Your Nordonia Knights Varsity Hockey team have won titles for 2020, 2022, and 2023. Congratulations yet again! In 2021, there were not any divisions or standings kept due to the Covid-19 pandemic, thus all teams made it to and participated in the Baron Cup.
Recently, our Knights lost a hard fought-first round of the Baron Cup play-offs against CVCA, which is a very talented team in the Blue Division, ending the score 1-6 CVCA. Nordonia’s one and only goal was scored by Owen Tindall #10 assisted by Brett Rapp #21. Kevin Waite #33 had 41 saves!
*The next Knight’s game will be at the OHSAA state playoffs, Kent District; date and time to be announced.
Recap of an Exciting Hockey Weekend:
Friday night under the hockey lights, the Knights blinded the Tigers with a 9-1 game win at Dan Kostel Ice Arena in Garfield Heights. Goals were scored by experienced junior classmen; Owen Tindall #10 with four; Noah Vega#11 and Brett #21 with two each; Jacob Waite #24 with one.
Assists: Jacob Waite #24 and Brett Rapp #21 with three each, Owen Tindall #10 and Noah Vega #11 with one each, and Even Cerny #14 (freshman) celebrated his first high school assist. Kevin Waite #33 had 16 saves.
Coach Rich Cinall recalls, “I think our team came out strong in the first period and controlled most of that period with our puck possession. We out shot Twinsburg 3 to 1 that period, and came away with 3 goals. Second period, we came out a little flat, got away from our game a bit and did not pass quite as much as I would have liked. We still out shot Twinsburg 2 to 1, came away with 2 goals. However, they also got 1 past Kevin. Third period we seemed to get back to our game passing the puck, trusting our team mates, and scored 4 goals to Twinsburg’s 0. Overall, a good game.”
Senior Night for The Knights and Student Appreciation Night
It was an exciting night full of a larger than normal student cheering section. Some students even sported their favorite player’s jersey by wearing it to the rink. The Knights had the opportunity to glow in the spotlight for a thrilling start to the game. At 1:37 minutes into the first period, Vega scored a goal with an assist from solid defenseman- Brett Rapp, in front of the net. Brecksville comes back with one goal just before Nordonia solidifies the lead with two with an unassisted goal from Rapp, and a ricochet goal scored by Tindall. Vega scores the fourth goal, bringing Rapp’s assist record to three for the game.
More assists came one each from Vega, Jacob Waite, and Simon Kiselis #16. Simon Kiselis #16 scored his first high school career goal, thereby celebrating his first season with the team.
Frankie Costello#22, another junior classman on fire -snagged his unassisted goal from the stunned Bees at 9:49 in the second period.
At the end of the second period, Nordonia had 43 shots on goal to Brecksville’s staggering- 8.
Final score Nordonia-10, Brecksville-1. Kevin Waite had eight saves.
Coach Cinalli recalls, “First period – I think we may have under estimated the determination of Brecksville. We seemed to come out a bit slow. Still, we out shot them 7 to 1 in the first period, but the period ended only 2 to 1 in our favor. Brecksville’s goalie had a great first period. Second period – we came out strong scoring within the first minute of the period. I think getting back into the locker room between the first and second period and having an open forum with the players; we all determined we had to pick up our game. Eventually, we out shot Brecksville 3 to 1 that period, putting in 4 goals and holding Brecksville to none. Third period – We continued the fast pace and team playing. At this point, the game was at a running clock because of the 6 goal differential. Our boys never let up and continued with the team play. One of the brightest spots that came out of the third period was Simon Kisellis scoring his first career high school goal. I was so happy for him.” Additionally, Coach Cinalli says, “Student Appreciation Night was a great success. It was nice to see new faces in the stands, and I hoped they enjoyed themselves as we won our third consecutive Blue-South Division Championship at our home rink, Gilmour Ice Arena.”
See YOU Later Seniors…
We sure will miss our senior statisticians Allie Cerny and Hannah Zelina who volunteered their time to keep stats at the games, marking down shots, who took faceoffs and who was on the ice during a goal. Both Zelina and Cerny earned NHS letters in statistics for their involvement and were recognized at Senior Night.
Experienced Senior Defensemen Daniel Kimpton #5, and Goalie Kevin Waite #33 proving his wicked cat-like reflexes were celebrated as they are fast approaching the end of their final season playing for the Knights. But it isn’t yet farewell! It’s see you later!
