By Evan Wills ‘25
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Crusader hockey team played a highly anticipated game against the Loyola Ramblers. With it being Loyola’s senior night and the Ramblers being ranked third in the state, stakes were high for the Crusaders.
The game did not disappoint. It was neck and neck until late in the third period when the Esposito twins gave Brother Rice the lead.
Junior Johnathon Esposito said, “With about 8 minutes left, we got the puck in their zone, and I was fortunate enough to find an open look and score. My brother, James, then added an empty netter to seal the game.”
The team felt strongly about their win, as it solidified a better seed in the playoffs and also boosted morale for the program.
When asked what motivated the team to pull off the upset, senior Nathan Wilczak said, “We were motivated due to our state ranking dropping down to 17. This win would make a huge impact on where we end up for the state playoffs. We were also motivated by the fact that they scheduled us for their senior night because they thought we would be an easy win. The rest is history.”
As the CCHL is one of the most competitive conferences in the state, a statement win against a great team is important for the Crusaders’ success.
Sophomore Dominic Casale said “After falling short last year, I am excited to go as far as we can this year.”
Continue to look out for the Crusaders as they hope to keep defying expectations in the state playoffs.
Photo source: Gehrig Lucas
