remaining in regular-season play.
View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet.
CHS loses OT barnburner to Little Falls
A Spencer Fenske shot from the slot earned Little Falls a 3-2 overtime victory over Cathedral Jan. 29 at Exchange Arena, Little Falls. The sophomore defenseman scored with 25 seconds remaining in the eight-minute overtime.
The Flyers opened scoring late in the second period, then trailed after Cathedral quickly responded with a powerplay goal by Jordan Revier and an even-strength tally by Peter Spethmann. Spethmann made the most of a breakaway opportunity, cutting across the face of the net to fool Flyers' netminder Matt Stumpf with a wrister. Captain T.J. Bruce retrieved the puck as a momento of Spethmann's first varsity goal.
Stumpf, who is statiscally the second-best netminder in the state, earned an assist on the Joey Hanowski goal that tied the game mid-way through the third.
CHS out-shot the Flyers 20-18, but was out-gunned 3-1 in the extra frame. Goalie Connor Amundson and the CHS penalty-kill units recorded a pair of kills -- late in the first and early in the second.
View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet. View 40 game photos by Andy Golebiowski in the CHS Hockey Photocast.
Crusaders get burned by a third-period Fire
Holy Family scored four unanswered goals in a 5-4 win over Cathedral Jan. 27 in Victoria. CHS led 4-1 in the third on two goals by Chris Knoblauch and a goal each by Pete Thibault and Andrew Thome. One of the CHS highlights was Thome's second-period goal: The senior wing beat an unscreened Larry Bieneman with a speed-of-light flick of the wrist that appeared to catch the Fire goalie off-guard. Josh Robak made 23 saves in 49:50 minutes of play. Cathedral beat the Fire 5-2 in St. Cloud Jan. 4. The Jan. 27 game featured a CHS lineup reduced by injuries.
Amundson pitches a shutout in L/D-C win
Connor Amundson's 27 saves and early goals combined for a 2-0 Cathedral win over Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato Jan. 25 at the MAC. The Cathedral netminder and penalty-kill units voided four man-advantage situations totalling nearly seven minutes in a game that saw eight roughing penalties and three contact-to-the head infractions. Danny Johnston opened scoring with a drive to the right post that produced a powerplay goal with 1:36 left on the first-period clock. Chris Knoblauch got the assist. Scoring ended mid-way through the second period when Andrew Thome scooped up a neutral-zone puck and skated mano-a-mano for an even-strength goal. Officials called 19 penalties, notably whistling a tripping infraction on Amundson in the sophomore's first varsity shutout. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Knoblauch scores game-tying goal against Orono
Chris Knoblauch's curl move from the half boards and nifty lefty wrister helped Cathedral earn a 5-5 tie with Orono Jan. 22 in Long Lake. Danny Johnston had the assist. The powerplay goal, with 2:03 remaining in the third, forced a scoreless overtime. Austin Poganski scored twice in the game, including a critical goal with four minutes left in the second that pulled the Crusaders within a goal of the Spartans. Mitchell Fritz, playing forward in the absence of injured Ryan Kissner and ill Jordan Revier, scored in the first and teamed with Andrew Thome to set up Johnston's second-period tally. Josh Robak saved 35 in 59 minutes of play. The Crusaders amassed 45 shots on goal, including 17 in the first frame, when the boys in blue enjoyed an early 2-0 lead. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet.
Cathedral tames the Wildcats
Cathedral's top line combined for four goals and six assists to lead Cathedral to an 8-2 win over Waconia Jan. 18 at the MAC. Will Hammer had a goal and three assists. Austin Poganski recorded two goals and two assists. T. J. Bruce notched a goal and an assist. Waconia, which falls to 4-9-1, was out-shot 41-16. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet (PDF).
Poganski nets three in loss to H-town
An Austin Poganski hat trick helped Cathedral keep pace with one the state's best teams Jan. 14. But, CHS lost 6-4 at the MAC in a game that saw sophomore netminder Josh Robak and this teammates face 46 shots on goal. Will Hammer had a goal and two assists. T.J. Bruce and Bret Schwinghammer each had a pair of assists. CHS recorded 22 shots on goal, with just four coming during the second period. Two unanswered Hermantown goals in the final minute of the second period turned the game for the Hawks. Hermantown moves to 13-0-1, but awaits a potential blue-and-gold reckoning in the Sec. 5A playoffs. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
CHS loses 6-4 to Breck
Ryan Kissner recorded two goals and an assist in the Crusaders' 6-4 loss to Breck School Jan. 11 in Golden Valley. Josh Robak saved 30. Will Hammer and Austin Poganski also scored. CHS led 3-2 after one period, chasing goalie Max McCormick from the game. The third-ranked Mustangs' responded with three unanswered goals in the pivotal second period. Grant Opperman scored four times for Breck, including a short-handed goal. Breck's final goal was on an empty net. The game was marred by five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. View the Minnesota Hockey Hub scoresheet.
