Pautler Named Captain for 2009-10

At the season-end banquet for McQuaid Jesuit Knights Hockey, held on March 29,junior forward Alex Pautler was named Captain for the 2009-10 season. The selection was based upon a vote of his teammates at the last skate on March 3. Junior forward Woody Hudson was re-named Assistant Captain, and junior defenseman Andy Lane received the other "A."

Alex is a second year veteran of the team, who is known for his no-nonsense work ethic at practise and his steady and skillful offensive play in games. With eleven veterans graduating this Spring, his leadership will be invaluable to a successful season.

Among those receiving special recognition at the banquet, Senior forward Nick Parrilli received the Sportsmanship Award; freshman goalie Brian Burns received the most improved player award; senior Nick Lisena received the best defensive player award; senior defenseman Kyle DePriest received the Ralph K. Goodberlet Award for highest grade point average on the team; Coaches Awards were received by Dan Burns, Jared Corso, Mike Filice, Patrick Gerrie, Brian Johnson, Sean Knightly and Brent Sanderson; and senior forward Adam Reask received the Knights' Most Valuable Player Award.

Knights Bounce Back

The McQuaid Jesuit Knights capped off their regular season with a 5 - 1 win over the Irondequoit Eagles at Lakeshore Rink on February 11. Although sporting a loosing record this season, the Eagles were eager to pounce on the Knights, who came into the game with a two game loosing streak. Play early in the first period was mixed, with both teams unable to cause any damage on the other.

That changed at 6:22, when senior forward Adam Reask walked out from the side of the Irondequoit net and beat goalie Tomas Slezak on the near side. Junior forward Matt Knightly, who was filling in for the ill James Sturnick was awarded an assist. The Eagles were undaunted by the goal and stormed back against the Knights' defense, but were parried on every shot by freshman goalie Brian Burns.

The second period found the intensity of the Knights attack increasing. But with the scent of a goal within reach, the Knights became careless and permitted a two on one break attack. Senior forward Dan Burns skated hard to catch up with the play, but in the end, Irondequoit's Jody Kirk took a hard low slap shot from the glove side face off circle. Burns stopped the shot with a right leg pad save. But the rebound went right to Cam Weisbeck, who was skating into the low slot. Shaking Dan Burns frantic back check attempt, Weisbeck wristed the puck low to the blocker side and score.

That defensive lapse fired up the red line, which dominated the next minute of play, capped off by a flurry of shot attempts and a goal scored by senior forward Pat Gerrie. Assisting on the play were senior forward and junior defenseman Andy Lane. The Knights missed several subsequent scoring opportunities in the period. Pat Gerrie and junior forward Alex Pautler, both had break away attempts canceled by the defense, and sophomore Alex Pocodylo just missed a pass for an open net shot from the low slot. Also of particular note was senior defenseman Kyle DePriest, who had an inspired in the middle of the period forcing the play into the Eagles end. The period ended with the Eagles surviving four power play opportunities including one when they were two men down.

The third period had the crowd on pins and needles. One mistake by either team could change the complexion of the game. Irondequoit's chance came at 5:09, when senior defenseman Nick Lisena was lugging the puck up ice when he was met by an Eagles' forward. The subsequent tripping call put the Eagles on a power play for the first time in the game. Their intense pressure behind the net caused a second tripping call just 14 seconds later on senior defenseman Mike Filice. Strong penalty killing prevented the Eagles from tying up the game.

At the eleven minute mark Eagles defenseman Reiner Mundt was called on a hooking penalty. On the ensuing power play Coach Vyverberg teamed up the two scorers for the Knights with good results. Adam Reask took a Pat Gerrie pass and scored.

With the game clock winding down and the Eagles down by two, Irondequoit pulled the goalie in favor of an extra skater. With the Eagles pressing the Knights defense, Mike Filice took the puck from behind the net and passed to senior forward Brent Sanderson, who inturn passed to senior linemate Nick Parrilli, who split the Irondequoit defense and was breaking up ice. With the sound of the Eagles defense close at hand, Parrilli crossed the red line and lobbed the puck into the open net.

