Mustangs power through St. Jean de Brebeuf in YRAA hockey

January 13, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

In a game almost over from the start, the St. Maximilian Kolbe Mustangs proved Monday that they belong in the top tier of York Region high school hockey.

They cruised to a 9 – 2 victory over the St. Jean de Brebeuf Black Bears at the Aurora Family Leisure Complex, scoring four times within the first five minutes of play, prompting a timeout and a goalie change.

Goaltender Joseph Dimichele was perfect between the pipes until the dying moments of the first period, when he was beat low on the penalty kill. The Black Bears brought the game to within two before forward Andrew Badali opened the floodgates for the Mustangs again with a nice deke to his backhand on a breakaway.

Dimichele, who was forced to contend with a handful of last-ditch efforts in the final few minutes of the third, has put together a solid tandem this season with goaltender Matthew Tanel, who was named St. Max’s male athlete of the month for December.

Following a year’s hiatus, the Mustangs hockey program has returned to form swiftly and effectively. Improving to a 6-1-0 record on the season, the Mustangs’ 33 goals-for is certainly something to behold, second in the ten-team division I averaging almost five goals a game.

The only loss of the season came at the hands of St. Theresa of Lisieux almost two months ago, who remain the YRAA division I’s only undefeated team and the Mustangs’ closest rivals.

The two powerhouse squads met Wednesday afternoon following press-time, before taking a two week break for high school exam period.