Miller’s hat trick helps Hawks earn title series berth

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 3/24/16

For the third consecutive year, the Bishop Hendricken hockey team has made it to the state title series.

Behind a hat trick from senior forward Reilly Miller, the Hawks powered past La Salle, …

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Miller’s hat trick helps Hawks earn title series berth

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For the third consecutive year, the Bishop Hendricken hockey team has made it to the state title series.

Behind a hat trick from senior forward Reilly Miller, the Hawks powered past La Salle, 3-1, at Thayer Arena in a decisive Game 3 in the semifinals on Monday night.

The win came after a tough, 7-6, double-overtime loss in Game 2 on Saturday night at Levy Rink. The Hawks battled back from a three-goal deficit to force overtime in that game, before La Salle’s Matt Manown tied the series with a goal shortly after the puck dropped in the second overtime.

Some may have thought after Game 2 that the momentum was swaying in La Salle’s favor, but Hendricken eliminated that notion from the jump on Monday.

The second-seeded Hawks grabbed a 1-0 lead on a goal from Miller at 4:14 of the opening period. Andrew Hopgood got in on the forecheck and created a turnover before poking the puck to Miller, who released a quick shot through the five-hole of Rams’ netminder Taylor Peltier.

Instead of folding after Game 2, it was evident that La Salle was going to get Hendricken’s best effort in the decisive game.

“I’m really, really impressed,” Hendricken head coach Jim Creamer said of his team’s ability to bounce back after the loss. “To watch kids make mistakes and then come back from that, it makes everything worth it.”

Hendricken’s penalty kill was outstanding, too, killing off all five penalties that it committed in the game.

A pair of kills in the first period helped to set the tone for the game, as La Salle couldn’t capitalize when Pat Creamer was sent off for roughing just under two minutes into the first period.

Later in the period, Miller was assessed a tripping minor. The Rams were able to get some better looks with the man advantage this time around, but senior goaltender Wyatt Alberigo came up big, stopping La Salle’s best chance – a shot from Ethan Robson on a 2-on-1 that Alberigo pushed aside with the blocker.

Pat Creamer nearly doubled Hendricken’s lead early in the second period, when he went in all alone while shorthanded, but Peltier got a piece of the shot and sent it over the cage.

Miller would put another shot by Peltier at 10:38 of the second, just seconds after La Salle senior Christian Sorenson’s tripping penalty expired.

Matt Rickard kept a clearing attempt in at the left point and pushed the puck down the boards to Hopgood, who hit Miller with a pass out at the point in the middle of the ice. Miller walked in, faked around a La Salle defender and released a missile that eluded Peltier to up Hendricken’s lead to 2-0.

With the hat trick on Monday, Miller concluded the semifinal series with eight goals.

“Reilly, starting on Saturday, put us on his back and we all went along for a ride,” Jim Creamer said. “He had a hat trick on Saturday, and then had all three tonight. He just wants it and it’s individual drive. He’s a determined kid. It really doesn’t surprise me. What you see is what you get from Reilly.”

The Hawks took that two-goal lead into the break, but La Salle came out strong with one final push in the third period.

At 3:12 of the third, Manown retrieved a loose puck in the attacking zone and beat Alberigo with a shot between the legs, cutting La Salle’s deficit in half, 2-1.

Hopgood, who dished out two assists in the victory, had a couple of good scoring opportunities after that, but couldn’t cash in. With around five minutes left, he used his speed to beat a defender wide, but he slipped a backhand just wide of the goal. On a late power play chance, he then took a short-side shot that rang the iron to the left of Peltier.

With the score still standing at 2-1, La Salle pulled Peltier in search of the equalizer. And it nearly succeeded. With roughly 20 seconds left, Evan McGreen took a shot from the point that made its way through traffic and hit the post to the right of Alberigo.

Miller quickly transitioned to offense, where he would bury an empty-netter to ice the game and the series. Pat Creamer picked up an assist on the tally.

The Hawks were set to begin their championship series against Mount St. Charles on Wednesday night at Brown University, but results were unavailable at press time.

Fans should be in store for a classic, though, as Hendricken and Mount played four one-goal games this season.

“The Mount series, we’ll be ready,” Jim Creamer said. “Our games this season were really even, and that’s just how the league has been this year.”

“It should be a good battle, but with the way we’re playing, we feel like no one can beat us in a three-game series,” Miller said.

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