2022-2023 CHE Finalists Front Row (L-R) Jacob Holtzman, Zach Ridilla, Vince Amatucci, Zach Crosby, Logan Connelly, Back Row (L-R) Coach Sam Paquin, Coach Cam Roth, Mike Ridilla, Luca Rosato, Tristan Moyer, Colten McCutcheon, Mason Gage, Mitchell Knecht, Anthony Rendulich, Hunter Bergman, Devin Barrett, Dino Capozzoli, Anthony Ashbaugh, Donavan Baxter, Zach Motil, Coach Bob Martz, Head Coach Brett Martz, Sr Team Rep Mike Ziemianski. Not Pictured GM Tom Holowaty.
Heroic Effort Falls Short – Team loses in Finals to California 5-3
The underdog Polarbearcats lost a heartbreaking final contest in the 22-23 CHE playoffs dropping a 5-3 match against California after defeating Akron 6-4, and upsetting #1 seed Kent State 4-2, in pre-finals action. SVC held a 2-1 advantage against Cal heading to the the third period but playing 3 games in 48 hours showed in the third period as the deeper line up of the other teams eventually wore down the thinner but much more talented Saint Vincent squad. More game by game action to follow in the upcoming days.
Team Closes with 4-3 Win Over IUP – Waits for Playoff Seeding
The Polarbearcats closed the regular season with a thrilling win over archival IUP to end the campaign with a 15-7-1 mark. In a closely played first period, IUP broke the bottle with an odd opening score, even though neither team seemed to be able to sustain any form of attack. SVC shifted time of possession in the second as Zack Ridilla broke a goal drought on a play with assists to Connelly and Rendulich. But in spite of a decided Green and Gold 18-9 shot advantage, the score entered the third at 1-1. The final 20 minutes saw each team up its tempo but Indiana was able to get the first score and move to a 2-1 margin. Building on his strong game against Akron, team Captain, Colten McCutcheon capitalized on aggressive checking by Dino Capozzoli to knot the score at 2. Within minutes, Jacob Holtzman stripped the puck from an IUP defender near the blue line and sent Zack Ridilla on a breakaway to give SVC an important 3-2 advantage. With neither team taking a penalty in either of the first two periods, the Stripes called two minor penalties against Saint Vincent within close succession to give IUP more than 90 seconds of a two player advantage. A missed penalty with a clear hit from behind on Luca Rosato enabled IUP to create a screen against Vince Amatucci who was never able to see the shot from the blue line. 3-3. That goal enabled Zack Ridilla to leave the penalty box and join the remaining 5-4 kill. It did not take long. Coralling a puck, Zack escaped into the home teams zone and scored his 8’th shorthanded and game winning goal of the season. IUP was unable to recover and SVC erased its third period demons to complete the 4-3 win. Amatucci made 26 saves to record his 10’th win of the campaign as SVC outshot Indiana 40 to 29.
SVC now waits for the remaining schedule of other teams to play out to determine its College Hockey East playoff seeding. The likely opponent, Akron. All games will be held the weekend of Friday, March 3 at Kent State University. Visit the CHE website for league updates.
Winning Streak Ends at 8
SVC split last week-end’s games winning an away match Friday night 3-1 over Case and losing a tough 7-4 decision against the visiting Zips of Akron.
It was a typical road game on Olympic sized ice vs the Case Spartansas the wide ice surface altered the Saint Vincent approach to its game. Case scored first and the initial 20 minutes ended 1-1 when Jacob Holtzman blistered a shot from the slot over the Case goaltender. The most significant play of the second period was a sharp end to end rush by defenseman Hunter Bergman. Racing down the right wing of the Spartan zone he threaded a needle of a deft wrist shot behind the opposing goaltender. Even though SVC started to control the play in the third, numerous odd man saves by the Case goalie thwarted multiple attempts by the Polarbearcat attacks. Holtzman finally sealed the game with an empty net score set up by Devon Barrett. Vince Amatucci made 20 saves to improve to 9-4-1 in the pipes.
Senior day on Sunday was an incredible game for two periods as each team traded goals to a 4-4 stalemate going into the third period. Two goal by Colten McCutcheon and single scores by Jacob Holtzman and Anthony Rendulich kept the game close. Once again, however, in spite of pressing the attack to a 16-8 shot advantage, breakdowns in positional discipline enabled Akron to take advantage of every Saint Vincent mistake and scored three times. Charles Wilson, #5 for the Zips ended the game with 5 points for the visitors (2 goals 3 assists) and demonstrated a level of speed and skill that was a key factor in the game. Losing by a final of 7-4, SVC outshot the Zips 44 to 31.
