GONZAGA HOCKEY HISTORY 2020-2021 Sammy Gerdano HC • Sean Kilcullen (C) • Jack Mowrey (A) • Jack Norton (A) While the COVID-19 Pandemic caused the cancellation of the MAPHL season, the Gonzaga Hockey program still showed up! During the fall of 2020 – before students were brought back to Gonzaga for hybrid learning in three cohorts – the program held a Push Up Challenge and raised $29,000 for DC Urban Greens, an innovative nonprofit that grows vegetables for families in Wards 7&8. In November, current and former Gonzaga Hockey families came together virtually in a record-breaking “11 Days for #11” that raised almost $90,000 for the Dominik Pettey ’15 Scholarship Fund – nearly double the amount raised in any previous year. Another record-breaking stat is the 81 student athletes who would have tried out for the three Gonzaga teams had there been tryouts. Many of these players participated in the series of practices at MedStar Capitals IcePlex and The Gardens Ice House that constituted the hockey “season” for Gonzaga. Marquise Cotten ’11 and Bryan King were in their first year as V2 Co-Head Coaches, while Patrick Guinan would have led the JV squad.
2019-2020 (13-10-4) Sammy Gerdano HC • Luca Docking (C) • Farrell Dinn (A) • Sean Kilcullen (A) • Colin O’Leary (A) The Eagles kicked off their season with the Annual Dominik Pettey ‘15 Memorial Purple White game on November 8, 2019. In his second year as Gonzaga’s Head Coach, Sammy Gerdano’s (‘10) V1 had a key win over St. Joe’s Prep in the traditional post-Thanksgiving game in Philly. V1 finished the season 14-10-4 after a quarterfinal loss to Georgetown Prep in the MAPHL tournament. Post-season honors included: Washinton Post All-Met – Farrell Dinn First Team, Luca Docking and Jack Mowrey, Honorable Mention. WCAC All-Star Team – Farrell Dinn and Jack Mowrey, First Team; Luca Docking Second Team. MAPHL All-Star Team – Farrell Dinn. In his first year as V2 Head Coach, Donnie Walter (‘10) and the V2 team finished strong at 17-1-3, with their single loss coming to Good Counsel in the MAPHL Semi-finals. The team defeated St. Joe’s Prep in the Purple Puck Championship AND in the annual post-Thanksgiving game in Philly. Post-season honors included: MAPHL All-Star Team: JT Carpenter First Team, Sam Oppel Second Team.
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(2019-2020 continued ...) In Bryan King’s first year as JV Head Coach this season, the team finished 7-1-1, including a win over St. Joe’s Prep to complete the post-Thanksgiving game sweep! Coach Slater chalked his sixth year with the Eagles, serving as Hockey Director. Fifty-one players achieved MAPHL Academic Honors (42 First Team, 9 Second Team). 2018-2019 (15-7-1) Sammy Gerdano '10 HC • Tommy “TK” Krisztinicz (C) • Kurt Bruun (A) The V1 team won a third straight MAPHL ‘AA’ championship with a 5-1 win over Spaulding. The Eagles finished the season ranked #1 in the Washington Post poll, with a record of 15-7-1. Farrell Dinn (Forward) was named Washington Post All-Met First Team, Sean Kilcullen (Defense) was named All-Met Second Team, and Kurt Bruun (Forward) and TK Krisztinicz (Forward) were named All-Met Honorable Mention. In addition, Bruun was named MAPHL ‘AA’ 2nd Team All Conference and Second Team All WCAC. Dinn made the MAPHL ‘AA’ 2nd Team and Honorable Mention ALL WCAC. Kilcullen made First Team All WCAC. A total of 35 Gonzaga players received MAPHL Academic Honors. Under the leadership of Ford Lands ‘10, the V2 team finished the season with a 15-4-1 record and made it to the MAPHL ‘A’ Championship Game. Adam Wojciak (Defense) made MAPHL ‘A’ 1st Team All Conference. Brendan Snocker (Forward) and Johan Schlee (Goalie) both made MAPHL “A” 2nd Team All Conference. Gonzaga’s JV team, under the leadership of Coach Marquise Cotten (‘11), finished the season with an 6-4-2 record. Coach Bill Slater served as Hockey Director for the second year. In April, 2019, the Gonzaga Hockey Program reached another milestone as the 2004-05 Team – the first to win a title - was inducted in to the Gonzaga College High School Hall of Fame. Coach Paul Tilch and many members of the team were present to be recognized. 