By Nick Iaciancio
March 13, 2017
The Chicago Catholic hockey league recently completed their season ending tournament. At the varsity level, the Kennedy Cup, the oldest trophy is Illinois High school hockey, was awarded to the Providence Catholic Celtics. The Celtics began their run with a 2 game sweep of the St. Viator Lions and followed it up with a 2 game sweep of the St. Rita Mustangs in the semi finals. Their opponent in the championship, best of three series, was the Fenwick Friars. Fenwick advanced to the finals by outlasting the Notre Dame Dons in game 3 of their quarterfinal matchup, and sweeping the Brother Rice Crusaders in 2 games. In the finals, game one was a Celtic victory by the score of 3-1. Celtic goal scorers were Jake Vennetti, Kevin Horan and Shane Horan. Goaltender Ryan Iaciancio turned away 16 shots in the victory. Game 2 was the clinching victory for Providence as they defeated the Friars 6-2. The Celtics spread the scoring around with Josh Mooncotch ( 2 goals), Jake Rott, Jack McConnell, Cam Cutler and Dominic Borrelli all finding the scoresheet. Iaciancio made 22 saves in the victory. Ryan Iaciancio was named the series Most Valuable Player and the victory represented the 3rd time in 4 years that the Celtics have won the Kennedy Cup.
At the JV level, it was again the Providence Catholic Celtics rolling their way into the finals to face a familiar opponent in the Fenwick Friars. In game one, the Celtics came out on top by the score of 4-0. Goal scorers for the Celtics were Tommy Davis, Dominic Borrelli, Colin Ries and Sam Johnston. Game 2 saw the Friars jump all over the Celtics by the score of 6-2, forcing a deciding game three for the title. In game 3 the Celtics would find their way to victory with a 4-2 win. Goal scorers for the Celtics were again Davis, Borrelli, Ries and Johnston. With their victory, the Celtics have won the DiCristina Cup for a record 7th straight year.
The Chicago Catholic Hockey League is in its 54th year of operation. The league consists of ten Chicagoland Catholic schools offering high school hockey as a school sponsored sport. The CCHL maintains a rich history of talented student athletes that have gone on to play collegiately, internationally and professionally. Notable alumni include former NHL players Chris Chelios (Mount Carmel), Ed Olczyk (Br. Rice), Bates Battaglia (Fenwick), Joe Corvo (Fenwick) and Tim Stapleton (Fenwick). Former NCAA standouts Gary Kruzich (DeLaSalle, 1984 NCAA Champion at Bowling Green 1984 and Finals MVP) and Scott Paluch (St. Rita and Bowling Green 1988 All American ). The CCHL has produced current collegiate coaches: George Roll (Br. Rice and Nazareth College), Joe Augustine (St. Rita and Rhode Island University) Mark Opstipina (Mount Carmel and Milwaukee School of Engineering) and John Micheletto (Mount Carmel and University of Notre Dame). For more information, please visit the Chicago Catholic Hockey League at www.cchl.us.
CCHL October Player of the Month: Ryan Iaciancio
The Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL) is proud to present its October Player of the Month award to Providence Catholic’s senior Ryan Iaciancio. The 6’2 goalie posted 3 shutouts in October and was 3-0-0 in CCHL play. The Tinley Park resident currently leads the league in goals against, save percentage and shutouts.
The Chicago Catholic Hockey League is in its 54th year of operation. The league consists of ten Chicagoland Catholic schools offering high school hockey as a school sponsored sport. The CCHL maintains a rich history of talented student athletes that have gone on to play collegiately, internationally and professionally. Notable alumni include former NHL players Chris Chelios (Mount Carmel), Ed Olczyk (Br. Rice), Bates Battaglia (Fenwick), Joe Corvo (Fenwick) and Tim Stapleton (Fenwick). Former NCAA standouts Gary Kruzich (DeLaSalle, 1984 NCAA Champion at Bowling Green 1984 and Finals MVP) and Scott Paluch (St. Rita and Bowling Green 1988 All American). The CCHL has produced current collegiate coaches: George Roll (Br. Rice and Nazareth College), Joe Augustine (St. Rita and Rhode Island University) Mark Opstipina (Mount Carmel and Milwaukee School of Engineering) and John Micheletto (Mount Carmel and University of Notre Dame). For more information, please visit the Chicago Catholic Hockey League at www.cchl.us.
November 7, 2016 ~ Providence Catholic High School is pleased to announce that senior, Jake Rott, has signed a tender with the Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League(NAHL). A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Tenders are typically reserved for players playing Tier I and Tier III Juniors.
The forward from Orland Park declined an invitation to join the Bahamas this past summer and returned to the Celtics. Rott stated “I felt that Providence gave me the best opportunity to further my education, and continue to develop my hockey skills. Also the opportunity to play my senior year with my friends and in front of the big crowds of my friends and family was important to me. I realized that you only have one opportunity to enjoy your senior year and I wanted to make the most of it.”
Celtic’s head coach Nick Iaciancio said, “Jake worked extremely hard in the off season to receive this opportunity. He had an excellent season last year by leading the Catholic League in scoring, earning All–State honors, winning the AHAI player of the year and earning the America’s Showcase MVP award. Jake used this momentum in the summer to impress not only the Brahmas but several more junior teams.”
Rott currently leads the Catholic League in scoring with 22 points in 7 games. The Celtics are a proud member of the Chicago Catholic Hockey League. The Chicago Catholic Hockey League is in its 54th year of operation. The league consists of ten Chicagoland Catholic schools offering high school hockey as a school sponsored sport. The CCHL maintains a rich history of talented student athletes that have gone on to play collegiately, internationally and professionally. Notable alumni include former NHL players Chris Chelios (Mount Carmel), Ed Olczyk (Br. Rice), Bates Battaglia (Fenwick), Joe Corvo (Fenwick) and Tim Stapleton (Fenwick). Former NCAA standouts Gary Kruzich (DeLaSalle, 1984 NCAA Champion at Bowling Green; 1984 Finals MVP) and Scott Paluch (St. Rita and Bowling Green; 1988 All American). The CCHL has produced current collegiate coaches: George Roll (Br. Rice and Nazareth College), Joe Augustine (St. Rita and Rhode Island University) Mark Opstipina (Mount Carmel and Milwaukee School of Engineering) and John Micheletto (Mount Carmel and University of Notre Dame).
2015-2016 SEASON
2014-2015 SEASON