Winning Streak at 7 – Playoffs Pending
Two tense wins (6-5 vs Akron and 5-4 vs RMU) improved the Poalrbearcat record to 13-6-1 as the team looks well positioned for a CHE playoff run.
Akron dominated the first period in an away match with a 27-9 shot advantage but was unable to put more than two past Vince Amatucci. A power play goal by Jacob Holtzman ended the frame at 2-1, Akron. Period two had a completely different flavor. SVC finally used its quickness to create a great forecheck and goals by Zack Ridilla and Logan Connelly gave Saint Vincent a solid 3-1 lead after two. In a strange third, SVC was able to improve its advantage to 6-3 before a bizarre sequence of goalie pulls, penalties and failed SVC power play attacks enabled Akron to get two late goals.
A similar scenaio played late in the 5-4 win over RMU. SVC came out fast with two goals 30 seconds apart on the same shift by Logan Connelly. Although the Polarbearcats held the better of the play most of the game, the RMU goaltender stopped multiple partial break-aways as Saint Vincent regularly sprung its forwards behind the Colonial blue liners. A comfortable 4-1 lead evaporated late as SVC again faltered with a lack of discipline and an inability to defend with a pulled net minder. The eventual win was sealed by Holtzman’s second goal of the game, an empty net tally from the SVC zone.
Zack Ridilla’s goal streak was snapped in the RMU game. Amatucci recorded both wins. Mason Gage scored his first of the year against Akron and Mike Ridilla ran his scoring streak to three games with a goal against RMU. Tristan Moyer had a strong defensive weekend as neither RMU or Akron scored when he was on the ice. Hunter Bergman had a similar stat against RMU.
Huge Weekend Moves Team to 11-6-1
Saint Vincent added to its 5 game winning streak with 3 victories over the weekend besting RMU D4 15-6, toppling Stevenson 9-5 and surviving a hard fought Loyola contest 3-2. Contributions came from the entire team in different ways lead by Zack Ridilla (8 goals and 5 assists), Jacob Holtzman (7 goals 3 assists) and Logan Connelly (5 goals 4 assists). The blue line core of Anthony Rendulich, Devin Barrett, Hunter Bergman and Luca Rosato was supported by forward Tristan Moyer to add a combined 17 points (3 goals 14 assists). Anthony Ashbaugh collected the first two assists of his collegiate career and Mason Gage picked up his first assist of the season. Three goalies saw action with Shane Stone recording two wins moving his record to 5-2-0 while Vince Amatucci improved his record to 6-4-1 with a win over Loyola. The big helper goes to forward Mike Ridilla whose physical play behind the Loyola net resulted in a change of possession and ended with a slick pass to Logan Connelly for what would be the game winning goal of the Sunday contest.
SVC Starts Strong with 7-3 Win Over Case
The second semester started fast with Zack Ridilla scoring on a back hand coming down the wing 17 seconds into the game against the visiting Spartans and ended a huge effort with 5 goals during the game including a power play and two shorthanded scores. Colten McCutchen and Zack Motil (scoring shorthanded) rounded out the scoring. Assists were collected by Zack Ridilla, Zack Motil, Jacob Holtzman, Dino Capozzoli, Luca Rosato, Anthony Rendulich (2) and Devin Barrett. Vince Amatucci made 28 saves in the win.
One of the rarest goals in hockey was credited to Zack Ridilla in the third period. While killing a 5 on 4 penalty, SVC took another penalty. Case pulled their goaltender to gain a temporary 6 on 4 advantage. After a save by Vince Amatucci, Case obtained possession of the puck and in an attempt to set up a shot form the point, the puck deflected out of the zone and went the length of the ice for an SVC shorthanded goal without any Saint Vincent player shooting the puck. Ridilla was awarded the goal being the closest player to the deflection.
The Polarbearcats have three games this weekend; RMU D4 Friday evening, a neutral site game against Stevenson in Johnstown on Saturday at 3:30 PM and finally a Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM against Loyola of Maryland.
Schedule Changes
SVC has confirmed it some game against Akron for Sunday, February 12 at 2:00 PM at Palmer Imaging Arena. It will now become the designated Senior Day. An away game has been added against Stevenson, to be played at the Cambria County War Memorial on Saturday January 28 at 3:30 PM.
Two Exciting Contests – SVC Enters Semester Break at 7-6-1
SVC ended the first half of it season with two incredible games. On Friday, December 2, it played a chess match with rival Penn West Cal and dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision. The game was dominated by the Cal goaltender as St. Vincent outshot the Vulcans by a 47-24 margin. SVC had a goal waived off near the end of the second period and California scored on a deflected face off shot early in the 3’rd. In spite of controlling play and zone time SVC could not close the gap with a 21-7 shot advantage in the last period.
