CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. | Regis Jesuit opened its defense of the USA Hockey National Championship it won last season with a 7-1 victory Wednesday over Cypress Bay, Fla.
Coach Dan Woodley’s Raiders lost in the semifinals of Colorado’s state ice hockey tournament, but had a berth in the March 20-24 tournament in Coral Springs by virtue of winning last season’s title.
Regis Jesuit got off to a strong start in pool play in the American Bracket as Conner Wigton and Jack Kilkenny scored two goals apiece and Jack O’Neil, Kirk Underwood and Connor Harshman also scored. The Raiders outshot Cypress Bay 40-17 in dominating opening victory at Jetblue Panthers Den.
Alec Aichinger and Tony Tuccy had two assists apiece and Brian Engh and Nathan Haas also had helpers for Regis Jesuit, which got 16 saves from junior netminder Sam Harden in the victory.
The Raiders face Plano West, Texas — which beat Medina, Ohio, 3-2 Wednesday — at 4:30 p.m. MT Thursday at the SFSAC Stadium Rink.
Regis Jesuit’s third pool play game comes at 7 a.m. MT Friday against Medina.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at [email protected] or 303-750-7555
REGIS JESUIT 7, CYPRESS BAY (FLA.) 1
Score by periods:
Regis Jesuit 2 2 3 — 7
Cypress Bay 0 1 0 — 1
SCORING
First period: Regis Jesuit — Jack O’Neil (Tony Tuccy), 7:26; Regis Jesuit — Jack Kilkenny (Nathan Haas, Alec Aichinger), 15:07
Second period: Regis Jesuit — Conner Wigton (Aichinger), 1:23; Regis Jesuit — Kirk Underwood (Wigton), 7:58
Third period: Cypress Bay — Benjamin Torruolla, 4:14; Regis Jesuit — Wigton (Brian Engh), 9:40; Regis Jesuit — Kilkenny (Tuccy), 15:11; Regis Jesuit — Connor Harshman, 15:51
