CHE CHAMPIONS! SVC THREEPEATS!
It could not have been scripted better for a movie. Tremendous battles. Hard fought games. Falling behind. Overcoming adversity. Coming from behind to win an overtime thriller. The Saint Vincent College Ice Hockey Polar Bearcats made CHE history becoming the first team to win three consecutive league and playoff championships in its finale against Pitt Johnstown by a final score of 3-2.
The road to the championship required a semi-final showdown against the Golden Flash of Kent State. SVC played KSU twice during the regular season and each time survived one goal wins. Coach Martz’ team knew it would take a complete game. Kent had to win the night before to advance to the semi’s so the Polar Bearcats had the plan to press hard from the beginning. The teams traded opportunities and though SVC had some sustained zone time it seemed as if the Golden Flash had enough energy and the goaltending to thwart Saint Vincent. But near the end of the period Captain Jacob Holtzman took advantage of setup by Zach Ridilla and Chase Kushner to rip a shot that clipped the goalie and found the back of the net. Relief. One would have expected more from the 15 to 8 shot advantage for SVC. The ice tilted more in the second. But once again Kent frustrated SVC for long stretches. Meanwhile Vinny Amatucci made the save of the year to keep the lead. It was one of those stops that simply deflates a team. A loose puck. A wide-open back door. And from nowhere a brick wall. Saint Vincent mounted pressure, but rebounds could not be converted. Then with a scramble in front of the KSU goal on a play seemed to take minutes rather than a couple of seconds, the Kent goalie was on the wrong side of the back door. He flopped and pushed. But the puck was on an angle that gave only an eye of a needle. Zach Ridilla waited and waited until he threaded the needle for the two-goal lead. Holtzman and Zach Motil got the assists. The shots moved to 29 to 14 in favor of Saint Vincent. But as hockey fans know, that’s a dangerous lead. In the third period it was the Golden Flashes who gained the early advantage and a deflection made it a game. Saint Vincent lost its edge and Amatucci had to make saves. With two minutes to go, KSU was able to pull the goalie. It was heart stopping. But with time winding down, the SVC defense kept the puck in a corner and time expired. 2-1 SVC.
That set the stage for the championship. And what a game it was. Second place Pitt Johnstown was determined to get revenge for two hard fought regular season losses, including a shoot loss against SVC on their home ice. And the UPJ Ice Cats came to play. SVC was flat and let Pitt Johnstown dictate most of the game. It was 1-0 after one and 2-0 after two as they held a 25 to 21 shot advantage and suffocated the attacks of SVC. Frustration set in the Saint Vincent bench. Dreams of winning three consecutive CHE playoff championships seemed gone. Coach Martz made the decision to shorten the bench and at the end of two entered the locker room with determination. The start of the third seemed to just be more of the same. The Johnstown goalie kept saying no. SVC struggled to string more than one pass or one shot at a time. Then the break. A UPJ player took a penalty. As he skated to the box he jeered at the Saint Vincent bench. But, he poked the bear. Coach Martz shook up the power play. He slid defenseman Dom Costantino to the strong side to give him the back door. Tyler Shigo and Alex Schall worked the puck wide and Costantino did not miss. The net popped with 1 second left on the power play. The team erupted. It was a game. That one play create doubt. That one play turbocharged SVC. SVC was now playing to tie and UPJ was playing not to lose. The rest of the period was domination. Then it happened. Vinny Amatucci made a save and was able to push the puck to Tyler Shigo in the SVC slot. It was off to the races. He found Chase Kusher behind the UPJ defense and Kushner did not miss. Suddenly, SVC was playing to win and Pitt Johnstown was hoping for intervention. Old “moe” had clearly switched benches. Hockey is like that. Before the overtime started you just had to watch. SVC went into the locker room with swagger. The UPJ players were dragging millstones. Outside the locker rooms the Saint Vincent coaches talked strategy. The Pitt Johnstown Coach paced. It was time. Sudden death. Back and forth. Back and forth. Saves and saves. But at the 13:02 mark Louie Amatucci combined on a passing play with Tyler Shigo. The puck was in the slot. So was Chase Kushner. His shot had enough. Oh my! You can’t write a script any better. Winning is hard. Staying on top is harder. But in this writer’s opinion, this was one for the history books. Winning like this never gets old.
And for the record… It was a team effort. Low scoring games have heroics that never appear on the score sheet. We love pictures and photos of shooting the puck, stickhandling, but we never get a picture of hitting a seem. Being the second player on a forecheck. Giving that word on the bench to a teammate that means something. Making that solid defensive play or how we react when we struggle and recover. It’s tough to not dress for a game. It’s tough to be on the bench. But it takes all of that to win a championship. That is what this team did. Not everyone can be mentioned but for Kent, the Holtzman, Radilla, and Motil line made it happen. It was Kushner, Shigo and Schall against UPJ. But it was a Costantino goal. Those saves by “Vinny. More defends by Elliott Belli than you can count. Rushes by Louie Amatucci. The inspiration of Nick Matus. How do you stop there?
CHE Regular Season Champs Close with Two Solid Wins
Ranked #20 in the Nation, the Saint Vincent Polar Bearcats ended the regular season with solid wins over Penn West California (5-3) and Robert Morris (9-1). As the #1 seed for the College Hockey East (CHE) playoffs this weekend in Morgantown, SVC gets a bye in the first round and will face off against the lowest advancing seed on Saturday February 28 at 12:30 PM at the Hope Gas Ice Pavilion in Morgantown, West Virginia. CHE second place team Pitt Johnstown also gets a bye while #4 WVU faces off against #5 Akron and #3 California takes on #6 Kent State in the preliminary rounds. Much is at stake for Brett Martz’ Saint Vincent team as it is on the cusp of a third consecutive CHE title and potential third consecutive invitation to the ACHA Division III National Tournament in St. Louis Missouri from March 18 through March 22. SVC needs to finish in the top 25 as the last step in this journey. The team is placed just ahead of Michigan State (#21), Michigan (#22) and Purdue (#23) with final rankings and bids set for March 2. The CHE playoff games will be streamed live via Tenband TV. Connecting is possible through the league website at collegehockeyeast.com. SVC finished the season with a record of 18-5-0 and had single loss in league play to Akron by a score of 3-2.
In the penultimate game against California, the host Vulcans showed how difficult the road to the CHE title will be. They shot Saint Vincent 35 to 33 and was able to disrupt the Saint Vincent game plan with D to D passing and a passive clog the middle and get the puck deep approach. SVC acquiesced to a slumber. As a result, it was a see saw affair. First period goals by Zach Motil (Zach Radilla) and Alex Schall (Tyler Shigo and Chase Kushner) was countered by a Vulcan score. In the second, the teams trade tallies but SVC was treated to a marvelous pass and tip play when Louie Amatucci raced down the left wing boards, cut in, and found Derek German on the far post for a snappy direction into the goal. But the 3-2 lead did not feel safe. Lack of puck support, the seemingly unfathomable inability to catch passes and miscalculations by forwards leaving the defensive zone too soon kept haunting Coach Martz’ squad. Even after Chase Kushner made the score 4-2 (Louie Amatucci and Alex Schall) Cal pressed for an equalizer. Finally, team leading scorer Tyler Shigo (Chase Kushner, Alex Schall) providing the beathing room and sealed the win. Cal was able to pull their goalie and Saint Vincent had several opportunities to deposit an empty netter. But the outcome became clear as Vinnie Amatucci clamed the win in net.
The home finale came against the Colonials of Robert Morris. Saint Vincent demonstrated its talent but had numerous self-inflicted wounds. It was hard to understand how SVC was able to outshoot RMU 28 to 8 and have the first period end in a 0-0 tie. Attacks were flat lined and not triangulated. Players refused to play in the had areas in front of the RMU netminder. And when forwards did get to the deep slot, they became statues rather than elusive figures constantly trying to find an opening and presenting sticks so players behind the net had good passing targets. Two breakaways were missed. And kudos to the RMU goalie who took advantage of these issues in a stellar 20 minutes.
