Senior Dave Souliotis is a 4-year starter for the Cardinals
Tuesday night saw the return of the Ireton Hockey team to the ice with a non-league game against rival St. Marys Ryken. The afternoon contest at Tucker Road Ice Rink saw the high-powered Cardinal offense in high gear from the start, taking an early first period lead and never looking back. When all was said and done, the Ireton offense had pumped 50 shots on the Knights goalie, with 11 of them finding the back of the twine. The Cardinal attack was led by Tom Cyrnak with 5 goals and 3 assists, and Reid Yager who pitched in with 4 goals and 2 assists. Also on the score sheet for Ireton were James Smith and Luke McGowan, each netting their first goal of the season. Dan Tangora and Ian Rush rounded out the scoring, each picking up 1 assist. The SMR offense was continually smothered by the swarming Ireton defensive corps. Of the 20 shots that managed to get through to goalie Rob Chastain, all were turned away. The 11-0 whitewashing gave Chastain his first shutout of the season.
The Cardinals second game of the week took place on Friday night with a 7:00 pm NVSHL tilt against a powerful Oakton Cougar squad at the Mt. Vernon Rec Center. A raucous Ireton crowd filled the stands and witnessed what was easily the most exciting game of the season to date. Despite a late Oakton rally at the end of the third period, Ireton came out on top, 3-2, in a game that kept everyone on the edge of their seats throughout. The Cardinals top line of Reid Yager, Tom Cyrnak and James Smith accounted for all 3 Ireton goals on this night, with Smith netting the all-important first goal and Yager scoring the last two. Smith also notched an assist, and Cyrnak (2 assists) and Robert Chastain (1 assist) completed the scoring. A very strong effort was also turned in by the second line of Dillon Roach, Duke Roach and Stephen Gerke, who had some excellent scoring chances thwarted by the strong Cougar goalie. Senior Cardinal goalie Robert Chastain turned in another outstanding effort in net, stopping 35 of 37 Oakton shots, including several in the hectic last minute of the game to preserve the win. Solid defense all night by the tandems of Nick Tangora/Dan Tangora, and William Chastain/Ian Rush managed to keep the Oakton offense off the scoreboard until late in the third period. Key minutes were also logged by Luke McGowan, Ben Gerke and Patrick Coyne. The win brought the Ireton record to 2-3 in the NVSHL, good for 3rd place in the 6-team Smythe division.
Next up for Ireton is a division matchup with a combined Loudoun Valley/Heritage team on Friday night, 9:10 pm, at the Ashburn Ice House.
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