2017-2018 (22-5-1) Bill Slater HC • Chase Vallese (C) • Ian Kilcullen (A) • Conor O’Leary (A) For the second year in a row, the Eagles won dual MAPHL Championships. The V1 team won a second straight MAPHL ‘AA’ championship, were ranked #1 in the Washington Post poll, and finished the season with a record of 22-5-1. Cole Vallese (Forward) was named MAPHL ‘AA’ Division Player of the Year, WCAC Player of the Year, and made the Washington Post All-Met 1st Team. Chase Vallese (Defense) made MAPHL ‘AA’ 2nd Team All Conference, 1st Team All WCAC, and the Washington Post All-Met 1st Team. Will Rosen (Forward) made MAPHL ‘AA’ 2nd Team All Conference and 1st Team All WCAC. Henry Middlebrook (Defense) made 2nd Team All WCAC and received MAPHL ‘AA’ Honorable Mention. Dominic Basse (Goalie) made 2nd Team All WCAC, Washington Post All-Met 2nd Team, and received MAPHL ‘AA’ Honorable Mention. Tommy Krisztinicz (Forward) received Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention. Coach Bill Slater was named Washington Post Coach of the Year.
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(2017-2018 continued ...) Under the leadership of Co-Head Coaches Sammy Gerdano ‘10 and Ford Lands ‘10, the V2 team won their third consecutive MAPHL ‘A’ championship and finished the season with a 20-8-1 record. Coaches Gerdano and Lands were also named Ervin J. Terwillger Coach of the Year. Jack Martino (Forward) was named MAPHL ‘A’ Division Player of the Year. Ethan Baxley (Defense) and Robbie Dubay (Forward) were named MAPHL ‘A’ Division 1st Team All Conference, and Connor Byrne (Forward) was named 2nd Team All Conference. Gonzaga’s JV team, under the leadership of Coach Donnie Walter (‘10), finished the season with an impressive 15-0-1 record. 2016-2017 (26-9-0) Bill Slater HC • John Cardellicchio (C) • Will Schuler (A) • Chase Vallese (A) The Eagles made history this season, winning dual MAPHL Championships. The V1 team won the MAPHL ‘AA’ Championship, were ranked #1 in the Washington Post poll, and finished the season with a record of 239-0. Connor Tait (Forward) was named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, MAPHL 2016-17 ‘AA’ 1st Team All Conference, and WCAC Player of the Year. Chase Vallese (Defense) was named Washington Post All-Met 1st Team, MAPHL ‘AA’ 2nd Team All Conference, and received WCAC Honorable Mention. Cole Vallese (Forward) was named ‘AA’ 2nd Team All Conference and WCAC Rookie of the Year. John Cardellicchio (Forward) and Ian Kilcullen (Defense) received Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention as well as WCAC Honorable Mention. Dominic Basse (Goalie) received Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention and Jalen Greene (Goalie) was named 2nd Team ALL WCAC. Under the leadership of V2 Head Coach Michael Willis, the V2 team won back-to-back championships -- the MAPHL ‘A’ Championship and the Purple Puck Varsity Division Championship -- and finished the season 202-0. Farrell Dinn was named MAPHL ‘‘A’ Division Player of the Year. Kurt Bruun (Forward), Colin O’Leary (Forward), and Max Thiessen (Defense) made MAPHL ‘A’ Division 1st Team All Conference. 2015-2016 (19-5-1) Bill Slater HC • Mackie Wheeler (C) • Henry Chastain (A) • Jack Sanborn (A) The Eagle’s 2015-16 season began with the inaugural Dominik Pettey ‘15 Memorial Purple White game. After an outstanding season and finishing #1 in the MAPHL, Gonzaga’s Varsity 1 team made it to the MAPHL AA championship game but were defeated by Landon. They finished the season with an overall record of 195-1. Assistant Captain Jack Sanborn made the Washington Post All Met 1st Team, while Captain Mackie Wheeler and Chase Vallese earned Honorable Mention. Jack Sanborn and Chase Vallese were named to the MAPHL All Conference AA 1st Team, and Mackie Wheeler and Connor Tait achieved 2nd Team. Gonzaga’s Varsity 2 team had an outstanding year, finishing the season as the MAPHL A Champions and winning the Varsity Division of the Purple Puck. Jack Massey made the MAPHL All Conference A 1st Team and was named Player of the Year. Kurt Bruun, Will Jervey and Tommy Krisztinicz were also named to the MAPHL All Conference A Division 1st Team.