Just fourteen seconds later, junior forward Woody Hudson, who had been knocking on Irondequoit's door all night, finally cashed in when he took an Andy Lane pass up the right wing, blowing by the Eagles defense and beating the Irondequoit goalie with a hard snap shot.

McQuaid outshot Irondequoit 26 to 20.

 

McQ Ends Season With Loss

McQuaid Jesuit book ended its season with a 4 to 1 loss to the Greece Lightning in a sectional quarter final game at Genesee Valley Rink on February 27. The season ended much as it began, with the Knights leveling loads of shots on the net, but having no scoring touch. The first period started with the Knights quickly taking an offensive advantage. Early shots on the Lightning goaltender, Josh Opladen, were all to his glove side, each of which he grabbed with no difficulty.

At 10:53, senior Adam Reask was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after he complained too vociferously to the referee after being slashed by a Lightning player. The resulting power play was easily muffled by the Knights' penalty killing squad. The Knights continued their domination of the game, but failed to score. With two minutes left in the period the Lightning suddenly came alive and put strong pressure on the Knights' defense. With less than a minute left in the period, senior goalie Brian Johnson made a brilliant left pad toe save from a pass-out to the low slot. Despite the Knights outgunning the Lightning sixteen to seven the period ended in a scoreless tie.

The second period began much as the first, with McQuaid Jesuit dominating the early going. At 2:14. Greece made a soft dump into the Knights' end. Senior defenseman Nick Lisena chased the puck behind the net, but Greece forward Bobby Drexler fed Nick Digrazia, who was waiting in the blocker side face off circle to one time the pass into the goal. The Knights responded by renewing their attempts to score, but to no avail. At 9:27, a four on two opportunity developed for the Knights, but the shot from just inside the blue line was dumped towards the Knights' defensive zone. Brian Johnson tried to beat Brandon Wood but lost. With a wide open net, Wood took extra care in shooting and was nearly upset in the process as senior defenseman Mike Filice made a diving attempt to prevent the score. In an attempt to shake things up, Coach Al Vyverberg replaced Johnson with freshman Brian Burns. The balance of the period favored the Lightning, who outshot the Knights eleven to five. Burns played strong in the net and rejected three close in shots.

The third period saw the Knights put heavy offensive pressure on the Lightning. At 2:05, Greece's Sean Hanley drew a tripping call. The blue line quickly cashed in on the opportunity, when at 2:52 sophomore Alex Pochodylo stuffed the puck into the net after rebound shots by line mates junior James Sturnick and senior Adam Reask, both of whom received assists. At 7:58, Greece's DiGrazia dashed to the Knights' goal on a breakaway, with Mike Filice in hot pursuit. DiGrazia cut across the goal mouth in an attempt to stuff the puck around Burns. But the Knights' goalie made a right leg pad slide to seal off the scoring chance.

Operating in panic mode, Greece began taking penalties and the Knights continued to pressure. But luck was not on their side. At 11:03 Greece's Rob Cammilieri picked up loose puck in the Knights' middle slot and chipped a soft shot into the goal passed a screened Brian Burns.

The goal had no effect on the now Knights attack. But the Greece goaltender sparkled in net. At 11:49 The Knights went on a power play after a cross checking call on Tyler Hickey. Going for broke, Coach Vyverberg pulled the Knights goalie for an additional skater. Despite some good opportunities during the power play, no goals were scored. At 14:03, with Burns still on the bench for the added skater, Greece scored an empty net goal to seal their victory.

The Knights outshot Greece 40-23. This game was the Knights 700th game against a Section V opponent and the 897th game overall. It was also the first time the Knights have lost to a Greece opponent since that team split into two. Despite ending with a loss, the season was a very successful one, leaving the players, parents and coaches with many great memories.