By Brian Mitchell

Feb. 2, 2021. HARMAR TWP., PA — Goaltender Jake Dold (CCHS, '23) stole the show on Tuesday night as the Central Catholic Vikings shut out the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils 2-0 at Alpha Ice Complex on Tuesday night. The sophomore stopped all 34 shots he faced in the contest.

The two teams started out slow but eventually found their legs as the period progressed and the Blue Devils started to pressure the Vikings, peppering starting netminder Dold with shot after shot. Central Catholic eventually found an opening, and with just over 11 minutes eclipsed Emmet Martin (CCHS '24) found a puck along the side of the cage and softly put in on net, beating Austin Martin and giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead.

Central Catholic came out flying in the second but couldn’t find the net as Mt. Lebanon blocked several shots and pressured the Vikings to the perimeter. JoJo Palahunik (CCHS, '21) was able to find a centering pass at the top of the slot and fire a wayward shot on goal that George Acklin (CCHS, '23) redirected past Martin at 13:06 of the frame.

The Blue Devils had an apparent goal waved off in the first two minutes of the third, and again on an early whistle during a Palahunik minor half-way through the frame. The Vikings were able to withstand the final minutes of the Mt. Lebanon attack, blocking shot after shot in the waning moments.

Reprinted by permission, Brian Mitchell, Pittsburgh Hockey Digest. 

Lindsey McCarthy and Jackie Alger
CCVHC Service Project Committee

Central Catholic High School's founding Saint, St. John the Baptist de la Salle’s expression to “Live Jesus in our hearts forever” was the driving force for the 2020-2021 Central Catholic Vikings Hockey Club’s Service Project. 

With the unusual situation of the 2020-21 hockey season and Covid-19 restrictions, the hockey program had to find a service project in which all hockey players from the four CCVHC team could participate, making it their own individual, personal success, yet still coming together as a club to accomplish big things. 

In coordination with CCVHC Head Coach Bill Connelly and Service Project Committee members, parents Lindsey McCarthy and Jackie Alger, the teams were excited to work with the Red Door Ministry, further developing a relationship that has been close to Central Catholic High School for several years. 

Considering the many needs of the Red Door, and under the guidance of Sr. Emily Lepage, the Central Catholic hockey teams were able to collect more than $1,500 in McDonalds gift certificates, 500 bags of clothing, 40 bags of personal hygiene items, and many, many boxes of packaged food for the homeless supported at the Red Door.  In total, in January 2021, the teams were able to fill a 15-foot U-Haul box truck.  Pretty impressive! 

Many thanks go out to the boys, parents, and the many individuals who made this service project a huge success.  A special shout out to South Hills Movers and its president, Robert E. Lee, who graciously supplied us with more than 100 boxes to help separate all the items for the Red Door to make distribution of the items easier for the ministry volunteers. 

Your donation will go directly to the organization and, if your sponsorship is on behalf of a current CCVHC player, then it reduces the dues owed by the player.

Our primary purpose is two fold ...  to reduce a family's individual expenses, but also increase team/player training and development. This year, achieving this mission, is all the more essential.  In July, after a three-month-long COVID-19 rink closure, and as a result of historic program interest, CCVHC made the decision to field -- for the first time ever -- a fourth team. Even with all of the uncertainties, for all those Central Catholic students who desperately wanted to play ice hockey for their school, this was the right decision to make.  

Committing to fielding a fourth team, however, required the Club to hire an additional non-parent coach, to purchase an entire set of new jerseys, socks and equipment, and to secure sufficient additional ice time for practices.

Not only did the program have to contract extra ice to support the new team, but it had to ensure that it had sufficient ice time so that all teams could continue to have -- for the foreseeable future, and in an abundance of caution -- full ice practices.

Although, pursuant to revised PA gathering limits for indoor sports, CCVHC can now reduce expenses by scheduling "shared ice" practices, we decided that this was not in the best interests of the club or the school right now.  Having full-ice practices not only reduces the number of people on the ice, but cuts locker room congestion by half. By only scheduling full-ice practices, there are fewer than 25 people on the ice at any one time and the 15-20 players can spread out between two locker rooms (rather than each team that is sharing ice having to crowd into just one locker room).

CCVHC, too, is thrilled that it now has a dedicated home rink -- all of its practices will now be held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville, PA. Having a home rink means that we have more opportunities to showcase our school's exceptional student athletes. CCVHC will now be able to hang banners to increase the school's visibility, but we will be able to display team and senior pictures at the rink. 

So, now more than ever, Central Catholic Vikings Hockey needs your support!  Sponsorship is not only great advertising for your business, but also shows your support of CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS HOCKEY!  Roll Vikes!

CHECK THIS OUT !! ....

This 7' x 5' banner is hanging in the front lobby of Alpha Ice Complex, just outside the door to the Canada Ice Rink. It features all four of CCVHC 2020-21 teams, along with the club's five graduating seniors. Four corporate sponsorship slots -- one in each corner -- are available.

Your contributions have been -- and continue to be -- crucial to our success in achieving the CCHS promise, "to inspire boys to become Men of Faith, Scholarship and Service." 

Please see our website Fundraising Page for more information!