by Coach Elliott on December 30, 2008
The Wildcats traveled to Cleveland twice during the holiday season and were greeted by some very good competition. As a result the Cats managed just 3 wins in the 8 game road trip.
The first weekend the Cats traveled to the Padua Invitational. In the first game the Cats jumped out to a 3-1 lead on state power St. Edwards on 2 goals from Kyle Hymore and 1 from Matt Duvall. However St. Eds. stole the momentum with a short handed goal to close within 3-2 after 2 periods of play and then dominated the 3rd period for a 6 to 3 win.
The next morning the Cats took on University School. Northview has had good success against U.S. recently, but not on this day. 2 Early goals helped jump start the Preppers in the 5-0 shutout of the Cats.
That evening the Cats played host Padua. After giving up an early goal the Cats responded with the next 5 goals in the 5-2 win. Nolan Culver picked up the first 2 goals of his Northview career. His brother Nile also scored, on a penalty shot, along with Mark Hall and Duvall for the Cats. Austin Gryca made 11 saves for the win.
The Cats finished off pool play against Lake Catholic. Shane Wheatley, Tyler Harding and Josh Cole staked the Cats to a 3 to 1 lead after 1 period of play. A penalty mared 2nd period resulted in Lake Catholic stealing the momentum and the lead with 5 unanswered goals for a 6-3 lead after 2. The Cats tried to rally but the comeback fell short. Kyle Hymore and Nolan Culver scored 3rd period goals, but Lake skated away with the 7-5 win. The Cats, last years champs, limped home to Sylvania.
The next weekend the Cats traveled to the St. Ignatius invitational. They dismantled St. Charles in the first game 10-0. A host of Cats scored including Drew Korn’s career first in the win.
The next Morning nothing went right against host Ignatius. Jordan Jones accounted for the lone goal in the 6-1 loss. 2 solid periods went to waste as the Cats gave up 4 3rd period goals.
That evening with a chance to play Ignatius again in the championship game the Cats would have to get by Culver Military Academy. A great effort resulted in much of the same for the Cats. Nile Culver scored and the whole team played perhaps their best game of the season. However it was not enough as Culver pulled off the 2 to 1 win.
The Cats gave a less than stellar effort in the Consolation game versus St. Charles. Cody Ramm returned to the nets to earn the win in a 4-1 victory. Duvall scored a pair and Aaron Booth and Shane Wheatley also scored for the Cats.
Northview will return to league play as they travel to Findlay Friday night Jan. 2nd at 7 P.M.
by Coach Elliott on December 15, 2008
The young Cats are learning some tough lessons early on this season. The first lesson is that its hard to win on the road.
On Wednesday night the Cats traveled to Gilmore Academy. The Cats played well but the bounces didn’t go their way in this one. Gilmore jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. Matt Duvall finished off a 2 on 1 pass from Kyle Hymore to stop the bleeding, but Gilmore responded to push the lead back to 3 after 2 periods of play. The Cats played a very inspired 3rd period as Jordan Jones and Duval each scored to draw the Cats to within 1. However Gilmore hit the empty net with just under a minute left for the 5-3 win.
Over the Weekend the Cats Traveled to Pittsburgh for a mini tournament with Mt. Lebenon and Bethal Park.
Nothing went right in the first contest as the Cats were drubbed 7-1. Josh Cole had the lone goal as the Cats watched Mt. Lebanon ride their sticks and swim on frozen ice in celebration of their win.
A much better effort on Sunday against Bethal Park provided for a overtime shootout. Kyle Hymore and a seasons first from Jake Thornton staked the Cats to a 2-0 first period lead. Bethal answered to make it 2-2. Matt Duvall kept his steady play going as he scored to make it 3-2. Matt Stevenson made some quality saves and Josh Cole sandwiched a goal in between 2 Bethal park goals to send the game to overtime. After a 5 minute overtime the teams headed for a shootout. Only Kyle Hymore was able to find the net in the shootout as the Cats suffered their 3rd consecutive defeat.
Northview travels to the Padua Invitational next weekend where they take on Clevelands best.
by Coach Elliott on December 15, 2008
The Cats opened up NHC play hosting Bowling Green and The Cougars on December 6th and 7th.
the first contest BG jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after 1 period of play. Northview responded with 2 goals of their own in the second as Matt Duvall and Josh Cole both hit on the power play. In the third period Northview took their first lead as Jordan Jones scored his first goal of the season for a 3-2 lead. However, BG would force overtime just minutes later with a power play goal and then hand the Cats their first loss of the season with the overtime winner just 25 seconds into the extra frame.
The next afternoon the Cats skated against a much improved Southview Cougar squad. Bobby Napierala returned to give his team a spark with a early 1st period goal. Nile Culver made it 2-0 minutes later beating the Cougars goalie on a break away. Early in the 2nd period Kyle Hymore tipped home a shot from Tyler Harding to stretch it to 3-0. The Cougars battled back in the 3rd with a couple of goals, but the Cats hung on for a hard fought 3-2 win.
Northview will not return to Tam-O- Shanter until January 9th when they play St. Johns in conference play. They travel to Pittsburgh and to Cleveland twice for a hectic holiday schedule.
