Staying hot
on the ice

Short Hops

By Ron Haramia
Sports Editor

Senior defenseman Aaron Schmit (with puck) is a member of the CMA Varsity A team. The top Eagles team is having another banner season. Gary Mills photo submitted

The CMA Varsity A boys team is having another outstanding campaign. The Eagles are 19-5-1, which includes a 10-game winning streak from Dec. 3-29. During the streak, two victories came in overtime and another in a shootout. Statistical leaders include Chris Darnell (36 pts., 14 goals, 22 assists), Michael Kretschmer (36, 12, 24) and Will MacDonald (34, 13, 21). MacDonald was the MVP at the Lawrence (MA) Academy Tournament (won by CMA) in mid-December. Victor Saponari, David Gerths and MacDonald were named to the all-tournament team at the Cushing (MA) tournament in late December. CMA finished second at that tourney.

The Eagles’ success can be partly attributed to its balance. Ten players have 20 or more points.

Victor's younger brother, Vinny Saponari (who attended Culver as a sophomore) was recognized in the Jan. 15 issue of Sports Illustrated for his power-play goal in overtime during the recent Toys for Tots Four Nations Cup U17 tourney in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that gave the U. S. team a 3-2 win over Sweden in the title game. Saponari scored a team-high four goals in the tourney.

The team has a trip to perennial power Shattuck-St. Mary’s Jan. 20-21. The next home games are Jan. 26-27 against Detroit Catholic Central. The Friday night contest starts at 7 p.m., the Saturday game at 2:30. The next big tournament after that is the Midwest Prep Invitational running from March 9-11.

The boys Varsity B team is currently 20-6. Two of those losses were the first two games of the season, one coming in overtime, the other in a triple overtime marathon.

Team leaders include Kit Sitterly (21 goals, nine assists), Shane Vorndran (eight goals, 14 assists) and Brice Geoffrion (a team-high 16 assists). The next home game is Jan. 24 against the Penn varsity at 7 p.m.

The Varsity B won the Class 5A state championship last year. It was CMA’s 18th title in the last 28 years and the B team’s eighth time since 1990. The Varsity A team won it 10 times from 1979-89 before dropping out of the tourney.

The boys JV team was 17-2-1 as of Jan. 10. They were the state runner-up last year to the B team. This year’s state tourney starts March 2 with the state finals set for March 10 in Indianapolis. The team’s next home game is Thursday when Mishawaka Marian’s varsity pays a visit. Face-off is 7:30 p.m.

The CGA varsity girls team has a record of 9-14-0. Team leaders include Caitlin Oleksa (nine goals), Emma Clark (eight goals) and Corinne Henning (10 assists).

The next home game is Jan. 20 against the Ohio Phantom Flames U19 at 7 p.m. The two teams square off again on the 21st at 1:30. The Culver Tournament is slated for Feb. 24-25.

The CGA junior varsity team stands at 2-9-1. Sophomores Mindy Privett and Jenna Iwaniec are both from Culver and play forward for the JV girls team.

This story was published as part of Ron Haramia's weekly sports column.