The last game of the semester ended on a high note as Saint Vincent took down the CHE’s #1 team, Kent State in a 4-3 thriller, shocking KSU who beat SVC 10-3 in an earlier game. With no scoring in the first, the Polarbearcats opened with an incredible power move to the net by #81 Jacob Holtzman as he bulldozed a KSU defender dropped to the ice and flipped a puck past the Kent State net-minder. Not long after Zack Motil was set up by Logan Connelly and Colten McCutcheon. A shocked Kent State team found life in the last period and took advantage of 2 SVC mistakes to tie the game. Zack Motil took advantage of a long break away pass from Anthony Rendulich and put SVC up 3-2. A score that also added an assist to Saint Vincent goalie Vince Amatucci. The Green and Gold felt too comfortable on a power play and Kent State deflated the team with a shorthanded score. It looked as if the magic was ending when Saint Vincent took a penalty and the visiting Kent State power play took the ice. But returning the favor, freshman Zack Ridilla stole the puck from a KSU defender for a breakaway shorthanded game winner, his third shorty and game winner of the year. The entire SVC defense played its most complete game of the season. Injured defender Luca Rosato was replaced in both games by Tristan Moyer who blended seamlessly with the blue line corps to turn two solid efforts with a plus 2 rating and no goals against for the weekend.
SVC takes the ice next on Saturday, January 21 against Case Western University at 7:30 PM in Delmont.
SVC Remains Hot – Enters Thanksgiving Break at 6-5-1
The Polarbearcats won two consecutive games by 5 goal margins overtaking RMU D4 by a score of 8-3 and the upping long time rival WVU 5-0.
Eight different players had goals against the Robert Morris Colonials including a game winning tally by goaltender Vincent Amatucci who put on forward skates to patrol the blue line with SVC down a regular defenseman for the match. Multiple point efforts were turned in by Zack Ridilla with 2 goals, Jacob Holtzman 1 goal 1 assist, Tristan Moyer 2 assists, Dino Capozzoli, 1 goal 1 assist, and Anthony Rendulich’s game high 3 points, 1 goal and 2 assist effort. Shane Stone got the win in goal while Donovan Baxter finished the game in the pipes.
The WVU game started in similar fashion to the two team’s earlier meeting in Morgantown with neither side scoring and sloppy play dominating. SVC then took complete control in the second period. Zack Ridilla opened the scoring and in quick succession Jacob Holtzman, Mitchel Knecht, Zack Motil and a second Zack Ridilla goal on a power play put the game out of reach. Luca Rosato led the scoring with 3 assists. The defensive corps of Bergman, Barrett, Rosato and Rendulich had a collectively strong game and the speed of the SVC forwards continually pushed back the Mountaineer blue liners. West Virginia pressed the attack in the third period, but Vince Amatucci held strong to earn his first collegiate shutout stopping all 36 shots.
SVC has two critical games remaining in the first semester as they take on Penn West Cal, Friday, December 2 at 7:30 PM and Kent State on Sunday, December 4 at 2 PM. Both games are at home at Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont.
Two Games 4 Points – Polarbearcats Move to 4-5-1
Facing off against the RMU D4 Colonials last Friday evening, Saint Vincent cruised to a 7-2 victory lead by the hat trick of Michael Ridilla and four other scorers. Jacob Holtzman set up three goals and single tallies by Tristan Moyer, Dino Capozzoli, Luca Rosato and Anthony Rendulich rounded the tallies. Shane Stone picked up the win in goal and Donavan Baxter recorded his first minutes in the pipe to close the 60 minutes of play. All 9 goals were scored in 5 on 5 play.
The Sunday matinee against Duquesne proved to be an odd contest with game flow constantly interrupted by minor penalties for both teams. SVC jumped on the Dukes with a 4-0 first period that ended up being too big of a margin for Duquesne as each team traded goals and penalties the remaining 40 minutes, ending in an 8-3 win for Saint Vincent. Zack Motil lead the way with a hat trick , Logan Connelly added three assists and defenseman Anthony Rendulich paced all point getters with a goal and three assists. Zack Motil and Zack Ridilla each had short handed goals and Colten McCutcheon opened the game with power play score. The defensive corps of Rendulich, Barrett, Rosato and Bergman had their best combined game of the season as keys to the penalty efforts of the team. Shane Stone recorded his second consecutive win in goal with 46 saves that included some heroic efforts when the team was short handed. 89 minutes in penalties were served across 26 separate calls for both teams.
