Ice Hockey Finals Wrap Up

By: Luke Jackson

Heath McLean scored two third-period goals to lead the Calvert Hall ice hockey team over Mount St. Joseph, 4-3, to win the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship. The victory ended Mount St. Joe's nine-year run as conference champions.

The Gaels had won every A Conference title since the MIAA formed the league for ice hockey in the 1998-99 season. In addition, they had not lost an MIAA game since they fell to St. Mary's in the 2000-01 season. The Gaels are now 29-1-2 against the Cardinals lifetime.

The Cardinals finished the season 12-4-3 overall. Mount St. Joe ended up 11-4-3 overall. The Gaels and the Cardinals tied their first two meetings of the regular season, and the Gaels won the final regular season game between the two teams.

Mount St. Joe looked like it was going to win another game early on. The Gaels took a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Andy McCrumb and Mike Norris. But Calvert Hall's Andrew Klick scored a power play goal late in the first period to cut the lead to one.

Andy Yancone of Calvert Hall tied the score early in the second period, which is where the game was heading into the final stanza.

McLean then scored his two goals in the third period to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead. Calvert Hall and goalie Stefen Blount held off a late Gaels rally (which included a goal by McCrumb) to hang on for their first A Conference title ever.

ST. PAUL'S WINS THE B CONFERENCE
Pat Powderly had four goals and two assists as St. Paul's routed St. Mary's, 9-2, for its second MIAA B Conference championship ever -- and first since the 2004-05 season.

St. Paul's ended the season 16-1-1 overall. St. Mary's finished 7-7-2 overall.

Eric Schiech scored a power play goal in the second period to give the Crusaders a 3-2 lead, and they went on to get the game's final six goals to turn the contest into a rout.

Posted Feb. 18, 2008