Coaches never know why some teams just change character. SVC did more than correct the first period errors. From the gate, the horses were released. Forecheck pressure. Depth in the attack. Third player high to support the defense. Cycles. And most importantly the team started to drive the net and play in front of the RMU goalie. They went wide, fed the puck to the slot and made shots count. It was an onslaught. A 31 to 12 shot advantage and a 7-0 score after two. It was a team contribution. Zach Motil got thing started and in rhythmic fashion every few minutes there was another SVC score. Shigo, a hat trick, Kushner, Mike Ridilla, Treager and too many assists to mention. RMU did make an early go when it drew the score to 2-1, but Owen Burmeister was solid in the pipes on the few times the Colonials broke through the defense. At that point the third period became a perfunctory exercise. Still, Sammy Treager and Mike Ridilla closed the game, each scoring their second goal of the contest. RMU pushed the shots to 18-16 in favor of Saint Vincent, but Burmeister made solid pads saves. Final shots SVC 77, RMU 36.
The essential observation for the team? Nationals are in your control boys. Play the right way. Claim the title and get your bid. Have a chip on your shoulder and be that small school that scares the big boys!
SVC Rebounds from Tough 3-2 Loss at Akron to Best WVU 5-0 at Home on Senior Recognition Day
The #1 College Hockey East seed SVC team experienced a strange 3-2 loss in an away game against Akron that saw the Latrobe school outshoot their hosts 66 to 21 in their first regular season loss. Saint Vincent pressed from the opening draw and was rewarded when Aiden Motil fed a pass to Sam Treager who showed some great hands as he maneuvered the puck like it was a ball being played by a cat into the net. Akron had an answer goal on a power play not long after but SVC went into the locker room 2-1 after a response of its own when Zach Motil played pick pocket inside the Akron blue line and converted a mini breakaway. But that was it in the goal department for Saint Vincent as they gradually fell into a weird trap dominating in shots and zone time while giving up shots from high danger areas whenever the Zips did gain the zone.
SVC had opportunities. A missed pass off Captain Jacob Holtzman’s stick should have been a clear score. Ill time penalties removed advantages. The potent power play collected numerous shots but failed to score on a 5 on 3 advantage. Too many perimeter shots did create rebound opportunities but Akron boxed out and SVC lost resolve to play down low in dirty areas in the crease. Credit also has to go to the Akron goaltender who simply had one of those games. SVC collected 26, 16 and 24 shots on goal through each period while Akron managed 6, 6, and 9. Owen Burmeister, starting his second game in a row took his first loss of the season in the nets.
Sunday, February 15 was Senior Day. And it was a treat in more ways than that. Mike Ridilla, Hunter Bergman, Zach Ridilla and Vinny Amatucci were all in the opening line up and set the tone early. Coach Martz set a plan to play straight line hockey with hard F1 pressure and an emphasis on an aggressive back check to support the defense. The approach smothered the visiting WVU team as they could only muster 15 shots for the entire 60 minutes while Saint Vincent put up a solid 44. The Mountaineers played the Polar Bearcats evenly until at 9:53 of the first. Quick puck movement by Mike and Zach Ridilla found Elliot Belli at the blue line. The defender shot a solid wrister from the blue line in what was the first of his four points in the game. The contest settled, but on the power play 7 minutes later, Chase Kushner found Nik Manolakos who did not miss. 2-0 SVC end of one. Saint Vincent completely thwarted WVU in the second. But in spite of being outshot 23 to 3 West Virginia kept hanging on. Coaches and players know how tenuous that type of game can be. WVU had a scoring opportunity, Vinny Amatucci made the save, and Elliott Belli threaded a stretch pass to Tyler Shigo who went deep on the West Virginia goalie at 3:13. Presure removed. When the final 20 minutes came, West Virginia seemed spent. Although they held the zone and denied shots to Saint Vincent, they virtually had nothing in reserve. Dom Costantino made the score 4-0 at 11:14 with assists going to Elliot Belli and Chase Kushner and Belli scored his second from Shigo and Vecchio at 4:34. Shots in the third were 7 to 4 Saint Vincent. Vinny Amatucci earned his 11’th win and 4’th shut out of the season. As a side note he was recognized as the first goalie in club history to play more than 5,000 minutes in a career. He hit the mark with about two minutes left in the second period.
SVC has two games remaining before playoffs, a tough opponent who is jockeying for a higher seed in CHE, Penn West Cal, away Friday night and the final game of the year against Robert Morris at home at 7:30 PM Saturday. Wins matter. SVC needs to be ranked in the top 25 to qualify for Nationals. Dropping either of these two games could cost them the opportunity.
Pushing to Lock Up First Place in College Hockey East SVC defeats WVU 3-0 and Case Western Reserve 7-1 in Weekend Action
The Saint Vincent Polar Bearcats improved their College Hockey East (CHE) record to a stellar 13-0-0 as they close on a first-place lock and a potential first round playoff bye. The only blemish to a completely perfect record is a point the team gave to Pitt Johnstown (UPJ) in a shootout “W”.
Traveling to Morgantown, SVC knew it was going to be in a close match against the Mountaineers. A much-improved team that is challenging UPJ for second place in CHE, WVU was determined to demonstrate its ability to play with Saint Vincent. The first period was tight affair. Although SVC had zone time and a 13-5 shot advantage, the team was kept outside the dots and could not penetrate a WVU shell in the slot until Zach Ridilla found the back of the net on a set up by Motil brothers. West Virginia turned up the intensity in the second and played Saint Vincent to an even 8-8 in shots in what was turning into a nail-biter. The Polar Bearcats kept trying to force plays that were not there and several stellar saves by Vinny Amatucci prevented WVU from scoring. The Mountaineers made a mistake of taking a penalty and the extremely potent power play of Saint Vincent did not disappoint when Tyler Shigo was set up Eliott Belli and Dom Costantino. Moving to the final 20 minutes, it was still anybody’s game. Yes, SVC had a shot and zone time advantage, but WVU was able to create enough attacks that increased the likelihood of a score. With the goalie pulled for the home team, Vinny Amatucci made a save that was put in a safe area by Costantino. Defensive specialist Nik Manolakos sent the puck from deep in the SVC zone into the open net for his 7’th goal of the year and sealed the win and shutout for Amatucci. SVC took the shot advantage in the third 12-10.
In the first game on home ice in 2026, The Spartans of Case Western seemed intent on frustrating the Polar Bearcats. Although Case brought in a 3-12-1 record, a significant number of their losses were by a one or two goal margin. Playing with a diminished number of skaters, their game plan was smart. Let SVC bring the play to them, force the play wide in center ice and the attacking zone, get puck possession and move it to a safe space. SVC fell for the ruse and continually found itself chasing the play, squandering whatever forechecks it should have created. Joe Vecchio was the first SVC player to establish a net presence in front of the Case goalie and was rewarded with his first of the game, assists going to Tyler Shigo and Nick Mattus. At the end of one, SVC lead 1-0 and held a 9-6 shot advantage. It still could have been anyone’s game. But the lack of numbers for Case enabled SVC to tilt the ice in the last 40 minutes. Beleaguered and outmanned, the Spartans were not able to hold the pass. Jacob Holtzman lasered a wrist shot (Zach Motil and Kaleb Trice), Joseph Vecchio again went to the deep slot on a power play (Zach Radilla and Jocob Holtzman), and Jack Beddick found the back of the net on a slap shot from the blue line (Derek German and Mike Ridilla). The only blemish was a power play score by Case to end the period at 4-1 SVC who had a commanding 30 to 10 shot advantage.
The third period was much the same. Vecchio completed a hat-trick moving his season goal total to 8 (Tyler Shigo and Nick Matus). Hunter Bergman, asked to move to forward because of injuries, put the whipped cream on the Sundae by scoring a beauty on a seemingly impossible Ovechkin like twisting backhand while prone on the ice (Derek German). The cherry was placed on top when Zach Motil scored his 8’th on a power play (Vecchio and Holtzman). Outside the wow goal by Bergman, starting netminder Owen Burmeister created his own excitement when he stood down a Case player on a penalty shot by out waiting the first move and stopping the attempt. Final shots on goal SVC 60 Case 20. Final score SVC 7 Case 1.
