Podcast for last night’s broadcast

Ensworth-Nolensville-Lipscomb vs. Pope Prep-MLK-GCA PODCAST LINK

Recapping last night’s games

The six Tier 1 teams who are competing for the GNASH Cup have two records next to their score: their second half record, and their GNASH Cup record. If a team has an asterisk (*) next to their GNASH Cup record, it means that they have been eliminated from GNASH Cup contention.

Ensworth-Nolensville-Lipscomb 7 (3-1-1), Pope Prep-MLK-GCA 3 (2-2-0, 5-6-0*)
The Knights were missing both Pellegrinos, as they were off on a mission trip that is a mandated part of the curriculum at Grace Christian Academy, so, Jacob Benoit made his third start of the season, and second in a row, having gotten the nod for Pope’s final pre-holiday break game against Ravenwood. Things didn’t get off to a great start for the Knights. Nick Gentile had a shot blocked from the left point of the Ensworth zone, and the ricochet had the puck go out to center ice. Trex Hooper broke from the pack, and raced into the Knights zone, burying the puck for a very early 1-0 lead just 25 seconds in. 69 seconds later, Clayton Roach tied the game, as he took the puck from a scrum off of a faceoff to the left of the Ice Tigers’ net, and skated around to the right-hand side, managing to stuff it in. Exactly two minutes later, Grant Ranck gave Ensworth the lead back, when Benoit misplayed the puck behind his own net, allowing Ranck to put it in the open net when it came out in front. Just over three minutes after that, Roach tied the game again, this time burying a Joe Hiller centering pass from the Ensworth slot on a 2-on-1, and it was 2-2 after 1. Late in the second, Ice Tigers goalie Reuben Allen made a point-blank save on Saxon Clements, and Ensworth immediately took the puck to the other end of the ice, where Ben Sonkin banked the puck off of Benoit and into the back of the net from the bottom of the right circle, and it was 3-2 Ice Tigers after 2. Just 26 seconds into the third, Gentile scored to tie the game, as hit line drive shot from the left point found its way into the back of the net. It looked like we were on for a grandstand finish, but then, the Ice Tigers took over the game. 26 seconds after Gentile’s tally, Sonkin scored the winning goal, firing the puck into the roof of the net from the left edge of the slot after managing to break free of three defenders. Nearly five minutes later, Henry Cravens made it 5-3, as he shot the puck into the back of the net through Benoit’s five-hole from the top of the right circle, then Justin Nozko made it 6-3 23 seconds later, burying a wraparound from the left-hand side of the Pope net. Sonkin completed his hat trick with just under five minutes left, scoring on the power play from just above the top of the right circle. The result officially eliminates Pope from GNASH Cup contention (I should correct myself from yesterday’s newsletter: the first night back from the holidays last year was on January 4, not January 9, when Pope were knocked out of the GNASH Cup race by MBA), meaning it really is now Franklin vs. MBA. Their chances of being the Predators Cup 1 seed also take what is likely a fatal blow, especially since Summit won. The Knights now go back on the sideline before facing both GNASH Cup contenders two weeks from now. Meanwhile, Ensworth face Summit next week, with first place in Tier 1 at stake.

Next game for both teams
Ensworth-Nolensville-Lipscomb: Next Wednesday vs. Summit-Page - 8:30 PM @ Centennial B
Pope Prep-MLK-GCA: January 22 vs. Franklin - 8:25 PM @ Bellevue-Crisp

Brentwood 6 (3-1-1), Centennial 3 (3-2-0)
I’m going to be honest: Walking over to Rink B to see these two play each other as Tier 2 teams felt like being in a science fiction show where you step into an alternate universe. It still doesn’t feel right. Anyway, the Cougars became the first team this season to have their Senior Night ceremony. As part of the festivities, Kade Henderson was given the honor of starting the game in goal, just his second start and appearance of the season. The Bruins spoiled the fun nearly six minutes in, when Aidan Pustizzi scored the game’s first goal. Just under two minutes later, Clayton Ellsworth made it 2-0, burying the puck on a breakaway (I saw this goal). Nearly three minutes after that, Pustizzi scored a second, roofing the puck from the high slot (I saw this one, too), and it was 3-0 Brentwood after 1. At this point, I left to go watch the Father Ryan-Summit game, which had started late because of Summit’s Senior Night ceremony, combined with the fact that the Ensworth-Pope game got started late because Jacob Benoit had an equipment issue during warmups. Anyway, at some point while I wasn’t watching, Centennial made a goaltending switch, swapping Henderson for David Busby. Just past the halfway point of the second, Brendan Mitchell got the Cougars on the board, and Blake Butcher got them within one 29 seconds later. With 55 seconds left in the middle frame, Ellsworth scored his second, and the Bruins took a 4-2 lead into the third. Near the halfway point of the final period, Jack Schultz made it 5-2. Just under two minutes later, Butcher scored a second, before Brody Bohman scored the game’s final goal with just over a minute left. From the action I saw, there were a lot of hits and post-whistle gatherings, so, it felt somewhat like a Brentwood-Centennial game from the A-Game days. The Bruins are now firmly in the race for the Hine Cup 1 seed, but they don’t play again until January 29 against Rutherford, their main rival for the 1 seed, who have a chance to build a buffer next Wednesday, when they take on the Outlaws. Centennial play Independence next Wednesday, and one would think they’ll seal the deal this time. They’ll need to, if they want to stay in the 1 seed race themselves.

