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2/27/06-Hockey
Detroit CC shuts out Eaglets for CHSL title
By Ryan Doherty
MichiganHockeyOnline
Top ranked Detroit Catholic Central waited seven minutes before they registered their first shot on goal against second ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary's, but Shamrock's freshman forward Dave Swierszczyk made it count.
Swierszczyk scored the decisive goal that carried the Shamrocks to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Eaglets, and more importantly helped CC capture their first ever Catholic League Championship on Feb.18 at the OLSM Athletic Complex.
Catholic Central sophomore forward Alex Kolpacke slid the puck across to Swierszczyk during one of his team's numerous two-on-ones, and the fourth line right winger buried a shot past the outstretched glove of OLSM netminder Nick Dries to put his team up 1-0. The goal was only Swierszczyk's second of the season, but it couldn't have come at a better time.
“It was loud out there and I was just hoping (Alex) Kilpacke was going to be able to get me the puck, and when he did I just tried not to miss,” said Swierszczyk.
Getting contributions from different players every night has been a staple of the Shamrocks' attack this season.
“Swierszczyk was out there on every penalty kill, and he just does what we ask him to do, so it was nice to see him get a big goal tonight,” said Catholic Central head coach Todd Johnson.
With the win the Shamrocks improve to 18-3-2 overall, while the Eaglets fell to 14-4-2 on the season.
The other story of the night was Shamrocks netminder Ross Tashjian. The senior made several big stops and recorded his fifth shutout of the season.
“Ross has played fabulous all year,” said Johnson. “He carried the weight for us in goal this season. There's no question he's one of the top goalies in the state.”
The CC defense and special teams also played well, killing off eight OLSM power plays. The Shamrocks only allowed three shots on goal during the entire second period, and the Eaglets had problems all night just trying to gain the CC zone.
Tashjian's best stop of the night came late in the first when he stoned OLSM Alex Prough on a breakaway.
“This win is a great way for us to build momentum heading into the playoffs,” said Tashjian.
Shamrocks forward Steve Jankowski scored the first of two CC shorthanded goals with 8:50 left in the game. Senior forward Nick Kroll cemented the lead with 3:25 remaining as he fired home another shorthanded tally from the slot past Dries, who had no chance on the play. Wade LeFever and Tim Buttery assisted on the goal.
The teams had split their two prior meetings this season, with the Shamrocks winning the first game 8-7 and the Eaglets edging CC in the second game 2-1.
The two teams could face each other in the regional final.
“This win would have of probably had more magnitude if St. Mary's was a division two or three team and we knew this was going to be the last time we were going to see them, but since their a Division one team now, if we play again in the playoffs that'll be the big game,” said Johnson.
The Shamrocks captured their seventh straight MIHL title on Feb. 19 and have won all six of their games this month, outscoring their opponents 23-9.
“I'm happy with how we're playing right now, but as a team we have some little things to work on before the playoffs start,” said Johnson.
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