By: JJ Michalski

Videos: JJ Michalski

WEST CHESTER, PA –Salesianum won the Philadelphia Catholic League title Wednesday night, defeating Cardinal O’Hara 5-4. This is Salesianum’s first title since the ICSHL’s inception of the PCL division in 2015. They are the first team from Delaware to ever claim the title. 

Kikut played in the championship, alternating starts with Michael Manzi, who earned the semifinal win against Roman Catholic on Tuesday.

“For my seniors and even the freshman, we’re just playing for each other,” Kikut said. “It means everything. Being from Delaware, the PA teams doubt us all the time. Since we can beat these guys we can do anything.”

Salesianum closed out play in the first period adding a second goal against Marley in the game. Will Betterly took an initial shot, which was denied by Marley, but left loose for a rebound. Michael Masci was on clean up duty and buried a one time shot on the rebound to give Salesianum a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. 

The lone goal of the second period came off the stick of Melito with the assist going to O’Hara’s Julian Gavin. Melito found himself wide open in front of Kikut and elected a backhand shot, which he buried top shelf to tie the game 2-2. 

The second period saw the most penalties of the game. Three of the five combined game penalties came in the second, in what was one of the most disciplined games of PCL play this season. Through the second, Cardinal O’Hara and Salesianum were a combined 0 for 4 on the man advantage. 

Following the ice cut in between periods, both squads returned to the ice and the energy level rose inside of Ice Line. 

Salesianum broke the 2-2 tie with eight minutes to play in the game. Matt Bellopede got a centering pass from Caelan Driggs, which he was able to dangle through some traffic and beat Marley with a quick wrist shot. Salesianum led the game 3-2 and would not relinquish that lead for the rest of the night. 

“We’re not a team to be reckoned with,” Bellopede said. “We just need to keep playing our game and teams will be scared.”

Insult was added to injury when Salesianum scored shorthanded with five minutes to play. Driggs was guilty of a tripping penalty while killing off the Lions powerplay. Salesianum then went on an offensive attack. Chipping at the puck, Johnny Lee was able to turn on the jets going coast to coast on a breakaway. Lee scored on the play, for his third goal in two nights and a 4-2 Salesianum lead. 

30 seconds after Lee’s short-hander, Cardinal O’Hara was able to work out a powerplay goal with Driggs still in the box. Kevin Roney put the puck on goal, throwing a shot from the point and began a sequence of chaos. After a couple more swats at the puck in front, Kikut was able to settle the puck, but ultimately it slipped past the goal line and Roney was credited with the goal which brought the Lions to within one goal, 4-3. 

Needing a stop in the closing minutes of play, Cardinal O’Hara struggled to stop the forecheck of Salesianum. Traffic in front of Marley gave way to Christian Kinsler to earn his spot on Salesianum’s score sheet. Kinsler pulled off a spin move while keeping the puck low and sliding it to the back of the goal. Up by two goals with two minutes to play, Salesianum erupted. 

Cardinal O’Hara was able to add a fourth goal in the game with 1:30 left in the contest. After Graney lost possession of the puck, Melito skated into the zone hard and threw a shot on goal for his second of the game. The Lions were unable to add another goal in the game despite outshooting Salesianum 43-34. 

Both teams will now look forward to beginning Flyers Cup contests in a week and a half. Salesianum goes into the Flyers Cup as a number eight seed but have demonstrated that they can win as an underdog. Just ask Salesianum senior Spencer Kelly what he thinks of being overlooked as a low seed.

“The boys proved me right,” Kelly said. “We’re the best team in the league and I stand by that. Everyone loves an underdog and it feels great.”