By Dylan Butler
The two teams have met four times since Molloy joined the Catholic High School Hockey League two years ago with the Knights winning each time.
“I've been on the team since my freshman year and I remember sitting on the bench seeing them beat us bad,” Podpirka said. “This was my goal. I really wanted to play this game.”
Podpirka was outstanding in the net for Molloy (1-1 CHSHL 'A'), stopping 21 shots en route to his first shutout of the year. Holy Cross had several other shots at net, but the Stanners' defense did a good job of getting their bodies and skates in the way.
John DiGregorio put the Stanners ahead 4:01 into the game when he controlled the puck along the boards, skated behind the net and beat Holy Cross goaltender Adam Stuckey on a wraparound.
The Stanners gave the Knights several chances to tie the score as Holy Cross had six power plays. But the Knights were never able to establish themselves in the Molloy defensive zone thanks to aggressive forechecking by the Stanners' penalty killing unit.
“When we tried to break out, they were right there shutting us down in the neutral zone,” said Holy Cross head coach Mike Mitchell. “The times we did get into their zone, their goalie gave us rebounds, but their guys just cleared the puck.”
On one of their few power plays, DiGregorio put the Stanners ahead 2-0 late in the second period when the senior forward worked his way in front of the net and roofed a wrist shot into the net with 2:20 left in the game. Nicky Wilk and Chris Edele assisted on the goal.
“I was just trying to pass the puck in front,” DiGregorio said. “I had a chance, I used the defense as a screen and I just let it go.”
Mount St. Michael 7, Holy Cross 4. Four different players scored for the Knights in the loss Saturday at the Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon. Ryan McNena, Mike Vohs, Sean Brennan and Mike DiNublia scored for Holy Cross, which returns to action Dec. 15 at 8:15 p.m. against St. Joseph by the Sea at Abe Stark Arena on Coney Island.
St. Francis Prep 5, Xavier 1. Ken D'Andrea had two goals and James Bertorelli, Pat Chatterton and John Leesman added a goal apiece for the Terriers Friday night at Abe Stark Arena on Coney Island. Prep returns to the ice Dec. 17 against Salesian at Abe Stark Arena. Face-off is slated for 7:15 p.m.
Christ the King 4, St. Raymond's 1. Joe Kemerson had two goals and Pat Williams and Jakub Kubrak in the Royals' 4-1 win last Thursday at E.J. Murray Rink in Yonkers. Bobby Glade added two assists and Anthony Rigosi and Chris Keegan also had an assist apiece for Christ the King, which evened its mark at 1-1. The Royals face-off against Kellenberg at E.J. Murray Rink Thursday at 7 p.m.
McClancy wins by forfeit. The Crusaders picked up their second win of the year Nov. 27 at Iceland in New Hyde Park over St. Raymond's. The Ravens won the game, 6-4, but it was ruled that the team knowingly used an ineligible player and forfeited the game and their head coach, Tom Nolan was fired, according to Mitchell, the league's commissioner.
McClancy returns to the ice Dec. 14 against Salesian at E.J. Murray Rink in Yonkers.
