The “Main Line Massacre” took on a testy tone from the start, as physical play from the opening faceoff crossed the line quickly and resulted in a start-and-stop contest all the way to the final buzzer. Each team was assessed 38 penalty minutes, including a combined 52 in the third period as tempers flared—but did not boil over.
Bonner left winger Jake Moleski notched a natural hat trick in the first period, showcasing strong shooting and stickhandling to beat St. Mark’s goalie Billy Pierce from close range. Down 2-1 in the seventh minute of the first period, the Friars’ power-play unit made their presence known. Moleski advanced up the left-wing boards before opening fire on Pierce, finding the right corner of the goal to tie the score. Three minutes later, Moleski contributed another power-play goal, deking and dangling his way through traffic before finding the five-hole at 9:49. Lance Ralsten responded with a power-play goal for the Spartans at 12:02, batting a Joey Centrone centring pass past Connor Lewis to tie the game at three, but the Friars edged away through the middle stages of the game.
Pat Jensen’s one-timer at 13:39 in the first—also a power-play goal—was his first of five on the night. The first-line centre also accounted for two second-period goals with the man advantage and two more late in the third, both long-range snipes to beat relief goalie Giovanni Casagrande, who relieved Pierce in the Spartans’ net nearing the end of the second period. Jensen’s second-period goals were part of a 4-1 run for the Friars through the first 12 minutes of the middle frame before power-play goals from Graham Kline and Will Ralsten brought St. Mark’s back within a 9-6 margin at period’s end.
While Centrone scored an unassisted goal 2:26 into the third period, carrying the puck up the left-wing boards before walking in and beating Lewis under his glove, the Friars had the last word with an aggressive forecheck and four unanswered goals.
Lewis stopped 38 of 45 shots successfully, while Pierce and Casagrande combined for 27 saves on a total of 40 shots faced.
Prior to the game, five Monsignor Bonner seniors—Nolan Ward, Tim Campbell, Geoff Stokes, Christian Caparra, and Connor Lewis—and their families were honoured in an annual Senior Night ceremony.