Good to Know: Joe Vecchio recorded the first hat trick of his career against Case. Zach Ridilla hit the 150-point career mark and Zach Motil made it to 100. Vinny Amatucci owns West Virginia. In 8 games, counting the outdoor showcase with WVU’s D2 team, he has never lost, recorded 5 shutouts has a stratospheric save percentage of .983 and a microscopic goals against of 0.40. Owen Burmeister stopped the first penalty shot of his career and remains unbeaten as the #2 goaltender with a career record of 7-0-0. As a backup since joining the team second semester last season, he has a .929 save percentage and a sparkling 1.63 goals against average. SVC has locked up first place in the standings. WVU and UPJ play a huge game on February 14 as they battle for second place. WVU carries a 9-4-0-1 record with a game in hand over the UPJ squad 10-4-0-1. Sunday, February 15 will be Senior Day for Saint Vincent. The team will recognize Mike Ridilla, Zach Ridilla, Hunter Bergman and Vinny Amatucci and face off against WVU at 2:30 PM at Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont. SVC needs to continue to win to keep its National Bid hopes alive. It needs to win College Hockey East and be ranked in the top 25. SVC currently is #22 in the country.
Derek German scored his first career goal against Kent State in SVC’s 5-4 win. It was a huge response goal that countered an opening score by KSU
Back on Track – SVC Beats Kent State 5-4
The Polar Bearcats solidified its playoff position in College Hockey East (CHE) with a hard-fought road win over a very competitive Kent State Golden Flashes squad holding on to a 5-4 victory. Although Kent was several places below SVC in the standings, they are one of the teams very capable of challenging for the CHE title.
The game did not start well for SVC when Vinny Amatucci had trouble locating the puck after a save early in the first period and inadvertently directed a slow-moving puck across the goal line. But the response from Saint Vincent was quick. The fourth line continued its strong play, held the zone and moved the puck around the perimeter. Mike Ridilla found Dom Costantino at the point who ripped a shot to the KSU net. Derek German fought his way into the deep crease and finished the play with his first career goal. The rest of the period saw each team attempting stretch passes, but neither could establish significant zone time. One to one and shots in favor of Saint Vincent 15-9 after the first.
The second period was a see-saw affair as each team traded opportunities, zone time and goals. After a Kent goal, the Polar Bearcats scored the next two on what can only be described as real hockey plays. For the first, Aaron Varrati found Sam Traeger who one touched the biscuit to a streaking Nik Manolakos who forced the play behind the Golden Flashes defense. Manolakos drove hard into the net, and in what has become a signature move for him, he draw close quarters, avoided any contact with the goaltender and slipped in the goal. Not long after, it was tic-tac-toe and here we go. During a line change, Nick Matus striped a puck from a KSU players and created a down low odd man break by flipping the puck to Mike Ridilla. Ridilla wasted no time with a snappy flat ice feed to a wide-open Sam Treager on the opposite side. It was a classic net popping one timer. But Kent State responded and drew the score back to even at 3-3. But SVC was not done. Zach Ridilla was set up in the slot by Aiden and Zach Motil and he made good on a blistering wrist shot to break a long goal drought.
The third period was the huge test for the resilient Polar Bearcats. With only three seconds remaining in the second period, Caden Horton was called for roughing when he sealed a KSU player into the boards on a clean check. Up to that time, no penalties were issued to either side. With a one goal lead Kent State had a clean sheet of ice and almost two full minutes to start the third. But special teams have been a strength all year for SVC. Even though Horton is one of the team’s top penalty killing forwards, Manolakos, Shigo, and Matus took care of business up front while the D did its job. As Horton’s two minutes expired, he was able to be a KSU player into the zone and neatly put a shot on goal that trickled across the line. 5-3 SVC. But the refs were not done. Suddenly the rules seemed to change in favor of the home team. Aiden Motil, who had not been called for a penalty all year went to the box and KSU score just as his time in the sin bin expired. Saint Vincent was repeatedly subject to high hits, interference, and stick work. Then in the attacking zone Sam Treager leg tripped a Goldan Flash defender and the refs turned it into a 5-minute major for head contact and gave Kent a retaliatory two-minute call for roughing. While trying to kill time in the attacking zone after a rush and retrieval, Louie Amatucci was tackled by a Kent player who would not release him in spite of Amatucci’s efforts to escape the wrestling tactic. The result was another two minutes assigned to SVC topped with a stacked penalty when Coach Martz challenged the call. Time was winding down and Kent State took the advantage of pulling their goalie to create a six on three attack zone advantage. The penalty kill team kept switching forwards and maximized time by Elliot Belli, Dom Costantino and Jack Beddick. Passes were disrupted. Saves were made. Pucks were cleared. Shots were blocked. SVC worked back to a six against four situation and was able to get its full complement back on the ice with 37 seconds to go. It remained tense as attempted clears and shots at an empty net on the wrong side of the red line resulted in icing calls with several face off sets in the Saint Vincent zone. But one more clear and race to retrieve the puck by Tyler Shigo put the game out of reach when instead of trying to force an empty net goal he softly sent the puck behind KSU net. Final shots 30 to 28 in favor of KSU. Final score 5 to 4 SVC.
Good to know: Sam Treager continues to put up points and moved to the top of the SVC points list after game 17 with 13 goals and 13 assists. Mike Ridilla had his first two-point game of the year with a pair of assists. Derek German’s efforts netted him his first career score on a response shift after Kent opened the scoring early. Jack Beddick and Elliot Belli are deadly with checks, Beddick along the boards and Belli in open ice. Dom Costantino has quietly moved up to second on team plus minus, being on the ice for a team leading 25 goas for. SVC now has 12 players with 10 or more points and seven with 5 or more goals. Ten different players collected points in the win.
Up Next: An away game against the CHE’s #3 ranked team, the Mountaineers of West Virginia on Friday February 6. They currently hold a 9-3-1 record against the 12-0-0 Polar Bearcats. With a quick turnaround, SVC plays its first home game of the semester against the Case Western Spartans on Saturday at 7:00 PM at Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont. If you have not yet seen this team play, you’re missing out on some exciting hockey.
Team Comes Up Short at Miami of Ohio Showcase
Facing off against some of the top teams in the country, the Polar Bearcats of Saint Vincent came just short of pushing in enough goals to win back to back games, falling to Purdue 4-3 and Grand Valley State 3-1. A third game scheduled against Miami of Ohio was cancelled due to weather.
The team opened with strength against Purdue opening up a two-goal lead at the end of one on an even strength goal by Sam Traeger (assists to Nik Manolakos and Caden Horton) and a power play shot by Chase Kushner (assists to Sam Traeger and Eliott Bell). Purdue scored on a wrist shot with 5:20 left in the period when SVC missed a back check. The Boilermakers rolled over Saint Vincent in the second when all aspects of the Saint Vincent game went into reverse. But the goaltending of Vinny Amatucci held as he stopped 21 of 22 shots. In the third, Purdue went up early but was answered not long after by a Jacob Holtzman breakaway set up by Alex Schall. Then in what should have been the opportunity of the contest Saint Vincent went on a 5 on 3 powerplay. Then disaster struck. A mishandled pass inside the Purdue resulted in a breakaway short-handed goal. SVC pressed for the equalizer, but to no avail. The final, Purdue Boilermakers 4 The Saint Vincent Polar Bearcats 3. The see-saw level of team play was reflected in the shot distribution. Although the final shots were 47 to 28 Purdue, they were 14 to 12 and 11 to ten, Boilermakers in the first and third periods.
