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11/18/07-Hockey
St. Mary's stumbles out the gate
By Jeff Stearns
ORCHARD LAKE--Nobody said defending champs have it easy.
The Varsity Ice Eaglets opened the 2007-2008 season at home against Novi Detroit Catholic Central on Saturday night, and looked anything but defending Division 1 Champions, losing 5-2.
The Shamrocks looked in mid-season form on the blueline and sophomore goalie Tyler Marble was a stonewall, stopping 18 of 20 Eaglet shots.
Catholic Central dominated the first period, outshooting St. Mary's 17-4, with Tony Thomas scoring a short-handed goal at 7:06 off an assist from Nick Bates. With Eaglet defenseman Cody King in the penalty box for roughing, Bates scored on the power play with 23 seconds left in the period, with assists from Thomas and Jeff Leroy.
Although the shots were even in the second period, the Shamrocks again took advantage of an Eaglet penalty, with Jeff Leroy scoring on the power play at 9:11 off assists from Nicholas Gatt and David Swierszczyk. Less than a minute later, Catholic Central scored even-strength when Brent Darnell scored off a pass from Jimmy Botti at 8:12. The Eaglets killed off two 5-on-3 situations during the period.
The Eaglets played more to form in the third period, breaking Marble's shutout bid when junior forward Jordan Kieltyka scored off assists from Max Borchers and Sean Nagorsen. Senior captains Tim Hooker and Aaron Schneider combined on a short-handed goal with 1:33 left to narrow the Shamrocks' lead to 2. Eaglet coach Brian Klanow pulled senior goaltender Devon Carr with a minute left, but with 5 seconds left in the contest, Shamrock Louis Lemak scored an empty net goal with an assist from Sandro Sgambati for the final margin.
Eaglet senior goalie Devon Carr stopped 25 of 29 shots, including several at point-blank range.
St. Mary's hosts Dearborn Divine Child on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. following an Alumni Night matchup between the Red Wings Alumni and the St. Mary's Alumni at 6 p.m.
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