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2014-2015 (22-3-3) Bill Slater HC • Ridge Slater (C) • Chris Meloni (C) The Gonzaga V1 team finished the 2014-15 season 22-3-3 and was a Purple Puck Finalist. It earned an 111-1 MAPHL record and finished first in the AA South Division. The Eagles made it to Round 3 of the MAPHL AA Division Playoffs. The following Gonzaga student-athletes received all-conference selections and postseason honors in hockey: MAPHL, AA Division (Varsity 1): Chris Meloni and Patrick Fergus – 1st Team; Ridge Slater – 2nd Team. A Division (Varsity 2): Will Jervey – 1st Team. 2013-2014 (26-0-1) Nate Jackson HC • Bobby Hally (C) • Joey Downey (A) • Barlow Sanders (A) This was an extraordinary year for Gonzaga Eagles with a 26-0-1 record. Gonzaga took home its sixth league championship after defeating Calvert Hall 3-1 in the MAPHL championship. The Eagles also captured their third Purple Puck Tournament Championship under Coach Jackson, defeating Hun School of Princeton (NJ), 6-0. Coach Jackson celebrated his 100th win. Gonzaga Hockey held the Washington Post #1 ranking for the second year in row. Coach Nate Jackson was named Washington Post All Met Coach of the Year; Goalie Nick Platais was named Washington Post All Met Player of the Year, 1st Team All Met and MAPHL All League 1st Team; Bobby Hally was named Washington Post All Met 1st Team and MAPHL Player of the Year; Ridge Slater was named Washington Post All Met 2nd Team and MAPHL All League 1st Team; and Chris Meloni was named Washington Post All Met 2nd Team and MAPHL All League 1st Team. 2012-2013 (22-4-10) Nate Jackson HC • Jack Slater (C) • Michael Logan (A) • Bobby Hally (A) The 2012-13 Eagles held the #1 Washington Post High School hockey ranking every week of the season with a 22-4-1 record. They took home their fifth league Championship, defeating Calvert Hall 6-1 in the MAPHL championship. That was Coach Jackson’s second Championship in five years. Gonzaga Hockey celebrated the program’s 20th Anniversary at the 2012 Purple Puck Tournament, with Gonzaga’s first Varsity Hockey Coach Ed McGonagle dropping the puck at the first game, and Jarrod Wronski’s recognition of his 10th year announcing the tournament. Gonzaga finished runner-up to St Ignatius (OH) in the 2012 Purple Puck Final. Captain Jack Slater was named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, while Chris Meloni and Nick Platais achieved 2nd Team awards, and Bobby Hally (A) and Dominik Pettey earned Honorable Mention. 2011-2012 (14-8) Nate Jackson HC • Vance Walter (C) • Jack Slater (A) The Gonzaga varsity team ended its 2011-2012 season in the MAPHL semifinals against DeMatha. The young squad lost a heartbreaker in the final minutes of the game but earned valuable experience for the future. In Dec., the Eagles captured their second Purple Puck championship under Coach Jackson by defeating Georgetown Prep in the finals. The Eagles returned the majority of their team for the 2012-2013 season, including their four leading scorers and their starting goaltender. Jack Slater – All-Met Honorable Mention 2010-2011 (11-10) Nate Jackson HC • Rainey Brown (C) • Kyle Bruun (A) • Alex Panzarella (A) • Pierce Radecki (A) The Eagles graduated 12 seniors in what turned out to be a winning season, ending with an 11-10 record. Although bowing out in the first round of the playoffs, the Eagles beat Georgetown Prep and Mount St. Joe’s in the regular season to finish sixth in league play. Senior Kyle Bruun earned All-Met Honorable Mention.