Saint Vincent may have played its best period of hockey to date in the opening 20 minutes against a heavier and older Grand Valley State University (GVSU). SVC may have surprised the Michigan school with its discipline and tenacity, and play was even until Saint Vincent was set up with a 5:3 power play. Sam Traeger converted on passes from Eliott Belli and Nick Matus. The period ended in favor of Saint Vincent 1-0 to go along with a 10 to 8 shot advantage. But the tide started to turn in the second. SVC came out flat, as if it could ride the 1-0 advantage the rest of the contest. The size and experience of GVSU began to wear on the light and younger Saint Vincent squad. But Amatucci excelled in the net making several outstanding stops, none better than a sprawling kick save on an odd man break. Grand Valley turned the tables on shots with an 18 to 9 advantage. SVC was hanging tough but three minutes at the start of the third period decided the game. Play at the National level requires constant attention to details, a type of fearless aggression to fight for ice, and the ability to connect individual effort into team effort. In 3 minutes GVSU came to play and SVC came to watch. It was overwhelming and Amatucci could not make enough saves. GVSU scored at 17:40, 16:55, and 14:17. After going up by two, the Michigan team simply shut down the Polar Bearcats. Efforts were made, but not enough. Final score 3-1 GVSU. Final shots GVSU 46 SVC 28.
Lessons learned: Despite the disappointment in dropping four games to Nationally prominent teams, including the recent road trip to Florida Gulf Coast, this team is close. Sandwiched between these defeats was an inspired win against the WVU D2 team. And although the shots tilted to the opponents, there were opportunities. The team played both games without a top defender in Louie Amatucci. Chase Kusner was injured for the Grand Valley game, and Alex Schall left midway in that contest. Not having these players available mattered. What needs to change to move this group to the next level? Bringing an A game to every shift for a full 60 minutes. Players regaining the confidence to begin producing. Learning how to play against heavier teams who can match the SVC speed game. And playing attention to details. Slicing into lanes. Playing off the post to box out attackers in the defensive zone. Working to get the right side of the puck. Increasing the ability to support pucks. Goaltending? Vinny and Burm got it.
What this means: SVC finishes the season with all remaining games being league contests in College Hockey East. Win out. Take the CHE Championship. And hope the end result ranks the team high enough for an auto bid to Nationals. It all starts Saturday night in an away contest at Kent State.
SVC Bests WVU 3-2 in Frigid Outdoor Game
It was literally one of the coolest games in Saint Vincent Hockey history. The Outdoor Classic at Allegheny County’s South Park facility did not disappoint. It had all the elements one would expect from the setting. Frigid temps dipping to 11 degrees by the end of the game. Wind whipping ice snow from multiple directions. Players bundled with warming hoods under their equipment. And a show on the ice that excited the fans. It was a David and Goliath event as the Division III Polar Bearcats of Saint Vincent prepped to go head to head with the Division II Mountaineers of West Virginia.
SVC made an impression from the get go. Wearing their black away uniforms with matching tuks on their heads, when they took the ice for the National Anthem, the West Virginia squad took notice. This was no ordinary team. Polar Bearcats thrive in this environment.
It did not take long. On the first shift and first shot of the game SVC stunned the upper division host when Dom Costantino, set up by Tyler Shigo and Eliott Belli, scored from the point. Game on. But WVU pressed. Although Saint Vincent seemed to control the play, a wrist shot blew by SVC netminder Vinny Amatucci to end the frame at 1-1.
But SVC started to dominate in the second 20 minutes. Blueliner Jack Beddick jacked multiple attackers with rock solid body checks. The speed of the Saint Vincent defense made clears easy, and the forecheck went to work. As the period progressed, it made the fans start to think if SVC was not from the higher division. Coach Martz switch goalies at the 9:16 mark and Owen Burmeister took over. The Mountaineers got one passed him, but he also made several strong saves on the few occasions when WVU was able to gain the Saint Vincent zone. But the goaltending of West Virginia was solid. At the end of 20 minutes they led 2-1 in spite of SVC having an incredible 37 to 16 shot advantage after two periods.
The weather got colder. The wind blew harder. But Polar Bearcats love this. The domination continued in the final period. But time was winding down and goaltending for the host team looked like an iceberg, huge and immovable. Domination without scoring is a recipe for a loss. It looked grim when Caden Horton, one of the team’s better penalty killers, was called for a minor infraction late in the period. Then the magic happened. Somehow Eliot Belli moved the puck to Nick Matus and Nik Manolakos split the WVU defenders at the SVC blue line. It was one of the most impressive backhand loft passes. Manolakos corralled the puck fought off the backchecking Mountaineers and powered into the deep slot. He had done this before and did it again. He found a way to break the iceberg and tied the game with his second shorthanded goal of the season. Now at 2-2, the tension mounted. Saint Vincent received a power play with a little more than 5 minutes to go in the game. Once again they moved the puck and created chances. Seconds after the penalty expired, Dom Costantino and Joe Vecchio worked the puck to Captain Jacob Holtzman near the blue line. He ripped a wrist shot by the goalie and SVC took the 3-2 lead. WVU was able to pull their goalie as time wound down. But Burmeister positioned himself well in the net and the team denied the scoring chance WVU so desperately sought. SVC 3 WVU2. Final shots SVC 52 WVU 20. It was one incredible game.
How about… This was the first time Coach Martz split a game between the two goalies. Each one saw 10 shots and made 9 saves. Owen Burmeister received credit for the win. The teams switched ends halfway through the third period to adjust for how the lighting and shadows affected play. This was the first true outdoor game in SVC history. In the 1978-1979 season the team faced off against Allegheny College in Meadville at the Recreation Center. There were 15 to 20 mile per hour wind gusts and at the 1:00 PM face off the temperature was 4 degrees. It had a roof but was open on three sides. The game ended 4-4.
Next up… SVC travels to Oxford Ohio this weekend for a three game showcase playing against Purdue, Grand Valley State, and Miami of Ohio. David meets several Goliaths.
SVC Drops First Two Games of the Season in Two Hard Fought Contests against Florida Gulf Coast University
Saint Vincent travelled to Fort Meyers Florida for two road games against the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles (FGCU) and twice came up short in titanic defensive struggles. In the opening contest each team traded cautious chances. A heavier and older FGCU team made it hard for SVC to penetrate the home team’s zone. The ice gradually titled to the Eagle’s advantage but Saint Vincent had just enough speed to disrupt the Eagles and when that failed, goaltender Vinny Amatucci took over with the saves necessary to keep the game scoreless. It was not until the 6:05 mark of the third period did Florida solve the puzzle. There was no more scoring and the shots ended 37 to 21, Eagles.
Game two started the same way. Tight checking. Ice hard to gain. Shots difficult to find. Then multiple missed calls by the officials who permitted FGCU to continually interfere with and block SVC attackers eventually enabled two goals in the second period for the home team. But SVC stormed into the third. The team repeatedly found ways to get the puck deep, found new energy and put FGCU in a defensive mode. Louie Amatucci finally broke through on an assist by Joe Vecchio scoring on a power play in the final period. Saint Vincent became energized and pressed hard to get the equalizer. The opportunity to pull the goalie enabled the team to get several great opportunities but with 22 seconds left, the Eagles sent a long shot into the empty net closing the score at 3-1. SVC out shot the Eagles 36 to 34 including a decisive statement in the final period 20 shots to 11.
Next up is an outdoor game against the WVU D2 team at Allegheny Counties South Park ice rink for an MLK exhibition match. Warmups are 5 PM with face off at 5:30 PM. Bundle up!
It should not have been this close and yet Saint Vincent was never behind in an odd 4-1 win over CHE rival Penn West Cal for the SVC Polar Bearcat Ice Hockey Team. SVC sat atop College Hockey East. The Penn West Vulcans had a wining record, but dropped games against weaker opponents. Yet during the first 20 minutes Cal held the better of the play. SVC did not have good zone entries or support on the puck. And when the Vulcans pushed the play into Saint Vincent Ice, they kept moving the puck wide around the boards while Saint Vincent consistently found themselves chasing the play or being on the wrong side of their checks. The best shifts of the game came from the 4’th line of Joe Vecchio, Nick Matus and Derek German. They got the puck deep, were quick on the body, and mucked along the boards. It was inspirational. Although Cal outshot the home team 13 to 11, many came from the outside, and you don’t beat SVC’s goalie Vinny Amatucci with those types of attacks.
