BROOKLYN, Ohio – Rocky River lost, 6-1, to Mentor in the title game of the 2020 Baron Cup on Sunday evening.
The sixth-ranked (MYHockey) Cardinals (30-2-1) struck for
four goals in the opening period and never looked back as they denied the
Pirates their ninth Baron Cup championship in program history. Mentor scored
four in the first, one in the second and one in the third. Cardinal netminder
Alex Toth stopped 34-of-35 pucks, and Mentor penalty killers held River to a
1-of-6 mark on the power play in the Pirates answering with just a lone goal
(James Byall from Logan Fortune in the second).
Prior to the first frame of Sunday’s game, Rocky River (22-8-3) had scored in 14 straight periods. The Sons of Blackbeard hadn’t been held under three goals in a single game since Jan. 18.
The Cardinal win marked Mentor’s fourth win this season over the Double-R. The Pirates did manage a 5-5 tie with the Cardinals on Dec. 1.
Sunday’s Baron Cup Championship Game was a match-up of last year’s winning team (Mentor) against the 2018 champs (Rocky River). Mentor has now won back-to-back Cups and three (Baron Cup II in 1995) overall. The 2020 brackets marked the 50th renewal of Cleveland’s oldest high school hockey tournament.
CANNON FIRE …
RED REDEMPTION: The Greater Cleveland League Red Division – whose teams comprise the field of the Baron Cup – announced its 2019-20 All-Star Team during the week. Senior defenseman Ethan Routenberg was tabbed as a First-Team All-Star. Wingers Danny Asmar, Logan Fortune, and Hayden Weaver were named Red Division Second Teamers. Senior forwards James Byall and Aiden Dempsey were tabbed as Honorable Mentions.
A PIRATE FORTUNE: Logan Fortune scored a point in all three Baron Cup games this week. The senior winger finished the tournament with three goals and five assists. Fortune has tallied career-highs in goals (17) and assists (20) this season. He’s scored 65 points in his RRHS career (29 goals, 36 assists). … Fellow senior James Byall scored three goals in the tournament and has scored four goals in River’s last four games.
by Skip Snow
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