Warroad ends Cathedral's winning streak
Penalties and few scoring chances spelled defeat as Cathedral fell 2-0 to Warroad Jan. 8 at the MAC. The Crusaders were cited for eight penalties, giving the Warriors seven powerplay opportunities. David Nelson delivered the gamewinner on a first-period powerplay and Nick Stoskopf delivered the coup de grâce -- a wraparound beauty -- with 2:24 left on the clock. Josh Robak saved 16 for the home side. The Crusaders recorded 22 shots on goal, but the scorekeeper judged just four of those shots quality scoring chances. The loss -- the first in seven games -- gives Cathedral a record of 7-4. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Fritz finishes off Delano in overtime
Mitch Fritz scored 1:17 into overtime as the Cathedral Crusaders defeated Delano 4-3 Jan. 7 at the MAC. Cathedral (7-3) played a hard-checking game against the Tigers (8-3-1), with the Chris Knoblauch-Jordan Revier-Craig Pfannenstein line starting and earning major minutes. Yet, the Crusaders kept the Tigers' vaunted powerplay unit (36 percent going into the game) off the ice and off the scoreboard. Sophomore goaltender Josh Robak made 27 saves. Cathedral recorded 27 shots on goal.
CHS enjoyed a 3-1 lead late in the second period, thanks to goals by T.J. Bruce, Jordan Revier and Andrew Thome. Delano out-shot Cathedral 11-2 in the third, tying the game with less than six minutes to play. Bruce and Will Hammer were credited with the assists that led to Fritz' gamewinner in the extra frame. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Crusaders douse the Fire 5-2
A pair of unassisted short-handed goals and a 27-save performance by Josh Robak staked Cathedral to a 5-2 win over Holy Family Jan. 4 at the MAC. Danny Johnston and Bret Schwinghammer scored on the same penalty kill midway through the first period. The prettiest play of the game may have been T.J. Bruce's second period no-look pass from the corner to a waiting Austin Poganski. The freshman forward one-timed the puck from the slot for a powerplay tally that gave CHS a four-goal lead. Bruce also set up a Will Hammer even-strength goal in the second period. Jordan Revier scored a powerplay goal on helpers from Johnston and Ryan Kissner near the end of the first. Robak's netminding was especially crucial in the third when the Fire had 10 shots on goal, nine of which were judged quality scoring chances by the scorekeeper. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Johnston fuels CHS victory over Prairie Centre
Danny Johnston scored a hat trick in the 10-0 defeat of Prairie Centre Dec. 30 at the MAC. Seven other players scored, including Peter Thibault, who netted his first varsity goal on a long laser pass from Patrick Larkin. The Crusaders out-shot their opponent 47-7. Josh Robak was in goal for CHS. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Crusaders blitz Apollo 10-2
Cathedral opened with six unanswered goals, chasing goalie Charlie Pentz 22 minutes into a 10-2 win over Apollo Dec. 29 game at the MAC. Josh Robak saved 18 for CHS. Among the highlights was an offensive-zone faceoff play in the first that earned defenseman Mitch Fritz a wrist-shot score just off the weakside post. It was a big night for the blue-and-gold defensemen: Bret Schwinghammer darted down the slot to snap in a stray puck in the first and Austin Swingle and Patrick Larkin scored in the second. T.J. Bruce and Austin Poganski each scored a pair of goals to lead the forwards. Forwards Craig Pfannenstein and Danny Johnston also scored. Bruce recorded four of Cathedral's 16 assists. The win gives the Crusaders a 4-3 record. View the game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Hammer and Knoblauch pace overtime win over White Hawks
A goal with 6.4 seconds remaining and an overtime goal paced Cathedral to a 4-3 win over Mound Westonka Dec. 28 at the MAC. Down a goal, with the Mound fans reaching for their car keys, Will Hammer reached behind the goalie and tapped a Ryan Kissner feed into the net. Austin Swingle earned a second assist on the play. Then 1:20 into the extra frame Chris Knoblauch -- camped out next to the goalie -- banged home the rebound from a Swingle shot to secure the win.
