The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Gilmour tops Mentor, advances to frozen four
Valenti scores twice as Gilmour earns its first trip to Columbus since 2011
Gilmour (30-7-1) advances to a state semifinal March 14in the Lancers’ first frozen four berth since 2011.
KENT » Those festive floralpattern third jerseys that have become a staple for Gilmour in this stretch run have proven fitting for some celebratory moments recently.
But none will match the breakthrough that came March 6 in the Kent District final against a high-flying Mentor squad.
Because in this case, for the first time in nearly a decade, the party will go all the way from Gates Mills to Nationwide.
Frankie Valenti lit the lamp twice and contributed a highlight-reel assist on a pivotal first-period goal as the Lancers responded impeccably to falling behind early and prevailed, 4-1, before a packed house at Kent State.
Gilmour (30-7-1) will take on St. Ignatius or St. Edward in a state semifinal at 9 a.m. or noon March 14 in Columbus in the Lancers’ first frozen four berth since 2011 and third alltime.
An aggressive forecheck, along with the line of Valenti, Charlie Tuggey and Joe Roddy buzzing throughout, played pivotal roles as Gilmour broke through.
“Oh yeah, that was our key,” Lancers coach John Malloy said of the forecheck. “We knew they ran four defense, and we have a good forecheck, so we wanted to really go in and finish checks on them and just make sure we get back, because they’re very explosive as you saw from their first goal.”
Mentor (33-3-1) opened its account at the 6-minute, 50-second mark of the first. On a power play after a crosschecking penalty, Kyle Backston delivered a quality feed for Luke Jeffery, who slotted a snapper between the circles for his 18th goal of the winter.
Gilmour went into intermission buzzing, though, after goals 2:17 apart for a 2-1 advantage after one. Valenti shelved a wrister from the left side at 12:19. Then, with 24 seconds left in the period, the junior forward delivered a lovely tape feed to Tuggey for a wrister.
Valenti later took care of a puncher from the left side of the crease at 7:28 of the second, and Colin Bauman, called up from the Lancers’ 16-and-under squad for the game, put away a wrister at 7:31 of the third for the final margin.
“(An aggressive forecheck) is exactly what we needed to do. We needed to press them,” Valenti said. “We knew they would turn the puck over, and they got
that first goal, but we responded well and kept the forecheck going.
“We knew (our line) needed to step up, and we knew we needed to have a good game. That’s what we did. We forechecked hard, got shots to the net, good defense — and it worked out.”
After the Jeffery opener, Mentor had sporadic quality in its offensive zone, but had to exert a lot of energy in the D-zone.
Cardinals coach Paul McKito lauded the work of his squad and, in particular, his seniors as they closed their careers, amid Mentor’s memorable campaign returning to the district final at Kent for the first time since 2008.
“This group of seniors, they played their last game,
and they’ve been the group that has taken this program from one end of the spectrum to the other,” McKito said.
“They’ve been the group that has put us on the winning track. Last three years, (85-18-4), so you can’t say enough for what they’ve done. Their work ethic has translated to the younger players on the team. Hopefully, it’ll be their torch to carry on for the next couple years.”
Coming soon
For more from this game, as Bauman, Valenti and Malloy reflect on Bauman’s memorable contribution, check back in the coming days on News-Herald.com and in our print edition.