Holy Ghost Prep made history Wednesday evening.
Joe Kaufmann’s goal with 12:32 left in the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and Holy Ghost Prep went on to a 6-4 win over La Salle in the APAC Founders Cup championship game at Grundy Arena.
It was the first triumph for top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (18-4-1) in an APAC final in three tries.
The win marked the Firebirds’ third over second-seeded La Salle (15-7) this season but it did not come easily. Brady Logue, Colin Bara, and Brian Kinniry scored goals in a span of 7 minutes, 21 seconds in the first period to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.
“That was our game plan going in,” Kinniry said. “Get on them early.”
But, just before the midway point of the second period, the Explorers woke up. Michael Esmond made a run up the middle of the ice and finished the play himself 2:19 into the period. Nole Donohue made it a 3-2 game at the 8:53 mark and Cam Ross tied the game 2:09 into the third period when he put in a rebound.
Kauffman said he and his teammates knew they had a fight on their hands as La Salle made its surge.
“We weren’t sure what was really going to happen,” he said. “We just knew when we got back on the ice in the third that we had to give it our all. Either put something in the net, or stop them from scoring.”
And Kaufmann did just that with a shot from the right wing. Logue extended his team’s lead with 9:43 left in the regulation and Kinniry scored his second goal of the game with 1:36 left.
Kinniry said he and his teammates stayed focused on their mission.
“It really gave us motivation to get through the third period,” he said. “Our second period was pretty bad so we came back out and got the go-ahead goals.”
La Salle coach Wally Muehlbonner said his team struggled from the start.
“I don’t think we played a good game at all,” he said. “We played the way we needed to in the second period, that was our best period obviously. But it’s tough to come back from down three.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie credited his players for a season’s worth of effort.
“This isn’t about the adults,” he said. “This is about the kids. They’re so deserving.
“It’s a long year, it’s tough to stay on top in a league like this. I can’t say enough positive things about the group that’s in there.
“Everybody bought in, everybody did their jobs and even when it got close and don’t think there was any doubt we would figure a way to beat them.”
The Firebirds and Explorers will open Class AAA Flyers Cup play on Tuesday. Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep will face eighth-seeded Owen J. Roberts (6:15) while second-seeded La Salle will go against number-seven Devon Prep. Both games will be played at Hatfield Ice.
La Salle 0 2 2
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 3
First-period goals; Brady Logue (HGP) from Jack Gavaghan and Ryan Lippy, 5:10; Colin Bara (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Brian Kinniry, 9:15; Kinniry (HGP) from Chase Logue, 12:31 (sh)
Second-period goals: Michael Esmond (L) from John Greenawalt, 7:19; Nole Donohue (L) from Jake Warner, 8:53;
Third-period goal: Cam Ross (L) from Alistair St. Hilaire, 2:09; Joe Kaufmann (HGP) from. Anthony Valeriote, 4:28; Brady Logue (HGP) from Chase Logue, 7:17; Kinniry HGP unassisted, 15:24; Ross (L) from St. Hilaire and Declan Kelly, 16:36 (pp)
– Rick Woelfel, www.hockeyhappenings.com