Swingle also scored an even-strength goal in the second period with an assist from his defensive partner Bret Schwinghammer. Mitch Fritz gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game with a wrister from the left point. Hammer recorded the assist. Connor Amundson saved 18 to help the Crusaders' raise their record to 3-3. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF). View game photos in the CHS Hockey Photocast.
CHS shuts out Hutch
Six different Crusaders scored in a 6-0 win over Hutchinson Dec. 21 at the MAC. Josh Robak earned the shutout. Special teams scored on three of four powerplays and notched a shorthanded goal. T. J. Bruce recorded a goal and three assists. CHS out-shot Hutchinson 37-9.
Austin Swingle scored a powerplay goal in the first with helpers from Bret Schwinghammer and Bruce. In the second Jordan Revier scored on the powerplay with a helper from Mitch Fritz and Chris Knoblauch scored even-strength with assists from Revier and Craig Pfannenstein. In the third CHS scored three times on 14 shots. Bruce scored a shorty on a Schwinghammer assist. Bruce set up a Danny Johnston score. And, with less than three minutes remaining, Will Hammer scored with help from Bruce and Austin Poganski.
View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF).
Crusaders lose 4-3 in OT
Cathedral pushed third-ranked Lourdes into overtime, losing 4-3 to the Eagles Dec. 18 at Graham Arena Complex in Rochester. CHS spotted the Eagles two first-period goals, then returned fire with a second-period goal by Ryan Kissner on assists from Pat Larkin and Danny Johnston. Trailing 3-1 in the third period, CHS rallied, scoring back-to-back goals in 2:15. Will Hammer scored on an Austin Swingle helper. Then Hammer struck again with assists going to T.J. Bruce and Austin Poganski.
The Crusaders out-shot their host from the first period on, recording a 9-6 advantage in the extra frame and ending with a 43-31 game advantage. Lourdes ended the game with nine seconds remaining in overtime on a Jason Samuelson unassisted goal. Goaltender Connor Amundson and the penalty-kill players were perfect against two Lourdes powerplays. CHS went 0-5 on its powerplays.
View the Hockey Hub scoresheet.
Cold shooting, hot goalie doom Crusaders
Cathedral peppered Rogers with 43 shots but skated away on the short end of a 2-1 score Dec. 13 at the MAC. Ryan Kissner notched the Crusaders' lone goal early in the second on assists from Andrew Thome and Mitch Fritz. Josh Robak stopped 22 for CHS. Special teams were the story for Cathedral: The team gave up a short-handed goal 2:36 into the game and went scoreless on more than 15 minutes of man-advantage hockey. View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF). View game photos in the Photocast.
CHS outshoots Alexandria
Connor Amundson recorded 32 saves in his first varsity start, leading the Crusaders to a wild 4-2 win over Alexandria Dec. 7 at the MAC. The game featured a combined 72 shots on goal and a rarity -- a penalty shot. Amundson, a sophomore netminder, was perfect through two powerplays and perfect in the final period. Forward Jordan Revier, back from injury, was the offensive star, scoring a pair of goals. The junior scored 3:19 into the game on assists from Brett Schwinghammer and Mitch Fritz and one-timed a goal 38 seconds into the final frame on a Ryan Kissner centering pass. Forward Will Hammer found the net during a second-period powerplay with help from Schwinghammer and linemate Austin Poganski. The freshman teamed with Austin Swingle for an empty-net goal with seven seconds remaining.
View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF). View 12 photos by Tim Amundson in the Photocast.
Crusaders drop opener to Sartell-St. Stephen
Two goals by junior Ryan Kissner did not hold up Dec. 3 as Cathedral fell 3-2 to Sartell-St. Stephen at the MAC. Sophomore Josh Robak, who had to fight off 13 minutes of Sabres' powerplays, saved 26 in his first varsity start. CHS recorded 13 penalties. The Sabres were called for four penalties. Kissner's first-period, even-strength goal came on assists from junior forward Danny Johnston and senior forward Andrew Thome. Kissner scored a short-handed goal late in the second with a helper from senior forward Chris Knoblauch.
View the RinkWriter scoresheet (PDF). View the Photocast.