Saturday, January 29, 2000
Moeller takes city hockey crown
Crusaders stifle Sycamore 10-0
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
There's little doubt that Rafael Courtemanche is the best high school ice hockey player in Southwestern Ohio and one of the most skilled in the state.
Blessed with outstanding speed and skating ability, Courtemanche was offered a contract in September by the Cincinnati Cobras, a first-year Junior B team (ages 16-20) in the Central State Hockey League.
But the 16-year-old junior at Moeller decided to stick with the high school team another season.
“I'm only 16 and the league (CSHL) has 20-year-olds playing,” Courtemanche said. “I'm still young and there's plenty of time to move up to Junior B hockey.”
Courtemanche put on a show Friday, scoring two goals to lead Moeller (17-12) to a 10-0 city championship victory over Sycamore before a crowd in excess of 1,000 at Sports Plus Rink.
Courtemanche also assisted on two goals.
“Rafael is doing pretty well this season,” Moeller coach Andy Pokupec said. “But the whole league is improved and it hasn't been as easy for Rafael this season.”
Going into Friday's game, Courtemanche was Moeller's leading scorer with 40 points.
“We're senior-laden with nine on the team,” Pokupec said. “At one point we were 4-0 but we're now 17-12, which is disappointing. But we've had injury problems which have slowed us.”
Two of the Crusaders' wounded, Bret Dick and Tim Paff, returned to the lineup on Friday after missing four weeks, giving the Crusaders depth against the young Aviators.
“We beat Sycamore 4-2 in a tournament,” Pokupec said. “Tonight we were healthy and played with a lot of emotion which was the difference.”
Moeller took a 3-0 lead after the first period on goals by Ben Bogucki, Kevin Carpenter and Pat Overbey.
Bogucki scored one in the second period and Courtemanche and Overbey two each to give Moeller an 8-0 lead. John Procario scored twice early in the third to end the game on the 10-goal mercy rule with 11:02 remaining.
Although Sycamore is a big rival for Moeller, Centerville is the Crusaders' fiercest.
Moeller and Centerville, both 11-0 in the Southwestern Ohio High School Hockey League, will play at 3 p.m. Sunday to determine the league championship.
“Everybody tries to play up the Sycamore game,” Courtemanche said. “But everyone on the team knows that Centerville is and will be the biggest rivalry for a long time.”
Sports Stories
Griffey talks back on
Temperature's rising with Reds fever
Redsfest schedule
Reese uses head to keep Reds in 'golden' hands
Reds give Wohlers another chance
Rose finally gets foot in baseball's door
Rose swings, misses with book pitch
UC's Johnson reaching potential
Satterfield to start again
