Chaminade stops Kirkwood in Mid-States preliminary round

 Just a day after rallying for a tie against defending Challenge Cup Champion CBC, the Chaminade Red Devils found the back of the net early and often its second game of  Blue Division play of the preliminary round Mid-States playoffs.

On Friday night at Queeny Recreation Complex, Kirkwood was the unlucky recipient of the Red Devils offensive outburst as Chaminade exploded for four goals in each of the three periods for an impressive 13-3 victory.

“After last night, we had a lot of confidence from tying CBC so we came out tonight and tried to carry the momentum over,” Chaminade coach Nathan Hirsch said. “All four lines through all three periods, I tried to toll them and like I said just try to carry the momentum that we had from last night.”

Against CBC, Red Devils were down 4-1 entering the third period and scored three goals in the final period to gain a 4-4 tie and get a point in the red robin portion of the playoffs.

“After coming back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period last night, the lines were rolling and they were ready tonight.”
There was a lot less drama for Chaminade (15-5-3) against Kirkwood as the Red Devils got three goals in the first six minutes of the game to get early control of the action.

Kyle Johnson got the scoring going with a goal at 10:47 of the period and then John Hogan and Toppie Hogan added goals within the next two minutes for the Red Devils.

A goal from Trey Dodd gave Chaminade a 4-0 lead with 3:25 left in the first period as Kirkwood backup goalie Matthew Eagon had a rough time filling in for regular Pioneer keeper Kyle Baughman, who was out with an intestinal virus.

Hogan scored his second goal of the night just 42 second into the second period to make it 5-0 but the Pioneers offense came to just 30 seconds later as Edward Hoganson scored to get Kirkwood on the board at 14:18.
Kirkwood lit the lamp again at 10:28 on a Kyle Dahlin goal and the Pioneers cut the gap to 5-3 with a goal at 5:31 of the period making it 5-3.

Just six seconds later, Toppie Hogan struck again for his second goal of the night.

The Red Devils pumped in two more goals in the final four minutes of the period and reestablished control with an 8-3 advantage.

“I think the big advantage we had tonight with the goals was that it was just spread out between different guys,” Hirsch said.” Guys getting assists, not trying to make pretty plays.”

The Red Devils kept right on rolling as Chaminade scored five goals in the final period to put an exclamation point on the night.

Chaminade finishes preliminary round play Monday with a 6:30 p.m. game against Oakville at the Queeny Recreation Complex.

Kirkwood (9-9-4) wraps up preliminary round play Monday night with a 7:40 p.m.contest against Lafayette at Hardees Ice Plex in Chesterfield.