The CMA Prep Hockey team will be playing for a national championship after beating the Ohio Blue Jackets, 4-1, in the finals of the Mid-Am District Tournament on March 16. It is the first time Prep has won the district.
The team will travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin for the national tournament April 2-6.
Nick McNab ’15 (Indianapolis, Ind.) was in goal for the championship game, with Tucker DeYoung ’14 (Lake Bluff, Ill.) scoring two power play goals, and Karch Bachman ’16 (Wolcottville, Ind.) and Matt Donnelly ’16 (Denver, Colo.) adding one goal each. The team reached the finals with preliminary round wins over the Indiana Junior Ice, Gilmour Academy, and Pittsburgh Pens Elite.
The Pittsburgh game went to a seven-player shoot-out. Dean Shatzer ’15 (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was between the pipes for the big 3-2 semi-final win.
The entire team played an exceptionally disciplined final, coach Steve Palmer said. “Every player showed up when it counted. They should all be proud of their efforts.”
The U16 team reached the championship game before falling to the Blue Jackets, 6-2. CMA reached the finals with wins over the Cleveland Barons, The Pittsburgh Predators, and the Indiana Junior Ice.
