Newark, Del. — Will Ralsten and Kelly Stroik recorded hat tricks to lead their St. Mark’s Spartans (6-1-2) to a 12-2 drubbing of Bux-Mont Catholic (1-9-0) on Monday night (Dec. 16) at the Patriot Ice Center.
The Spartans, who scored more goals than Bux-Mont recorded shots against St. Mark’s goalie Sam Griffith, controlled the abbreviated game from its outset and maintained the edge over the first-year Bux-Mont program, which only fielded five of their 16 rostered skaters.
St. Mark’s established the tone with a pair of rapid-fire goals in the second minute — Ralsten from a Stroik assist at 1:23, followed by a James Morrison clapper from the red line off the next face-off just five seconds later. After Thomas Hill put Bux-Mont on the board 3:34 in, Ralsten’s second goal of the game sparked a 3-0 St. Mark’s run to conclude the first period.
Pat Cawley brought Bux-Mont within 5-2 off a Hill assist 1:26 into the second period, but the Spartans dominated from that point on, reeling off seven straight goals to bring the game to its conclusion 41 seconds into the third. Stroik added three goals in the second period after scoring one in the first, defenceman Nick Lawson connected, Ralsten finished his hat trick, and Graham Kline sent the Spartans to the second intermission with an 11-2 lead by way of his second goal of the game in the final 13 seconds of the period.
It took St. Mark’s only 41 seconds of the third period to end the game early, when Morrison potted his second goal of the game off assists from Ralsten and Kylee Schmitz.
Four Spartans earned five points: Lawson (1G, 4A), Ralsten (3G, 2A), Stroik (4G, 1A) and Kline (2G, 3A). Griffith notched two assists in addition to recording nine saves on 11 shots faced. Bux-Mont goalie Dylan Waters saved 24 of 36 shots faced.
St. Mark’s concludes 2019 with a home game against Marple-Newtown on Monday (Dec. 23). Live coverage on Delaware Hockey Night TV and Delaware Hockey Night Radio will take place as part of a doubleheader which also includes Salesianum vs. Downingtown East.
