By Carson Carrell
Earlier this month, the Nordonia Knights Varsity Hockey Team took on Mayfield High School in the Blue South Division Championship game which determined who would proudly display the winning banner. These teams have always been rivals and the stakes were high since both teams entered the competition with an 8-0-1 record and their earlier season game ended in a 5-5 tie. The fan section for Nordonia was so packed that it was standing room only.
Throughout the first period both teams were fully energized and ready to play which made it very difficult for the Knights to get shots on net. Nordonia ended the period with more shots than Mayfield; however, the period was scoreless.
Both Nordonia and Mayfield came out flying for the second period. Mayfield was able to score the first goal of the game but just twenty eight second later, defenceman Kenton Carrell took the puck down the ice with forward Carson Carrell skating parallel. Kenton sauced a short pass right onto Carson’s stick who then rocketed the puck past the goalie. The Nordonia fan section erupted. Both teams continued to pepper the opposing goalie but the game remained tied 1-1 for the remainder of the second period.
The goal-tending remained perfect for both teams throughout the third period forcing the game into overtime. Goalie, Tommy Lippincott, remained focused keeping the Knights’ dream alive for the Blue South Division championship. The Overtime seconds ticked away as the Nordonia fans chanted in the stands. About three minutes into OT, Brian Sebastian dumped the puck down into the zone. Max Zuschin battled for the puck against the boards with a Mayfield player forcing the puck to the front of the net where Carson Carrell was in position. Carson flipped the puck past the goalie and into the net ending the sudden-death overtime. The explosion from the Nordonia fans was deafening as they cheered on their division champions.
The team dog was given to Tommy Lipincott for his unbelievable goal-tending. Tommy quickly offered the team dog to Coach Cinalli for leading the team to a championship and being a positive role model for the players.
The Knights are ending the season undefeated 11-0-1 and will now play in the Baron Cup followed by the state competition. This is the first Division Title for Nordonia and the first undefeated team in the history of the Nordonia Knights Hockey program. Let’s put up that Division Banner in the school! This one is going down in the books.
Go Knights!
Carson Carrell is a Junior at Nordonia Hills High School and Captain of the Varsity Hockey Team. Carson is also a Police Explorer for Sagamore Hills PD
