St. Rita goalie Marty Napleton has been marvelous all season — a 31-8-2 mark, including 13 shutouts, and 1.45 goals-against average is testament to that.

Napleton, however, saved arguably his finest performance of the campaign for Friday night.

The junior netminder turned aside 28 shots, many in spectacular fashion, to carry St. Rita to a dominant 5-0 victory over St. Viator in the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois’ state championship at the United Center. Napleton earned Most Valuable Player honors for his performance.

Stan Sojka (assist) and Ricky Faron paced the offense, scoring two goals each. Jack Warren added a solo tally for the Mustangs.

“Marty has been unbelievable all year,” Faron said. “He stood on his head tonight.” Read Full Story

By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media March 5, 2012

The shouts of “This is our house’’ that came from St. Rita fans when Keith Burchett gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead became a boisterous celebration after the players lived up to the chant.

St. Rita scored three unanswered goals in the second period Monday night, then held on to earn its fifth straight Catholic League Kennedy Cup with a 3-2 victory over Benet at Southwest Ice Arena.

“It’s awesome,’’ Burchett said. “It feels like it keeps getting tougher and tougher every year. Benet played awesome. It was tough. I think it was the toughest one yet.’’

St. Rita won the last two games in the best-of-3 series after falling in overtime to Benet in Game 1.

When time expired Monday, St. Rita goalie Marty Napleton threw his stick and gloves into the air as his teammates rushed to the crease to start the mob scene near the net.

“For two periods we were rolling along,’’ St. Rita coach Craig Ferguson said. “Marty came up big when he had to. He made some big saves at the end.’’

A rebound goal by Jack Warren that put St. Rita ahead 3-0 with 3 minutes, 53 seconds to go in the second period turned out to be the winner. Read Full Story

 Game Photos from MJB Images