It turned in the second. The period started in much the same way as the first. But freshman Sam Treager ripped a wrist shot by the Vulcan goalie at 17:26. The Cal did something you don’t want to do against this SVC team. Give them the power play. It did not take long. At 16:58 Chase Kusher extended the lead to 2-0 on a set up by Sam Treager and Eliot Belli. When SVC’s Hunter Bergman took an interference penalty, it gave the visitors an opportunity to get back in the game. But the Polar Bearcats have some of the best penalty killers in the league. Caden Horton and Nik Manolakos are among the best. Horton disrupted the Penn West breakout repeatedly and made it difficult for them to start an attack from their end. In frustration the back end of the Cal power play forced a pass that was picked off by Nik Manolakos. It was beautiful. Manolakos forced his way past a defender, found himself on a partial breakaway, drove the net and snapped a Syndney Crosby like backhand for a top shelf for a short-handed goal. It had to be seen to be appreciated. It was in no uncertain terms, “a hocky play”. Final shots in the frame, 15 to 13 Saint Vincent.
Cal had a great push in the third. It started when the smallest player in CHE, Cal’s Eion Tiernam simply got lost and was not picked up for a layup back door goal on Amatucci at 17:15. The next goal would be huge. But when SVC’s Dom Costantino was fed a pass by Sam Treager, he sent a flying point shot past the Vulcan goalie at 12:59 just after a Penn West penalty expired. At that moment the game was done. Cal pressed, but the quality of shots were no challenge for Vinny Amatucci’s game in net. Final score SVC 4 Penn West Cal 1. Final shots Penn West Cal 40 Saint Vincent 33.
Christmas Spirit and New Year’s Wishes. Great first semester for the team. Hard to think that at 11-0-0 they can still play better. The third period is a weakness and the players need to learn how to sustain efforts against weaker teams. The team will play its next eight games against some top competitors at the local and National level. Next up will be a road trip to face off against Florida Gulf Coast University on January 9 and 10 followed by an outdoor game against West Virgina’s Division II team on January 19 at Allegheny County’s South Park and a showcase tournament at Miami of Ohio on January 23, 24 and 25 with games against Purdue, Grand Valley State, and Miami of Ohio. Then its back the CHE play with Kent State and the current #2 CHE ranked WVU. Saint Vincent will not see home ice again until Saturday, February 7, 2026 when it takes on Case at 7:30 PM.
End of term observations and shout outs. How about the fourth line. A combination of Mike Ridilla, Derek German, Joseph Vecchio, Aiden Motil and Nick Matus have really excelled in their role. Checking and grinding in the attack zone is one thing. But when the group also contributes 7 goals, 7 assists and is a collective +11? That speaks volumes. The D has been solid. Dom Costantino has quietly performed. Louie Amatucci and Eliot Belli may be the best two skating and puck movers on the league. No team is complete without D who simply do their job. Kudos Bergman, Trice and Rosato. Beddick is morte than advertised. A first line has finally emerged. Shigo, Schall and Kushner have combined for 33 goals. Second line scoring is down with only 11 goals. But here is a noteworthy stat. Zach Radilla, Jacob Holtzman and Zach Motil have only been on the ice for one goal against. That wins games. The PK is unreal at times. Manolakos and Horton have lead the way, but combinations of Zach Radilla, Zach Motil, and Jacob Holtzman have been super as well. Freshmenn are engaged. 31 goals. Not many teams have that kind of contribution from first year players. How about Sam Treager being in the top 5 scorers for freshman in the country. No team goes 11-0-0 with goaltending. You don’t have a team goals against average of 1.45 without Louie Amatucci and Owen Burmeister. Upside? Better third periods. Remembering to use speed the entire game on forechecks. Sharing the puck balanced against passing up shots. Not forgetting back post support in the D zone. Finishing. Scary that team that has this record could be even better. But, a third Nationals performance and a top 10 finish demands it. This team could do it. Does it want it badly enough? Stay tuned.
SVC Outlasts UPJ with 5-4 Shootout Win
In what may be a prelude to College Hockey East playoff battle, Pitt Johnstown gave the Saint Vincent icers all they could handle in a battle of two of the better teams in Western PA ACHA D3 ice hockey last Sunday at the Cambria County War Memorial. Similar to an early season match up, the first period was a game of cat and mouse. SVC used its speed and UPJ its size in contrasting styles of play. The Ice Cats of Pitt Johnstown were unable to contain SVC’s quick breakouts and attack zone movement, only able to provide an occasional threat by controlling board play deep in the Saint Vincent zone. That changed at 4:57 when The Polar Bearcats of SVC took advantage of a UPJ penalty. The puck snapped from tape to tape as Eliot Belli found Sam Treager along the strong side boards who in a single motion placed a perfect pass on the stick of Alex Schall in the bumper position of the slot. SVC’s leading goal scorer wasted no time. 1-0 SVC. Two minutes later SVC’s puck moving ability struck again. The UPJ defenders lost track of SVC’s Zach Motil and Zach Ridilla lofted a perfect center ice feed to Motil. He was gone on the breakaway and snapped a top shelf shot into the UPJ net. First period shots, SVC 19 UPJ 11.
The game turned quickly in period two. Pitt Johnstown took advantage of weakness in SVC’s game, worked the puck deep into the zone and scored twice from the deep slot against the Schall-Shigo-Kushner line as the Saint Vincent defense failed to box out the heavier UPJ attackers. Suddenly SVC lost its advantage. The quick breakouts became sloppy chips. Cross ice passes were deflected. Dumps were made with little coordinated purpose. Some momentum was regained when Captain Jacob Holtzman, forechecking like a hungry dog seeing a bone, stole a puck on an attempted breakout fed Zach Radilla who found an open Zach Motil who finished the play from the left face circle. Period two ended with SVC up 3-2 and 15 shots for each team.
The Polar Bearcat mojo came back at the start of the third period. Another play, another goal by Alex Schall with a set up by Tyler Shigo and Sam Treager. Breathing room. But details matter in a game with two good teams facing each other. Failing to fight for defensive position on a lost face off in the Saint Vincent zone enabled a quick strike goal by the Ice Cats, again from the deep slot. Hockey is a game of momentum swings. Advantage UPJ. With penalties disrupting the game flow, SVC started to lose the advantage. It felt as if it was just trying to hang on. In hocky that seldom works. UPJ did what any good team can do when that happens. The period ended 4-4. Overtime was set.
UPJ won the opening draw and even though the open ice played to the speed game of Saint Vincent, Pitt Johnstown controlled most of the play. Dom Costantino and Chase Kusner could only manage two wide shots. Although UPJ had some better chances, Vinny Amatucci made the saves necessary to move the game to a shootout. SVC went first with a miss by Alex Schall. Vinny Amatucci made the first save. Then Chase Kushner for SVC scored. Amatucci made a second save. It was set for SVC. If Tyler Shigo scored SVC would tale the extra point, if not the game would depend on Amatucci. A fair bet. Amatucci was not needed again. Shigo did not miss. Final score SVC 5 UPJ 4. Final shots, 48 to 40 SVC.
For your consideration: Four – that is the most goals given up in any game this season by Saint Vincent. Although SVC gains an extra point in College Hockey East play with the shootout win, ACHA does not recognize shootouts and will record the game as a tie. So is the SVC record 10-0-0 or 9-0-1? The answer is yes. A stat nightmare. The Polar Beacats have one game remaining this semester, Friday night against Penn West Cal, 7:30 PM at Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont. A big Game? Absolutely. Cal has a record of 5-2-1 and recently beat UPJ 6-4. Worth the price of admission.
Hunter Bergman had one of the most impressive shifts of the season setting up a tap in goal by Alex Schall. Identity Players Perform in 7-1 Win over Duquesne.
