The Canon-McMillan Big Macs came up short in their quest for a state title, falling 6-4 to Holy Ghost Prep in the class AAA Pennsylvania State Hockey Championships at Pegula Ice Arena in State College, Pennsylvania.
It was a special teams battle, as both teams made tracks to the penalty box early and often, racking up 87 penlty minutes in a battle that got downright dirty at times.
“We knew coming in here that these guys were a little more physical team, they’re a big team, but that’s no excuse,” said Canon-Mac head coach Terry Virture. “They had to control their emotions, and they let their emotions get away from them.”
For Holy Ghost head coach Gump Whiteside, the victory was the culmination of years of hard work.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve been doing this along time. Back in Philly, we have the Flyers Cup, and I’ve been to the finals seven times. I finally won it, and then to have the opportunity to win the states the first time, I’m just speechless. It’s just a great feeling.”
The Big Macs earned an early power play and the quickly capitalized when Jack Clendaniel scored on a fluttering shot from the right-wing circle that fooled Holy Ghost Prep goaltender Alexander Taylor just 3:34 into the opening frame.
Canon-MacMillan’s lead wouldn’t hold, though, as Nicholas Bohatiuk evened things up for the Firebirds at 9:12 of the first, beating Big Macs goaltender Conor Hartnett.
The rest of the first period was a physical affair. At 11:55 of the first, Zachary Mansmann was called for elbowing on a play where he appeared to be interfered with. While the Big Macs were killing the penalty, Bohatiuk took a hooking minor for Holy Ghost. Canon-McMillan captain Austin Tonkovich then jumped him, and both players received minor penalties. Despite all of the open ice, neither team was able to take advantage, and the score remained tied at the first intermission.
In the early second period, the ugliness continued as Colman Slain boarded Bohatiuk just 1:19 in the middle frame, earning a 2-minute minor for boarding and a 10-minute misconduct. Holy Ghost immediately capitalized, as Kyle Peters scored just eight seconds into the man advantage to give the Firebirds their first lead.
With the teams again at 4-on-4, Bohatiuk added to the Holy Ghost lead with an unassisted tally at 11:51 for his second goal of the game.
Canon-McMillan then got a 55 second 5-of-3, but were unable to capitalze. Craig Campagnolio then came out of the Firebirds box, and went to straight to the bench. Nolan Jones came off the bench behind the Canon-Mac defense, and came in on a 2-on-1. He made a quick pass to Peters, who skated in all alone and beat Hartnett to give the Firebirds a 4-1 lead.
The Big Macs were able to come back in the third, starting with a nifty play by Slain. He took a pass from Shane Morgan, stickhandled across the front of the crease, and beat Taylor with a backhand to make the score 4-2.
With Bohatiuk in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct, Tonkovich brought the Canon-McMillan faithful to their feet with a power play goal at 11:40 of the third period to draw the Big Macs to within one.
That started a wild exchange as the teams traded goals late in the third period with the state title on the line. The Firebirds caught the Big Macs in a bad line change, and it was Bohatiuk who again got the goal, as he came in on a 2-on-1 with Peters, but took the shot himself and roofed it over Hartnett to regain a two-goal advantage for Holy Ghost.
“I was really mad at that time when I got that penalty and they scored,” Bohatiuk said. “Thankfully, Coach had the confidence in me and as soon as I came out, I went out and scored that shift.”
The Big Macs wouldn’t go away quietly, and with Hartnett pulled, and Zach Mansmann scored to again make it a one-goal game. Clendaniel and Tonkovich assisted on the goal at 15:23.
With the Canon-McMillan net again empty, it was Bohatiuk that would seal the win for the Firebirds, as he scored his fourth goal of the game in to an empty net.
Even at the very end of the game, the penalty minutes kept piling up, as Big Macs defenseman Zach Gebhart and Holy Ghost forward Marko Bohatiuk got into a fight as the final whistle blew and were both given game misconducts.
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In the class A final, the Mars Fighting Planets were playing the Bayard Rustin Knights for the state title third time in six years. The Knights won the rubber match, as they skated to a 5-2 victory and their third state championship. Sophomore Paul Maust and senior Kyle Thomas scored for the Planets.
Not all of the western squads came up short, as Erie Cathedral Prep beat Downingtown East 3-1 for the AA championship. Junior forward Joe Kelly had a goal and two assists and freshman forward Dillion Elliot had a goal and an assist for the Ramblers.
