Jacob Sardo’19 skates with the puck. (Inji Kang’20)
The CA hockey team had its first tournament of the year, squaring off against Dublin Jerome on Thursday, November 30, Olentangy Dublin on Friday, December 1, Olentangy Orange on Saturday, December 2, and finally Dublin Jerome again in the third-place game on Sunday, December 3. The team then topped its busy week off with a regular season game later on Sunday, December 3 against St. Xavier.
The boys had a successful tournament run, winning two of their four total games and placing fourth.
The Vikes started the competition out on a low note, falling to Dublin Jerome 6-3 despite a goal apiece from juniors Gunnar Geiger, Jacob Sardo, and Cole Walker.
The boys shifted into full gear for their next game. Academy throttled Olentangy Dublin 12-6, putting the program’s first win into the books. Sardo played an incredible game, scoring 6 goals for the Vikings. Freshman Campbell Gwin had 3 of his own, junior Tyler Schlonsky scored 2, and Walker added 1 as well.
Riding the momentum, CA beat Olentangy Orange the next day, 5-2, to earn a spot in the third-place game. Sardo and Walker led the charge with 2 goals each, as Gwin also found the back of the net.
In the third-place game, Academy had a chance at redemption, as they faced Dublin Jerome in a rematch. But, the Celtics proved to be too much once more, handily beating the Vikes 5-1, and forcing CA to settle for fourth place.
The boys then returned to their regular season schedule for a clash with St. Xavier. The Vikes commanded possession of the puck and defeated the Bombers, 6-3. Sardo continued his dominance with another hat trick. Not only did he solidify the game with a goal in the last 18 seconds, but he also scored in the first two periods as well, putting the first goal on the scoreboard, and adding another in the middle of the second period. Along with Sardo’s trio of goals, Walker made two beautiful plays that put the puck in the back of the net, and junior David Li added a goal of his own.
The boys continue their season when they travel to Worthington Kilbourne on Friday, December 8.
