The Wildcats of the University School boys’ hockey team overcame the problems presented them by ten penalties to defeat the Brookfield Stars 4-0 in a Classic Eight Conference game on Saturday, December 21st at USM.

Encumbered by four penalties in the first period alone, it took the Wildcats time to get their game going.  They eventually scored three goals in the second period on shots by Garrett Cox, Kyler Ringgold, and Benjamin Moalusi. Ethan Thombs added one in the third to help goaltender Patrick Kelly achieve the shutout.  Kelly made 17 saves in the game.  His opponent at the far end of the ice, Malcolm Jennings, played a fine game, stopping 32 shots that USM sent his way.

Jason Woods, USM’s head coach, commented on the win, “A frustrating yet satisfying night for sure. A long off-period due to exams led us to an average start. We hit our stride in the second period, but all game, we couldn’t sustain the momentum due to penalties. We played a third of the game short-handed.  We need to clean that up. Our penalty killing was fantastic, but we need to realize we need to play five-on-five hockey. In the short time we were five-on-five, we were in complete control. Still, I am realizing this is a resilient bunch of young men. They have been through a lot already this year but they keep battling. I love their resolve.”

Cox scored the game’s first goal while USM was on the power play, thanks to one of the six penalties the Stars themselves were assessed.  As the Wildcats moved the puck in the Stars’ zone, Charlie Keough got the puck near the center of the blue line.  He skated into the left circle and fired a shot.  The rebound off Jennings’ pads came back to him, so Keough shot again.  This time the rebound fell to Cox who was standing on the edge of the crease.  He immediately snapped it past Jennings at 11:24.

Less that two minutes later the Wildcats increased their lead.  Alex Thundercloud took a shot from the point.  Ringgold tipped the incoming puck past Jennings at 13:07.

Moalusi scored USM’s third goal with just 4 seconds left in the period.  He got the puck in the USM end and head-manned it to Cox who had moved into center ice.  Cox jack-rabbited past two defenders and went on a breakaway.  Jennings stopped his shot, but Moalusi had kept coming as the trailer. He pumped the rebound into the net at 16:56.