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2009-2010 (17-14-3) Nate Jackson HC • Ford Lands (C) • Grant Leonard (A) • Tyler Winters (A) The Gonzaga Eagles won their fourth league championship, defeating DeMatha 3-2 in the final game. This was Coach Jackson’s first championship as head coach. The Eagles finished the season with an impressive 17-4-3 record, which earned them a #1 ranking by the Washington Post. Senior Donnie Walter was named All-Met Player of the Year. There were also several other players who earned second team and honorable mention status. 2008-2009 (12-7-2) Nate Jackson HC • Alex Bodenheimer (C) • Matt Lechner (A) • Sean Murphy (A) The Varsity Eagles beat Georgetown Prep to win its fourth Purple Puck Championship – the first since 2004. In the MAPHL playoffs, Gonzaga defeated Georgetown Prep after a shootout in the quarter-finals before losing to DeMatha in the semifinals. The Eagles finished with a solid record and looked to their young prospects to step up the next year. 2007-2008 (9-2-1) Paul Tilch HC • Joey Demeria (C) • Patrick Foster (A) • Andy Morales (A) • Tyler Schmutz (A) The Varsity Eagles continued to have great success in the newly formed MAPHL and were ranked #1 all season in the Washington Post’s inaugural area hockey rankings. The Eagles once again made the playoffs but were defeated 5-2 by growing rival Mt. Saint Joseph in the semifinal game. They finished with an overall record of 9-2-1. The Gonzaga JV had an outstanding first season in the MSHL, carrying 14 freshmen who would provide future Gonzaga Varsity teams with an ample supply of highly skilled players. 2006-2007 (15-0-1) Paul Tilch HC • Ryan Holley (C) • Patrick Cullen (A) • Patrick Foster (A) Varsity won its third straight MSHL Championship, defeating Mount Saint Joe’s 4-3 in overtime. With the win, Gonzaga became the first team in the history of the MSHL to win three straight titles. Washington Post AllMet Selections: Patrick Cullen – Player of the Year; Ryan Holley – 1st team; Andrew Panzarella – 2nd team; Patrick Foster – honorable mention. 2005-2006 (20-1-3) Paul Tilch HC • Keith Hall (C) • Michael Haring (A) • Tim Bodenheimer (A) • Ryan Holley (A) Varsity won its second consecutive MSHL Championship, defeating Mount St. Joseph 6-4. Gonzaga Purple reached the semifinals of Purple Puck tournament. Gonzaga Purple finished in first place in MSHL Public School League. Washington Post All-Met selections: Ryan Holley – 1st team; Patrick Cullen – 2nd team; Michael Clemente – honorable mention; Sean Dinn – honorable mention; Andrew Panzarella – honorable mention. Goalie Michael Clemente was also selected to play for the U.S. National Under-17 team, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., where the program’s goal is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and for future hockey careers.
