A pair of Gilmour Academy hockey teams concluded their 2020-21 seasons this past weekend by competing in the Ohio JV State Tournament.
Both the Lancers' Varsity B and JV squads competed in the event, which featured two divisions and was primarily held on the Gilmour campus at the Floyd E. Stefanski Ice Center.
The Varsity B team, playing in the tournament's Upper Division, came agonizingly close to winning the title, but posted a strong second-placing showing nonetheless.
The Varsity B team began their weekend with a thrilling win over rival University School. Trailing 3-2 late in the third period, the Lancers tied the contest before Jimmy Robida '22 capitalized on a US defensive zone turnover, scoring the game-winning goal with under five seconds left in regulation. Jacob Malinas '23 and Jack Popovich '22 had the assists on the winning goal.
After suffering a tight 5-4 loss against Archbishop Moeller Saturday morning, the Lancers rebounded with a convincing 7-0 win over St. Charles High School to secure a spot in the knockout round.
Gilmour's first opponent in the knockout round was the same Moeller team that had handed them their only losses of the tournament thus far. However, the Lancers turned the tables in the second matchup in two days, using a better defensive effort to claim a 4-2 win.
In the championship game against St. Francis de Sales, Popovich scored back-to-back goals late in the third period to tie the game and force overtime. However, St. Francis de Sales would score on a breakaway in overtime to tally the 5-4 victory.
The JV team would also advance to the knockout round of the tournament, but the Lancers achieved the feat the hard way, qualifying after losing their first game of the weekend.
Gilmour found itself trailing 7-1 midway through its opening game against Perrysburg High School. The Lancers would put forth a stunning comeback, tying the game late in regulation 8-8 but the Yellow Jackets went on to prevail 10-8. Colton Fairchild '24 had a third-period hat trick in the losing effort for Gilmour.
The Lancers rebounded with a pair of wins Saturday to advance to the knockout portion of the event.
Gilmour used seven third-period goals in its morning game against Northview to post an 8-4 win, with Fairchild again leading the offense, this time posting four goals. The Lancers then took to the road for the only time in the event as the team claimed a 4-2 win against Mentor High School Saturday evening.
The JV team's run came to an end with a 4-1 setback against St. Edward High School, as the Eagles went on to win the title.
Despite the disappointing ending, the JV team had a successful season, finishing with a 15-6 overall record.
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