St. Andrew's College capped off a fun weekend of hockey by securing the MacPherson Tournament championship with a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over Bishop Kearney on Sunday.
The Saints opened the tournament Friday morning with a 6-2 victory over Victory Honda from Plymouth, MI. It was a sluggish start for St. Andrew's, falling behind 2-0 early in the first period. However, captain
Aidan Lane sparked the comeback with a goal in the final minute of the period. The Saints found their rhythm in the second, adding five more goals, led by
Michael Dec's three-point performance (1G, 2A),
Jake DiCapo's two points (1G, 1A), and a strong effort from goaltender
Mateo Beites, who recorded 19 saves.
After the morning games, players and families gathered in Cole Hall for the annual MacPherson luncheon, where Sportsnet's David Amber, best known for hosting
Hockey Night in Canada, shared his insights on the game. A student-led pep rally followed, energizing the students for the weekend's remaining matchups.
That evening, the Saints took on Culver Academies in front of a packed La Brier Family Arena. The pre-game festivities featured the traditional Pipes & Drums on-ice performance, a long-standing tradition at St. Andrew's. In the game, the Saints took control early and never relinquished their lead, securing a 5-2 win.
Kieren Dervin led the way with a five-point night (1G, 4A), while Lane added three points (2G, 1A).
The Saints faced Northwood in the semifinals on Saturday in a tightly contested game. Goaltender
Paolo Frasca came up huge, making 30 saves to help secure a 2-1 win and a berth in the championship game.
Sunday's championship matchup against Bishop Kearney was a rematch of last year's final. The game was a defensive battle, with St. Andrew's holding a late 2-1 lead before Bishop Kearney tied it with just 1:54 remaining in regulation. In overtime,
Alex Carscadden delivered the game-winner, driving down the right wing and burying the decisive goal with 8:41 left on the clock.
Bryson Morgan and
Michael Dec also found the back of the net for the Saints, while
Finn Kearns contributed two assists. Frasca once again stood tall in goal, making 29 saves to preserve the victory.
Kieren Dervin was awarded the J.P. McClocklin Trophy as the tournament MVP, finishing with 11 points (5G, 6A) in five games. Bishop Kearney's Konner Powell received the Robin Fraser Award for sportsmanship. Saints players named to the Tournament All-Star Team included
Aidan Lane,
Michael Dec, Sebastian Dell'elce, and
Paolo Frasca.
St. Andrew's finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 21-8. The victory marked the program's 12th MacPherson Tournament title and the first time in school history that the Saints have won back-to-back championships.