Players with goals get press. Players with heart get noticed. But you have to be at a game to see the impact of heart because it does not show on a scoresheet. The SVC Polar Bearcats had a strong game against a resilient Duquesne team as the Dukes refused to make it an easy win. After first period goals by Sam Treager (Elliot Belli) and a Chase Kushner (Louie Amatucci and Treager) and a solid 15 to 7 advantage in shots, Duquesne took the play away from SVC. The sharp breakouts, snappy center ice feeds, puck tracking and third man high of the first 20 minutes dissolved into a strange mix of broken plays.
After the Dukes scored on a power play to close to 2-1, they worked an intense 10 minutes of domination that could have easily taken over the game. But unsung heroes don’t let that happen. Owen Burmeister starting his third game of the season came up with several snappy saves and noticeable efforts by Aiden Motil and Derek German on responsible backchecks and several critical clears by defenseman Hunter Bergman frustrated Duquesne’s push. It worked. These plays don’t show on a scoresheet, but they impact a game. On an SVC powerplay Joe Vecchio directed a point shot from Captain Jacob Holtzman on a feed from Louie Amatucci into the net to put Saint Vincent up by two at the end of two. It was 3-1, but the Dukes were not deterred outshooting Saint Vincent 14-9 in period two.
On a play off the opening face-off SVC gained the Duquesne zone and a pass from Tyler Shigo to Chase Kushner quickly made the score 4-1. Then it happened. The Dukes goaltender attacked Shigo and the scrum was on. Gloves and sticks went flying as the officials sorted out the scuffle. It went badly for Duquesne. Their goaltender was assessed a 5-minute major for fighting and a game misconduct. A bigger problem? He was the only Dukes goalie. After a lengthy delay a positional player put on the pads. The game could have seen SVC move into double digits. Cudos to the remaining Duquesne players. They defended well and even mounted some attack threats, but to no avail. Nick Matus (Caden Horton) and another power play score by Joe Vecchio (Holtzman and Zach Motil) pretty much put the game away for good. But there was one more play worth writing about. Defenseman Hunter Bergman turned in one of the most impressive and intense 20 seconds of the season by any player. Leaving his blue line, he pursued the Duquesne defenders like an F-35 fighter jet. He harassed. He bumped. He contained. He took away passing lanes. He finally gained possession and found Alex Schall bedside the net. It was the easiest goal of the season for Schall. Final score, SVC 7 Duquesne 1. Shots were in favor of Saint Vincent 38 to 31.
Time Out for Turkey. Saint Vincent has a solid command of first place in College Hockey East with a 9-0-0 record and a hard to fathom 56 goal differential. This writer will not say it just yet, but he may have to. This could be the best team in club history. How does 9 consecutive wins stack up? Twice before the club had streaks of 8. This team now ranks number 3 in unbeaten terms in team history. The 2004-2005 team had one of 11. The record? 18 in 2003-2004. Junior Tyler Shigo needs one point to hit the 100 club. He is currently tied with former Latrobe HS player Kordan Miller with 99 points. The next game will be an away contest, Sunday, November 30 at 2:30 PM against UPJ at the Cambria County War Memorial. It should be a good one. Something good to see at the end of turkey weekend.
Balanced Attack Sends SVC to 8-0 Win Over Visiting IUP
This train does not seem stoppable. It is well oiled, geared to pull together, and determined to find recognition among the top teams in the country. Currently ranked #9 nationally among all ACHD D3 teams, SVC used goals by 8 different players to shutout the Crimson Hawks of IUP on home ice last Saturday. Team speed and tenacious forechecking took a while to get SVC started in the first period, but at 12:49 Joseph Vecchio laced a shot from the back side of the deep slot on a feed from Mike Ridilla that started the deluge. Starting at 7:53 and continuing through 2:55, Chase Kushner, Nik Manolakos, Tyley Shigo and Zach Motil stunned IUP with strike after strike. The assists mattered. Mike Ridilla, Alex Schall (2), Tyler Shigo, Sam Treager, Caden Horton, Dom Costantino, Jacob Holtzman and Louie Amatucci masterfully moved pucks to the eventual goal scorers. First period shots, SVC 20 IUP 3.
The game tightened a little bit for period 2, but the more IUP collapsed its D to attempt to avoid the forwards of Saint Vincent getting behind them the worse it got. Soon, breakouts for the home team became easy and stretch passes the norm. IUP changed goaltenders and it helped a little, but the tactic did not last long when defenseman Eliot Belli had an exciting end to end rush on the PK and converted a shorthanded goal at 13:15 (Costantino and Zach Ridilla). Caden Horton scored from the deep slot on a play where Louie Amatucci kept the puck alive at the blue line, fed Sam Treager who dished a pass to Horton. Not much was left for the third. The game was out of reach and IUP waved the flag. The only score came on a Traeger power play goal (Belli, Kushner). Exclamation point. Final shots 49 to 18 SVC.
What you don’t know: IUP had one potential threat for a breakaway late in the third. Kaleb Trice saw otherwise. Defenseman should not be this fast, but SVC has a set of blueliners that can close. Kaleb did just that. The result? Not even a shot on goal for IUP. Vinny Amatucci now has 13 career shutouts. The next closest SVC goalie in team history has 4. It is the first time in series history that SVC has not given up a goal to IUP. Vinny Amatucci set another record. He now has played more minutes than any goalie in SVC history. At 4,451 minutes played he surpassed Shane Brudnok at 4,224. Shane and Vinny remain the only two goalies to ever pass the 4,000 minutes played mark.
Louie Amatucci Collected One Goal and Four Assists in SVC’s Huge Two Win Weekend
The Polar Bearcats of Saint Vincent College recorded two statement wins this past weekend with a 14-2 explosive road win over Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and a solid 5-3 home triumph over Pitt Johnstown, a game with national ranking implications.
Once Saint Vincent adapted to the large Olympic size ice surface of the Case Spartans, it was full throttle. With 6 goals in the first period, 3 in the second, and 5 in the third, a 52 to 16 shot advantage for SVC demonstrated the firepower of Saint Vincent. Three platers recorded hat tricks (Alex Schall, Tyeler Shigo and Sam Treager) while Zach Motil added two, with single goals by Chase Kushner, Captain Jacob Holtzman, and freshman Joe Vecchio. Those goals did not come without help. Zach Ridilla had a team season high of 5 assists for a single game, while Alex Schall, Chase Kushner and Louie Amatucci each had three, Caden Horton and Eliot Belli two, and solo helpers by Jacob Holtzman, Zach Motil, Sam Treager, Nik Manolakos, and Derek German. Owen Burmeister recorded his second win of the year in goal with his 14 save effort.
Sunday evening had the top two College Hockey East teams square off with first place and national rankings at stake. Each team entered the contest undefeated and nationally ranked with the Ice Cats of UPJ placed #12 and the SVC Polar Bearcats at #14. As former Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange would have said, “Shame on you for six weeks” if you missed this one. Without a doubt this was ACHA D3 hockey at its best. Each team came ready to play and gave the fans a contest well worth admission.
For most of the first period the attack and defense of each team clearly showed they were worthy opponents. Although UPJ held a shot advantage, SVC goaltender Vinny Amatucci made sure a zero stayed on the scoreboard. A UPJ penalty turned the first 20 minutes. At 6:44, sharp passing by Alex Schall and Louie Amatucci set up Sam Treager with a shot the goalie is still looking for. End of one, 1-0 SVC.
The first half of the second 20 minutes of play resumed the tense minutes displayed in the first. Then at 10:36, Jacob Holtzman (Zach Ridilla, Zach Motil) finished a battle in front of the UPJ goalie to give Saint Vincent the 2-0 lead. Slowly SVC was gaining zone time and a shot advantage until Louie Amatucci was called for goaltender interference. In its first 6 games SVC excelled on the penalty kill but when Caden Horton was called for a dubious trip on the PK, UPJ was finally able to gain life with a 5 n 3 score at 6:46. Then just like lightening, the Polar Bearcats lit up the arena with two markers less than one minute apart. Tyley Shigo at 5:01 (Jacob Holtzman and Eliot Belli) and Zach Motil at 4:24 (Zach Ridilla) extended the home team lead to 4-1at the end of two.
