Tonight signaled the beginning of the hockey season for the MCLA Trailblazers, looking to have a strong sophomore season after going 7-17-1 in their inaugural/return campaign. The Purple Knights got off to a hot start, as Quinn McCarthy scored a power-play goal 2:23 into the game off of a slashing penalty to MCLA’s Matthew Castillo. Sean Neu was penalized shortly afterwards and St. Michael’s went on the man advantage but MCLA’s PK was able to kill it off. MCLA set the tone early with some gigantic, clean checks. Spencer Craig leveled a forward on the penalty kill battling in the corner and Matthew Castillo looked like a Mack truck with a bone crushing open ice hit. The Trailblazers pushed back, as Sam Zims got a breakaway and, while fighting off a defender, buried the puck five hole to tie the game 1-1. Despite a few good looks by MCLA, including a shot off the faceoff by Sean Schifferl, St.Michael’s wound up taking a 2-1 lead off of a Brennan Macfarland goal assisted by SJ Lecomte and Ashton Allain. 18:50 into the period, St. Mike’s had a chance at a 2-on-1, but Shane Green made a great play with his stick to break it up. At the end of the 1st period, SMC outshot MCLA 14-8.

To start the 2nd period, MCLA goaltender Mat Gover made a great save that led to a scoring chance off the rush for the Schifferl-Neu-Glaubitz line. MCLA would ride the momentum and a few minutes later, Addam Brunner would have another scoring chance but was denied. For the next five minutes or so, both teams traded possession time. 8:42 in, Charlie Addessa won the faceoff to Zims who ripped a shot through a screen but Saint Michael’s goalie Cole Manahan made a great glove save. A minute later, Gover would get run by a forward for Saint Michael’s while trying to play a rebound which led to matching minors for Green and Bavis. Saint Michael’s had the better of the scoring chances on the 4-on-4 where Gover kept the net locked down, stopping a one timer from the slot and then fighting off a knuckle puck shot. At 11:32, Castillo received a 10 minute game misconduct for abuse of the official, with the five minute major was served by Neu. The major started as 4-on-3 and then went to a 5-on-4. With the Trailblazers were under fire, Gover was able to stop four shots in a row but David Ciancio found the net on the 5th shot of the power-play, as LeComte and Kantgias were credited with the assists. With about three minutes left , Connor Nagy threw a huge hit that led to offensive zone time. For the next few minutes, MCLA had Saint Michael’s helmed down in their zone but could not beat Manahan. With 23 seconds left in the period, Alex Ferris was called for tripping. MCLA was outshot 15-10, due in significant part to the major penalty, but I thought MCLA looked great 5-on-5 in that period. 

With 7 seconds left on the tripping penalty on Green, Gover made a brilliant split save to keep the score 3-1. Five minutes in, Brunner had a great takeaway but the Purple Knights got it back and Jack Bavis found the back of the net 5:32 in. Shortly afterwards, MCLA defender Connor Nagy took a questionable hit from a St.Michael’s defender and limped off the ice while another player impeded his path to the bench. While Nagy got off the ice, St. Michael’s tallied their 4th goal of the game. Jack Tuite was credited as the goal scorer, with Kantgias and Bavis each registering another assist. We would see another minor penalty killed off by MCLA at 9:20. Cody White passed the puck to a streaking Christopher Gallagher but just like the rest of the game with lacking puck luck, the puck skipped right over the blade. With 3:12 left, we saw a Purple Knight crash the net and take out Gover that led to skirmish but Gover was clearly uncomfortable favoring his arm. Just like the second period, we would see matching minors yet again. Saint Michael’s would finish the game as 5-1 victors.

This was another game for MCLA where penalties killed them. After the first goal, I thought MCLA did a good job of settling down and getting to their game. New addition Sam Zims was everywhere in the offensive zone and I thought he made a lot of good reads and plays. I also perceived the Zims-Addesa-Rhoss line as quite effective, as they created several scoring chances off the rush and did a good job of making plays and battling in the offensive zone. The Brunner-Murphy-Gallagher was also quite noticeable, especially in the 2nd period. They created a 3-on-2 utilizing their skating speed through the neutral zone. Despite going 5/7 on killing penalties, I thought the PK was selfless with so many different players blocking shots. Gover did a good job of making timely saves and keeping his team in it for as long as he did, stopping 39 of 44 shots. If MCLA can stay out of the box and play 5-on-5 hockey this team is going to be dangerous. All four lines can play a solid and tenacious two way game; winning board battles, getting bodies and pucks to the net. My only concern is Connor Nagy’s injury. He is a dynamic player who utilizes his exceptional skating and playmaking ability as well as his leadership. Credit to head coach Jeremiah Ketts, he has done an excellent job with this program. There is a massive improvement from the start of last season to the start of this season. I’m excited to see how the Trailblazers respond.