CMA hockey wins state
CULVER — One of the main sports offered at Culver Academy is hockey, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was no certainty there was even going to be a season on ice in 2020-21. Fortunately, there was and the school fielded four boys teams and one girls. Home games were once again held inside the impressive Henderson Ice Arena, which includes one Nhl-sized rink and one Olympic-sized rink. Here is a recap of how the seasons went for the various teams.
Boys Varsity A
Although Covid did mess with the schedule, it turned out to business as usual for the Boys Varsity A squad, meaning an impressive record (14-3-1) and culminating with the ISHSHA Class 4A state championship after defeating the Bloomington Blades, 4-2, on March 6 at the Ice Kube in Hammond, Indiana. It is the fifth straight state championship for the Varsity A program. The Eagle icers’ successful season included wins over large schools Lake Central, Hamilton Southeastern and Penn. The biggest losses were the 10 games that were cancelled between Nov. 2 and Dec. 3, and the Hoosier Cup Feb. 5-7, but despite the major schedule disruptions, the Eagles were able to complete the season the way they envisioned - accepting another state championship trophy.
Boys U18/prep
The Boys U18/prep team is the highest level squad at the Academy, and under normal circumstances plays a national schedule. Covid took out 13 games between Oct. 31 and Dec. 4, including contests in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and St. Paul, Minnesota, but the Eagles have still managed 33 games, compiling a record of 20-9-4 with four games remaining - two in Chicago this weekend, then two at home Apr. 10-11 against longtime rival Shattuck St. Mary’s. Nineteen games have been played on the home ice of either the Al Clark Rink or Olympic rink, but road trips to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri and Ft. Wayne did take place as planned.
Boys U16
The Boys U16 team has a record of 16-10 and like the U18/prep squad has four games remaining two in Chicago this weekend, then two at home Apr. 10-11 versus Shattuck St. Mary’s. One strange quirk in the schedule saw the team play its first game on Oct. 23, the next 13 were cancelled before starting up again on Dec. 5. They then played 26 games with just one postponement in the middle before having its two most recent games (Feb. 27-28) cancelled.
Boys Varsity B
The Boys Varsity B team completed its season by splitting two games during the ISHSHA Play Downs on Feb. 27 at the Fuel Tank in Fishers to finish 8-112. There were no games between Nov. 7 - Dec. 2 (nine cancellations), then five more cancellations were spread out between Dec. 12 and Feb. 13.
Girls U18/prep
The Girls U18/prep (1917-1) team will wrap up its season with the Mid Am District playoffs this Friday and Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio. The Lady Eagles will approach a 40-game season despite having 12 cancellations, including 10 straight from Oct. 23 - Nov. 21.