Heights Hockey Edged by Chagrin Falls 3-2 in District Tournament

Like a ferocious body check knocking a player backwards to the ice, the hockey team found its forward progress halted abruptly. A monthlong wave of momentum ended too soon, as did a promising season.

, Cleveland Heights followed up last week’s one-goal loss in the Baron Cup with another narrow defeat – this time a 3-2 decision at the hands of Chagrin Falls Monday evening in a district tournament matchup at the Kent State University Ice Arena.

, Aleksi Vihanto and Aleksi Kuuri shone in their final game wearing Tigers uniforms, but their efforts were not enough to will a shorthanded squad past an opportunistic opponent. Cleveland Heights played both its postseason contests with 10 or fewer players due to injuries and academic ineligibility, yet still nearly emerged victorious.

“These last two games were tough, ,” said assistant coach Jeremy Holmes, who along with the rest of the coaching staff guided the Tigers to their first 15-win campaign in at least 15 years. “That was our message to the team in the locker room tonight – this game shouldn’t take away from the fact that we had a very successful season.”

Despite dressing only 10 players and being forced to shuffle its usual lineups, Cleveland Heights (15-10) positioned itself to win and advance within the district tournament Monday. Goals by Brown and Vihanto early in the second period erased a 1-0 deficit. Kuuri assisted on both scores, with Brown’s goal resulting from his trademark slap shot and Vihanto finding the back of the net after his deke fooled Chagrin Falls goalie Sam Bender.

Junior goalie Aidan Hall recorded 26 saves for Cleveland Heights, but a low glove-side shot eluded him during a penalty kill situation with less than four minutes remaining in the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie and propelling Chagrin Falls to victory.

Monday’s game marked the conclusion to the prep hockey careers for five Cleveland Heights seniors (Brown, Vihanto and Kuuri along with Mike Anderson and Chris Hill). Still, the Tigers appear primed to build on their momentum from this season during the 2011-2012 campaign. In addition to Hall, the team returns nine players, including its first-line offense consisting of junior captain Tyler Rudy and sophomore forwards Ben Urbas and Ian Kraus – a trio that combined for 59 goals and 56 assists this season.  

“We’re very proud of our team, and especially our seniors,” Holmes said. “Sam is going to be missed on defense, but we have a really nice nucleus of players to build around moving forward.”

Cleveland Heights, which will hold a team dinner in the coming weeks to honor its seniors and bestow end-of-season awards, will return to the ice during the latter portion of summer to begin preparations for the 2011-2012 season.

 Game Summary:

Scoring

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Total

Chagrin Falls

1

1

1

3

Cleveland Heights

0

2

0

2

Goals:

Period 1

Chagrin Falls – 14:20 – Matt Markley (assisted by Jack Campbell and Peter Kampf)

Period 2

Cleveland Heights – 2:45 – Sam Brown (assisted by Aleksi Kuuri)

Cleveland Heights – 5:14 – Aleksi Vihanto (assisted by Aleksi Kuuri)

Chagrin Falls – 12:14 – Jon Bourisseau (assisted by Peter Kampf)

Period 3

Chagrin Falls – 11:36 – Mack Myers (assisted by Jon Bourisseau and Jack Campbell) (power play)

Saves:

Cleveland Heights – Aidan Hall – 26

Chagrin Falls – Sam Bender – 21