Althoff outlasts Granite City – again

For the second year in a row and the third time in four years, the Althoff Crusaders defeated the Granite City Warriors to become champions of the MVCHA 2A Division.

“It’s been a heck of a ride,” Althoff coach Chris Carden said. “It feels good to do this back to back against such a great opponent.”

Althoff won the decisive third game of the series at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights, 3-1. Althoff senior Josh Hasamear scored two goals, including one into an empty net in the game’s final seconds.

“I think we have really great teamwork,” Hasamear said, “and it feels awesome to win as much as we do.”

Crusaders freshman Adam Kassly was on top of his game.

“I just stayed focused, and my defense made me able to see all that was coming at me,” said Kassly, who made 25 saves. “I’ve played in big games before, but this one really meant a lot. I have three more years on the team, and so I’m hoping to win this three more times.”

Althoff junior Robert Hintz kicked off the the game’s scoring halfway through the first period with an unassisted wrist shot.

“I was just trying to get a puck in the net,” Hintz said. “I was just happy when it went in.”

Three minutes later, a cross-checking penalty on Hintz gave the Warriors a power play. Granite City took advantage, tying the game on a shot from the point by sophomore defenseman Brendan Whitt with an assist from forward Matt Burton.

Halfway through the second, Althoff took the lead on an unassisted Hasamear shot from just outside the crease.

“Our coaches told us before the game how important it was to crash their net,” Hasamear said. “I’m glad I listened.”

A minute later, after a series of Crusader shots on goal, Althoff junior Andrew Greene bumped into Granite City’s freshman goalie Clint Steinmeyer. Granite City senior Brett Denap responded by taking a swing at Greene, which caused a brief melee and earned each team offsetting penalties.

Later in the period, a similar confrontation occurred between Granite City sophomore Ryan Tinsley and Althoff sophomore Hunter Sieron, with the same result.

Both teams racked up some penalties in third, but neither was able to score until Granite City coach Todd Hinterser pulled Steinmeyer in the last minute. That’s when Hasamear found a loose puck, took it the length of the ice and fired it into an empty net, effectively clinching the win.

“We had some opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of,” Hinterser said. “I think it was a hard-fought game between two teams that really wanted to scrap on the ice.”

Another confrontation between Denap and Sierron in the game’s final seconds earned another pair of offsetting penalties in the game’s final seconds, and a few of Granite City’s players left the ice shouting obscenities at both the game’s officials and the winning team.

“We know quite a few of those kids and they just really hate to lose,” Carden said. “This is a hockey game, not some chess match. Tempers are going to flare. I’m just glad it didn’t get too ugly.”

Althoff finished the game with 26 shots on goal while Granite City had 25.

Game three of the series was very similar to game two. Althoff ended up winning both by the same score. The Crusaders scored empty net goals at the end of both, in both games, Granite City’s only goal came on a power play, and both ended with brief emotional disruptions from Granite City players.

“I actually felt like we could have played better in the first two games,” Burton said. “In this one, we came to play, but things just didn’t bounce our way. It was frustrating for everybody to to work so hard and still lose.”

Carden, who won his third championship in five years at Althoff, announced his retirement as head coach. Carden said he wants to spend more time with his hockey-playing, 9-year-old son. He will remain on the Althoff bench as an assistant coach, as Mike Jaros takes the reigns of the team next season.

“We had a freshman goalie that nobody was sure about, and four seniors that refused to quit,” Carden said, “I couldn’t be more proud of what they did this year.”

Meanwhile, the year came to a very bitter end for Granite City.

“Everybody did what they were supposed to do this year,” Burton said. “It just stinks that it had to end this way.”

Now the Warriors’ coaching staff will turn their attention to the junior varsity team that is headed to the finals.

“Once we’re done with that and with our awards banquet,” Hinterser said, “we’ll look towards next season.”