But UPJ was not done. On a night when mistakes were rare, the visitors took advantage of missed coverage and drew to within two at 16:35. It stayed that way with each team denying ice and shooting lanes to its opponent. Then at 2:23 Pitt Johnstown took advantage of an SVC penalty for a power play goal at 2:23. What seemed like a comfortable 4-1 lead dwindled to a one goal contest. UPJ was able to get a 6’th attacker on the ice and furiously worked the zone. Saint Vincent was equal to the task and after a few icings, Zach Ridilla won a face off back to Louie Amatucci who split the uprights from 195 feet for the empty netter. Final score SVC 5 UPJ 3.
Second Thoughts: This was a physical game. It was real old school hockey. Eliot Belli destroyed a UPJ attacker crossing the blue line with a check he’ll never cash, and Louie Amatucci threw an open ice hip check that was absolute poetry, a back flip and flop. There still must be ice repairs needed where the UPJ player landed. Teams don’t beat good teams without coordination and a coaching plan. Write a paragraph for every player in this one for executing. Nine SVC players are averaging a point a game or more. Tyler Shigo leads the team with 19 points (9G 10A). Alex Schall has the goal lead with 10 and Zach Ridilla gets the server award with 13 assists. After Alex Schall (+15) Louie Amatucci, Jack Beddick and Dom Constantino share second honors, each with a +14. Something crazy? After 7 games Zach Ridilla, Jacob Holtzman, Joe Vecchio and Nick Matus have not been on the ice for a goal against. Sophomore Derek German combining last year and this years’ stats still has not been on the ice for a goal against. Is this crazy? SVC’s netminders have a 1.43 goals against average.
Want to see some really good college hockey? SVC squares off against IUP on Saturday, November 15, at 7:30 PM at Palmer Imaging Arena at Delmont. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for youth. This marks the 50’th meeting all time between the two schools. IUP holds a 26-23-1 advantage in the series.
Tyler Shigo Collects First Polar Bearcat Hat Trick in the 25-26 Season Leading SVC to a 10-2 Win over Duquesne
It was not pretty but it was decisive. The Saint Vincent Ice Hockey Team took advantage of a goaltending issue with the visiting Duquesne Dukes and once it pushed to a 3-0 lead at the end of one period the game was pretty much over. The first 5 minutes saw the Dukes take the play to SVC outshooting them in the opening few minutes by a 4 to 1 margin until Tyler Shigo (Kushner and Bergman) moved the puck past the Dukes goalie at 14:16. Two long point shots, the first by Jack Bedick (Holtzman and Zach Ridilla) and the second by Dom Constatino (Zach Radilla and Louie Amatucci) was the only power play mark in the game.
After a breakaway goal by Alex Schall at 15:57 of the second (Constantino and Shigo) sloppy home run passes and penalties made it difficult for SVC to get any rhythm for large parts of the second 20 minutes. Regardless, the Duquesne defense made some poor choices that enabled Chase Kushner at 6:43 (Shigo and Vinny Amatucci), Zach Ridilla at 5:01 (Belli and Zach Motil) and Chase Kushner at 1:07 (Constantino and Shigo) to gain a significant lead. A Dukes goal at 1:48 was the only blemish on a fine period by Vinny Amatucci in the nets.
The third period was a close image of the second. Saint Vincent never improved their team play but it was really not necessary. Shigo collected two goals for the hat trick (Schall and Louie Amatucci) while freshman Joe Vecchio recorded his first ever score a sharp tip in from Louie Amatucci with the second assist to Sam Treager. Just like the second, Duquesne squeezed in a goal with less than 5 minutes to go in the period. Final shots were SVC 46, Duquesne 33.
The Hidden Game: SVC took seven minor penalties and Duquesne barely threatened on any. The PK squad did outstanding work on clears, center ice disruptions and offensive zone checking. Nik Manolakos and Caden Horten put on some displays worthy of mention. They may be some of the best penalty killers in the league. The others? Probably also on the SVC squad. The most dynamic defensive play of the game ended in a penalty for SVC. An attacking player tried get around SVC’s Louie Amatucci by chipping the puck behind him in center ice. Amatucci executed a perfect hip check and lifted the Duquesne player on his back and kept skating backwards carrying the opponent like a ruck sack! He received two minutes for interference. A questionable call no doubt. The hit of the game, also no doubt. It was one of those wow plays that do not show on the score sheet but make this team worth watching, even when they don’t play their collective best. SVC is averaging only one goal against per game while scoring 33 through five contests. In the first ACHA D III National rankings the Polar Bearcats placed #14 in the country. Vinny Amatucci and Owen Burmeister have a combined .959 save percentage. Fourteen players have recorded goals and 20 have at least one assist. WVU remains in first place in College Hockey East by virtue of the number of games played with a 5-3-1 record. SVC (5-0-0) and Pitt Johnstown (3-0-0) are the only two undefeated teams at this point of the season.
The team travels to Case Western Reserve University for a Friday night match at The Pavilion Skating Club. Face off is set for 7:45 PM.
Owen Burmeister Took the A Train Backstopping SVC to a 5-1 Win over Akron
SVC played well enough to move its early season record to 4-0-0 in College Hockey East league play even if it took a disinterested approach to the visiting Akron Zips. For most of the first period the Polar Bearcats enabled Akron to possess the puck and clog the middle of the ice negating the successful speed approach and aggressive forecheck used in its first three wins. Soft cross ice feeds, the lack of discipline to use the wall for breakouts, and uncoordinated forechecks played into the Zips game and drained power from the SVC engine. Then Louie Amatucci fired up the boiler and put on a dazzling end to end rush with a feed and finish to Nik Manolakos with 5:41 left in the first twenty. Suddenly the train was back on track. Alex Schall (Shigo) quickly made the gap 2-0 with a power play score at 2:52. Then a coaches worst nightmare happened to Akron. A late period goal. But not just one, two. Breaking a school record held by Eddie “Skates” Rickets in the 76-77 season, Sam Traeger scored with 22 (unassisted) and the 13 (Manolakos and Beddick) seconds left in the period. The nine second separation bested a 10 second gap held by Skates for 48 years.
The outburst seemed to put both teams in coast mode for the second period. Neither felt compelled to either push for a comeback or expand the lead. Turnovers increased and play was unexciting. The lone bright spot, Jack Beddick scored his first goal, a shorthanded tally at 13:19. With Caden Horton and Nik Manolakos teaming to move the puck wide to Beddick, he took what the game gave and drove up the boards through center ice. He should have been exhausted, but determined through a Zip defender trying to seal him into the wall. Effort created the breakaway as the Saint Vincent defenseman whistled a net popping shot that increased the lead to 5-0.
The final 20 minutes reflected the majority of contest. Although SVC was never in danger of losing and outshot Akron 21 to 7, most shots came from the wings off the rush and not necessarily from in zone sustained pressure. A missed assignment enabled one Zip goal on a breakaway, the only blemish in an otherwise strong play in the pipes by Owen Burmeister. Final score, SVC 5 Akron 1. Shots on goal, Polar Bearcats 46 Zips 23.
In the Roundhouse: Scoring continues to be spread throughout the line up. This game’s line leader was the combination of Traeger, Manolakos and Horton. Schall has become deadly in front of the net on the power play where he netted 4 of his team leading 6 goals. Shigo heads the leader board with 7 assists. It’s early but an interesting observation: the team’s goals against average goes up if it gives up single goal in a game. Owen Burmeister had several highlight real save sequences to keep Akron off the board when it pressed its attack. But he did what any solid goaltender needs to do, make the routine saves look routine. He was give the team hard hat for the effort.
The Duquesne Dukes are the next opponent at Palmer Arena this coming Saturday, November 1. Face off at 7:30 PM. If this team can get its engine back to full power, it should be a fun contest. Come see this team. At potential, it’s worth the admission.
Vinny Amatucci records his 50’th win and 12’th Career Shutout over IUP
Polar Bearcats Improve to 3-0-0. Upend IUP 7-0.