SVC Picks Up 3 Points Over Weekend – Improves to 2-5-1
With six different goal scorers, SVC had a dominant first period against IUP in Friday night action posting a 29 to 9 shot advantage in the first 20 minutes. The 3-1 score was 4-2 by the end of the second as the SVC attack was marred by penalties that hurt the flow established in the opening period. During the final frame, the Green and Gold built the lead to 6-3 but surrendered 2 late goals with poor puck management at the blue lines. Goaltender Vince Amatucci held off IUP at the end and SVC closed out a 6-5 win. Connelly, Holtzman, Zack Ridilla, Motil, Capozzoli and Rendulich all scored while Conelly, Holtzman, Michael Ridilla, Motil, Capozzoli, Knecht, Rosato and Rendulich added assists. SVC outshot IUP 56 to 36 for the game. Zack Motil had the eventual game winner and Anthony Rendulich lead all scorers with 3 points.
Sunday’s game against UPJ started as a tight checking contest with neither team scoring in the first period. UPJ had the first goal in a more open second period, but Logan Connelly scored twice in less than 5 minutes as Zack Ridilla, Zack Motil and Dino Capozzoli assisted on some smart passing plays. Although the Polarbearcats held a shot and possession advantage for most of the third period, two penalties in close succession turned the momentum in favor of UPJ as they scored 5:5 shortly after SVC killed both penalties. In overtime, each team had opportunities in the 3:3, including three tremendous chances for Saint Vincent. A puck possession breakdown with less than one minute to play enabled UPJ to put the game winner behind Vince Amatucci. SVC out shot UPJ 47 to 39 over the entire 64 minute game.
Polarbearcats Drop to 1-5-0. Akron Game on Sunday, October 30 Postponed
SVC was not able sustain the momentum gained in a thrilling 5-4 O.T. win against Duquesne and lost to Robert Morris by a 5-2 margin in Friday night action. Although competitive in every contest except a single game against Kent State when the team played with 11 skaters, Saint Vincent continues its struggle to coordinate support play around the puck and to drive to and play hard in front of the opposing team’s net. Strong periods of play and perimeter attacks lack consistency, and momentary lapses frequently lead to prime scoring opportunities for it opponents. The lone bright spot appears to occur once the team establishes zone position on the power play. Five of the teams last twelves scores have come on the man advantage with the goals scored by Logan Connelly, Devon Barrett, Zach Ridilla, Hunter Bergman, and Colten McCutcheon, including the exciting OT winner over the Dukes by Ridilla.
The game for Sunday, October 30 is currently postponed due some Akron team issues. No reschedule date is set as of this update. The next two games will be on home ice as SVC faces off against IUP on Friday, November 4 at7:30 PM and UPJ on Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 PM.
SVC Drops Road Opener 5-3 to UPJ – Inconsistent Play and Bad Bounce Impacts Outcome
Traveling to the Cambria County War Memorial, Saint Vincent used speed and forechecking to put sustained pressure on UPJ during the first period creating a superior 17-9 shot advantage. The only score in the first 20 minutes came from a deflection off an SVC skate from an innocent centering pass with no UPJ player in the area. The second period saw UPJ take advantage of penalties and poor defensive zone coverage putting 23 shots on goalie Vincent Amatucci who made several stellar saves in the period. On multiple occasions Bobcat defenders found themselves behind the Saint Vincent defense as bad clears combined with early zone exits by SVC forwards played havoc for Coach Martz’s team. Still, Zach Motil was able to tie the game at 1 with a nifty move for his first collegiate goal. the remaining period was a see-saw affair as the teams kept trading scores and chances. Logan Connelly scored his first of the year and the period ended 3-2 UPJ. The third period tightened. But in spite of the Polarbearcats controlling most of the play and holding UPJ scored on their first shot halfway through the period. Another Connelly goal drew SVC back to within one at 4-3, but shortly after another Johnstown goal proved to be the last of the 5-3 game. Saint Vincent had several opportunities late, but a consistent failure to screen the Bobcat netminder and too much perimeter play ended chances for converting shots to goals.
Although the loss was disappointing, new players accounted them selves well and demonstrated that the team should have a good future. Two attacking lines should continue to gel and the third line held UPJ to no goals. Goaltending should likewise be deep and competitive. Devon Barrett (+2) was mostly flawless on the blue line and Zack Ridilla and Luca Rosato both ended +1. Holtzman, Zack Ridilla, and Rendulich assisted on the scores. Shot leaders were Logan Connelly (10), Anthony Rendulich (9), and Zach Motil (8). Colten McCutcheon dominated UPJ on defensive zone draws.
Next up, road games against WVU on September 30 and Kent State on October 7. The full 22 game schedule is now posted. As a result of travel, the next update will happen after the Kent State game.