Next game for both teams
Brentwood: January 29 vs. Rutherford Rampage - 8:30 PM @ Centennial B
Centennial: Next Wednesday vs. Independence-Ravenwood 2 - 8:40 PM @ Centennial A

Summit-Page 5 (4-1-0), Father Ryan 2 (2-3-0, 5-7-0*)
A Senior Night win for the Spartans. No goals were scored in the first, as Zach Fonnesbeck did the usual great job of keeping the Spartans off the board. The Irish took advantage of this early in the second, as Austin Hester scored the opening goal just over two-and-a-half minutes into the period. Just over two minutes later, Daniel Lawrence got a Senior Night goal to tie the game at 1. Just under four minutes later, Zach Ellis scored to give Summit a 2-1 lead, with Colton Edwards tying the game just over four minutes after that to have a 2-2 score after two. The game remained deadlocked until just under five minutes left, when Ellis scored the winner on a breakaway (I saw this goal). Under two minutes later, Hunter Haley gave Summit some insurance, before James Gilmartin got a Senior Night goal with 10 seconds to go. The result means that Ryan are out of the race for the Predators Cup 1 seed, since they have two wins with two games left, and this was Summit’s fourth win of the second half, meaning they own the second tiebreaker against the Irish (head-to-head). The Spartans have a tough two-game run to close things out, playing Ensworth next Wednesday, then taking on Franklin on the 24th.

Next game for both teams
Father Ryan: Next Wednesday vs. Montgomery Bell - 7:10 PM @ Centennial A (The Irish will be having their Senior Night ceremony.)
Summit-Page: Next Wednesday vs. Ensworth-Nolensville-Lipscomb - 8:30 PM @ Centennial B

Rutherford Rampage 4 (4-1-0), Station Camp-Liberty Creek 1 (2-4-0)
William Haynes scored the game’s opening goal just 2:30 into the first, and it was 1-0 Rampage after one. Haynes then only needed 98 seconds of the second to score what would end up being the game-winning goal. Justin Dickinson had Rutherford up 3-0 after two, when he scored his first goal with just 27 seconds left in the period. He then scored his second goal exactly four minutes into the third. Near the halfway point of the final period, Austin Givens broke the shutout. A great result for the Rampage, who have a chance to potentially put the Hine Cup 1 seed out of reach for everyone but Brentwood when they take on the Outlaws next week. For the Bison, this loss plus Brentwood’s win over Centennial means that the highest Hine Cup seed they can now reach for is the 4, but they only have one game left, and it isn’t for another 18 days, so, things on that front could change.

Next game for both teams
Rutherford Rampage: Next Wednesday vs. Tennessee Outlaws - 8:40 PM @ Antioch-North (The Rampage be having their Senior Night ceremony.)
Station Camp-Liberty Creek: January 29 vs. Tennessee Outlaws - 7 PM @ Centennial B (The Bison will be having their Senior Night ceremony.)

Standings

Monday’s final scores

There were no regular games on Monday, as the Senior Game was played instead.

Next week’s schedule

The broadcast schedule for next week will be announced in Sunday’s newsletter. Teams that are doing a Senior Night ceremony are underlined.

Wednesday, January 17
Montgomery Bell vs. Father Ryan - 7:10 PM @ Centennial A
Summit-Page vs. Ensworth-Nolensville-Lipscomb - 8:30 PM @ Centennial B
Independence-Ravenwood 2 vs. Centennial - 8:40 PM @ Centennial A
Tennessee Outlaws vs. Rutherford Rampage - 8:40 PM @ Antioch-North

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The next newsletter comes out Sunday, January 14.