Saint Vincent continued its assault on College Hockey East teams with a solid 7-0 victory over host IUP on Friday night at S&T Bank Arena. The “Polar Express” wasted little time gaining an advantage when Aiden Motil used a stretch pass to send Nik Manolakos streaking down the right side behind an IUP defender and laced a wrist shot past the home goaltender. Indiana seemed to settle down for awhile but Alex Schall (Shigo and Traeger) made it 2-0 later in those first 20 minutes. Shots after one, 18-7 SVC. In the second period the SVC train had a downhill track the entire time, leveraging a 25 to 4 shot advantage to a 5-0 lead. Eliot Belli scored hist first goal when Zach Ridilla won a clean draw back to Nick Constantino at the point who fed Belli, finishing the play with a nasty wrist shot. The sustained pressure of Saint Vincent rewarded Tyler Shigo with a power play tally (Kushner and Traeger) and a second man advantage score by Chase Kushner (Shigo) took all possible steam out of the IUP engine.
The final 20 minutes simply required SVC to maintain discipline and finish its plays. Alex Schall scored his 4’th goal of the early campaign (Shigo) and the final scoring play saw Caden Horton rewarded on a nifty behind the net feed from Big Mike Ridilla who teamed with Nick Matus on the sett up. Shots in the third period favored the visitors 22 to nine for a three period 65 to 20 advantage.
Iceberg Notes: Vinny Amatucci recorded his 50’th win in club history. He previously smashed the record for wins held by Andrew Tully (2000 to 2004) at 34 and continues to build on one of the most incredible careers in club history. His 12’th career shutout has tripled the previous record of 4 held by Ken Glinka (1972-1976). For the second game in a row SVC demonstrated a balanced attack as six different players had goals. The power play looks deadly with 7 goals in the first three games. There were a few miscues in the match, mostly from the newer defenseman forcing passes that were intercepted or turnovers by forwards over stick handling. But the speed of recovery by SVC masked these few errors. Sam Treager led all players with 13 shots on goal. IUP only had 20 for the entire team.
Next up for SVC, the Akron Zips, at home on Friday, October 24, 2025. Face Off at 7:30 PM. If you have not yet seen this team play, it’s worth the train ride!
It looked like an even match the first 5 minutes of the game between the host Robert Morris Colonials and the visiting SVC Polar Bearcats in Friday night action at the Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh. But Alex Schall broke the ice deking the RMU goaltender with a set up by Zach Ridilla and Jacob Holtzman to give the visiting Polar Bearcats an early lead. It was short lived. Before the ink could dry on the score sheet, RMU took advantage of a center ice draw and immediately knotted the game at 1-1. But in spite of the quick shift in momentum, Sam Treager, with support from Nik Manolakos and and Aiden Motil, answered in true power forward style and put a backhand into the Colonial net from the deep slot. At 2-1 it still could have been anyone’s game but a breakaway goal snapped in the upper corner of the RMU net by freshman Nick Matus seemed to completely derail the home team.
It was not that SVC had a few brief moments of controlled play that was impressive, it was the relentless approach Saint Vincent took to building up an attack and negating any real efforts by Robert Morris to challenge. It was like a train trying to be stopped by a pillow. It was impressive. It was real. It was consistent. Caden Horton had a marvelous tip from Eliot Belli. First period 4-1 SVC. Louie Amatucci blasted a slap shot in on a power play. Then it was Chase Kushner. Zach Ridilla joined the parade with a slap shot the goalie is still looking for. Need another goal? Why not Alex Schall again. 8-1 end of two. Need a running clock? Ask Zach Motil to do it on the power play. 9-1. Defense? Of course. Pick a blue liner who did not shovel some coal into the engine. Goaltending? Vinny Amatucci could have been a conductor taking a nap who always woke up in time to make sure the tracks were clear. Want some dominance? How about a 21-2 shot advantage in the second period. Wow! Final total 47 to 16. In the end, 8 different players scored goals and 11 had assists. Even those who didn’t get on the score sheet were noticeable. Is this train for real? Will it have the discipline to stay on the tracks and press forward with the power it displayed? If it can, could this be the best team in club history? If the players can continue to synchronize their play like the big wheels of a train, it could be. Choo choo. Get out of the way!
In the Station. With 9 goals it’s pretty hard to not mention that SVC also racked up 18 assists. Three helpers went to Tyler Shigo and Jacob Holtzman, two each to Zach Radilla, Nik Manolakos, and Louie Amatucci, and single assists to Zach Motil, Aiden Motil, Joe Vecchio, Dom Costantino, Eliot Belli, and Hunter Bergman. Mike Ridilla had two solid shots on goal and defensemen Jack Beddick and Kaleb Trice made solid breakout passes and really took care of their end of the ice. Team effort? How about not allowing a power play goal on 6 opportunities for RMU.
RMU was a CHE playoff team last year and has been a solid program for years. Next up will be IUP in an away game this Friday night. Face off is 8:00 PM. The 49’th time the two teams have squared off, SVC has played more games against the Indiana school than any other. IUP leads the all time series with a record of 26-21-1.
Freshman blue liner Kaleb Trice had a solid performance in the 25-26 season opening win over Kent State. He picked up his first ever collegiate point with an assist on the game winning goal.
HOMECOMING PARTY ENDS WITH EXCITING 2-1 WIN OVER VISITING KENT STATE
The Polar Bearcats started the defense of their back to back CHE titles with a hard fought win over visiting Kent State University on Sunday at Palmer Imaging Arena. Each team played a guessing game through most of the first period trying to figure each other out. It was evident that SVC had speed, tenacity and a willingness to take the body as the home team gradually gained possession time and a decided shot advantage as the first 20 minutes dragged on, It took deft passing late in the first period from defenseman Eliot Belli who had a nifty feed to Chase Kushner. Wasting little time, Kushner found Alex Schall behind the Golden Eagles defense for a textbook redirect power play score. The second period brought more of the same. Though not as dominant in shots, SVC took its physical play to another level with some clean open ice hits, none more noticeable than defenseman Jack Beddick’s power rock of an attacking KSU winger who is still wondering when the game will start. But the Eagles hung tough. Finally with less than two minutes to play Kaleb Trice and Alex Schall set up last season’s leading scorer, Tyler Shigo. Entering the third period, Saint Vincent finally had some breathing room, but Kent State would not go away. Early in period three they put a puck past Saint Vincent goaltender Vinny Amatucci the only way they could, taking advantage of a missed assignment and snapping a back side goal into an open net. Kent State continued to sustain its attack but in spite of pulling its goalie and outshooting SVC 17 to 7 in the final 20 minutes, it could not get the equalizer.
The game capped a great weekend for the team as its first ever homecoming hockey tent was an incredible success. Whipped cream pies in player’s faces. food and drink, and players from year’s past made the day. Joel Santoro got the distance award coming up from Atlanta. But the best prize of all was the chance for members of the current team to meat Dick Bienvenue C’70, the first Director and Founder of the the ice hockey club back in the 1969-1970 season!
Game Notes: The freshman looked solid. Captain Jacob Holtzman gave the first ever “SVC HARD HAT” to freshman Kaleb Trice. Vinny Amatucci continues to be a dominant net minder. The penalty kill using various combinations of Zach Ridilla, Zach Motil Jacob Holtzman, Caden Horton and Nik Manolakos up front, backed by almost the entire blue line gave no breathing room to the attackers. KSU is quality team and this day they were beaten by a better team. Final score SVC 2 KSU 1. Ending shots 36 to 30 in favor of SVC. A bit more attention to detail in front of the home team’s net and a slight 3’rd period relapse were the only noticeable downsides to the effort. How far can this team go in its quest for a third straight CHE banner? Based on Sunday, as far as the player’s want. GO POLAR BEARCATS!
Next game is an away contest at Robert Morris University this Friday, October 10. Face Off at 8:45 PM at Island Sports Center! (Note: the Excel sheet has the game at 10:15 PM. This is incorrect due to a loading issue and will adjusting as soon as the technical issue is resolved.)