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2004-2005 (20-3-2) Paul Tilch HC • Keith Hall (C) • Tim Bodenheimer (A) • Spenser Smallwood (A) Varsity won its first MSHL Championship, defeating DeMatha 4-1. Varsity won its second consecutive Purple Puck Championship. Gonzaga Purple won the MSHL JV Championship. Washington Post All-Met selections: Paul Tilch – Coach of the Year; Mike Haring – 1st team; and Michael Clemente, Patrick Cullen, Keith Hall, Ryan Holley and Spenser Smallwood – honorable mention. 2002-2003 (15-8-1) Paul Tilch HC • Bernie Nolan (C) • Mark Tilch (A) • Matt Bodenheimer (A) • Reed Deckard (A) In a turn-around season under new head coach Paul Tilch, the Eagles finished with a strong winning record and made the playoffs. In the Purple Puck, the team lost 4-3 in overtime play in the championship game against Georgetown Prep. Washington Post All-Met selection: Mark Tilch – 2nd team. 2001-2002 (4-11) Greg Blaisdell HC • Liam Hardy (C) • Tom Ferrell (A) • Matt Fornaro (A) The team finished league play with a disappointing record. 2000-2001 (7-6) Greg Blaisdell HC • Kevin Spain (C) • Wyatt Kupperman (A) Varsity played a thrilling come-from-behind victory over LaSalle from Philadelphia and took advantage of a default to come back and win its first Purple Puck championship. The regular season included two victories over rival Churchill, a tie with DeMatha, and convincing victories over O’Connell and Georgetown Prep. Washington Post All-Met selections: Pat Copertino – 1st team and Kevin Spain – 2nd team. 1999-2000 (8-2) Paul Caron (HC) • Nick Sadowski (C) • John Mack (A) Varsity pulled off a surprise win over DeMatha early in the season. The Eagles finished third (again) in the MSHL and lost to Mount Saint Joe’s 4-1 in the semifinal playoff game. Varsity 2 first season. Washington Post All-Met selections: Nate Jackson – 1st team; Kevin Spain – 2nd team; Pat Copertino – honorable mention. 1998-1999 (8-4) Paul Caron (HC) • Jake Jackson (C) • Bubba Roache (A) A strong Eagles defense contributed to a win against DeMatha 5-2 in the regular-season final. Varsity reached MSHL semifinals where the Eagles suffered a tough loss to Mount Saint Joe’s. Varsity played DeMatha in Purple Puck championship. JV Purple defeated DeMatha and advanced to the championship game for the second straight year. Washington Post All-Met selections: Jake Jackson and Brad Holzwart – 1st team. 1997-1998 (9-2) Jeff Ottenbreit (HC) • Mike Tarantino (C) • Lexie Lewis (A) Varsity posted another strong season, finishing third in league play and reaching the MSHL semifinals, but the Eagles fell to Mt. Saint Joe’s 2-1. JV Purple won the MSHL championship. Washington Post All-Met selections: Jake Jackson – 1st team; Brad Holzwart – 2nd team; and Lexie Lewis, Brian Carmack and Bubba Roache – honorable mention.
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1996-1997 (8-2) Jeff Ottenbreit (HC) • Paul Tilch (C) • Mike Tarantino (A) Varsity reached MSHL semifinals, losing to Mount Saint Joe’s 4-2. JV Purple made the MSHL championship game against DeMatha. Several Gonzaga hockey players were recognized in the first Washington Post Ice Hockey All-Met selections: Paul Tilch – 1st team and Lexie Lewis and Brad Holzwart – honorable mention. 1995-1996 (7-3) Ed McGonagle (HC) • Paul Tilch (C) A young Gonzaga Varsity team (nine sophomores) just missed earning a playoff spot. In the Purple Puck, the Eagles faced a talented Hudson Catholic (NJ) team, a shootout against Churchill, and a 10-1 romp over Sherwood. JV Purple went undefeated and won the Purple Puck. It was the first Gonzaga hockey team to win a league championship, defeating Mount Saint Joe’s for the MSHL JV Championship. 1994-1995 (12-2-1) Ed McGonagle (HC) • Chris Connolly (C) Both the team and the program made impressive strides this season. In its third season, Gonzaga added two JV teams. Varsity gave DeMatha “the biggest scare of the season.” The game was described as a “meeting of two area hockey powerhouses.” JV Purple went 8-2; its only two losses were to DeMatha. Purple played in the championship game against DeMatha, losing 3-2. 1993-1994 (12-3) Ed McGonagle (HC) • Eric Bovim (C) Varsity posted its first winning season, losing only to DeMatha and Landon, and beating Good Counsel three times. The Eagles finished third in the championships. The team scored 82 goals and only allowed 36 goals. Gonzaga hosted the first National Capital Hockey Tournament, known as the “Purple Puck.” Landon won the tournament; Gonzaga was the runner-up. 1995-1996 (4-5-1) Ed McGonagle (HC) • Eric Bovim (C) • David Copp (C) After years of lobbying, Gonzaga Hockey had its Inaugural Season, with “an up-and-coming group of guys” in the fast-growing Maryland Scholastic Hockey League (MSHL).