Game of the Day


Shattuck-St. Mary's march to another title continued on Friday with a 7-1 victory over Little Caesars. (Photo by Total Sports Imaging)

Change At The Top Can’t Slow Shattuck’s Title Quest

For the first time in 17 years, a familiar face is missing behind the Shattuck-St. Mary’s bench.

It was a face of quiet confidence, composure and class. It was a face that rarely changed expression, regardless of the score. It was a face that broke into a smile only during those championship moments, of which there were many.

Tom Ward was the architect of nine USA Hockey National Championships during his time at the helm of the 18 & Under team. In addition to the titles, the number of future NHL stars and Olympians that honed their skills under his tutelage, including Sidney Crosby, Jack Johnson, Zach Parise and Kyle Okposo, is unmatched.

But after almost two decades at the Faribault, Minn., prep school, Ward moved on to take an assistant coaching position with the Buffalo Sabres.

But the more things change the more they stay the same. Under the guiding hand of Ben Umhoefer, Shattuck has not missed a beat at the 2017 USA Hockey Tier I 18 & Under National Championships. And after 7-1 victory over Little Caesars on Friday, the maroon and white find themselves in the familiar position of contending for yet another title.

“It’s a tough event and you have to take it a day at a time. It can end pretty quickly if you’re not ready to go so you have to focus on the next game,” Umhoefer said. “We played really well today against a really good team. Now it’s over so we move on and get ready for the next one.”

The next one will be a pivotal matchup against the Yale Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon at the RMU Island Sports Center. The winner claims the USA bracket, while the loser goes home.  

“Tomorrow is basically the quarterfinals,” Umhoefer said. “It’s an interesting format. I enjoyed the old way but the decision was made [to eliminate the quarterfinals this year]. You have to play and go by the rules that are placed in front of you.”

No matter what the championship criteria, Shattuck has been able to adapt to changing tournament formats as well as a changing of the guard among its players and coaches. The key is a commitment to excellence that permeates from the walls of the Faribault, Minn., prep school. It started with the likes of J.P. Parise and has been passed along to such esteemed coaches as Mike Eaves, Andy Murray and Ward. And now, after six years as an assistant, Umhoefer is ready to pen his own championship resume.

“That’s what makes the program so special. It’s bigger than anyone person,” said the former Shattuck player who played four years at St. Olaf College. “Tom always said ‘when I leave you’ll have to keep going on.’ Those guys built the program but when someone moves on or something happens it’s bigger than any one person. That’s what so great about it.”

After opening the tournament with a workmanlike win against the PAL Jr. Islanders, Shattuck knew it would have to step up its game Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex against an always tough Little Caesars squad.

First period goals from Caleb Rule and Ryhory Hatavets set the tone as Shattuck jumped out to an early lead in the first period.  Jeremy Davidson and Alexander Mella doubled the margin with goals scored 41 seconds apart in the the middle frame. Things would have been much worse if not for the acrobatic efforts of Little Caesars goaltender Carter McPhail, who made 30 saves, many of the spectacular variety.

Timmy Kennedy’s goal from close range gave the Michigan crew a glimmer of hope but a series of penalties in the third period doused any hope of a comeback.

Three games away from another title, the Shattuck coaching staff knows that one slip means a long bus ride back home empty handed. With the lessons of Ward’s winning ways still firmly ingrained, Umhoefer and his charges are not ready to let that happen.

“We’re certainly not trying to be him but we’re trying to continue what he brought to the program,” he said. “He left the program in great shape and we’re just excited to try to keep it going.”

Other Action

Mid-Fairfield Chiefs 3, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 1

Ryan Verrier’s power-play goal early in the third period snapped a 1-1 tie and sent the Mid-Fairfield Chiefs to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. The loss left the hosts at 0-2 and ensured that there will be a new national champion at the Tier I 18 & Under level. After Verrier gave the Chiefs an early lead, the Pens clawed back in the second period on a goal off the stick of Ryan Haag. Brett Willits added more than enough insurance to support the 23-save effort of Chiefs netminders Strauss Mann.

Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 3, Colorado Thunderbirds 0

Riding the hot hand of Ryan McInchak, who turned aside all 23 shots he faced, the Jr. Grizzlies earned a spot in the semifinals. Connon Green and Sawyer Jensen scored third-period goals to put a close game out of reach.

Neponset Valley River Rats 3, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets 2, OT

Joshuah Chapman scored at the 1:23 mark of overtime to back up Alexander Zefonte’s 40-save effort. After Neponset Valley jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Patrick Dawson and Nicholas Wildgoose, the Blue Jackets rallied in the third thanks to a pair of goals from Charlie Kiefer to set up the extra session.

Team Wisconsin 5, Sioux Falls Stampede 1

Cole Caufield scored the first of his goals just 46 seconds into the game as Team Wisconsin cruised to victory. Dawson Schwengler and Aaron Grounds also scored to back a 15-save effort of Sam Dunn. Jeff Stack provided the lone marker for the Jr. Stampede.

Yale Bulldogs 6, PAL Jr. Islanders 3

After digging themselves an early hole, the Bulldogs rallied to set up a for-all-the-marbles showdown with Shattuck-St. Mary’s. At stake is the top spot in the NHL division and a place in Sunday’s semifinals. Second-period goals by Justin Grillo, Mark Amatelli and Niklas Allain erased an early deficit, and John Madden and Joseph Cipollone teamed up for three third-period goals to put the game out of reach.

Culver Academy Eagles 4, Tampa Scorpions 2

Jackson Pierson’s power-play goal early in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and helped Culver win a battle of winless teams. Dylan Pitera added a late tally to seal the victory. Connor Merrill and Nolan Walker also scored to erase an early deficit created by Nathan Smith of Tampa scored less than two minutes in.