After starting 0-6, Gateway hockey battles back to contention
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Sunday, January 12, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Gateway freshman Beau Ritson competes during the 2024-25 season.
The Gateway hockey team began 2025 with a key division win over Wilmington at Palmer Imaging Arena.
But it wasn’t easy.
Senior captain CJ Evans tallied a hat trick as the Gators built a 5-0 lead in the second period.
But Wilmington started to chip away at the deficit and got it to 5-4 heading to the third.
The Greyhounds rallied again to score twice late in the third to send it to overtime.
But Gateway would prevail as senior forward Connor Olson tallied the game winner with 13 seconds left in the extra session.
The 7-6 win on Jan. 2 put the Gators at 4-7-1-1 (fourth place) in the White Division of PIHL Division 2 and kept them in position for a spot in the Penguin Cup playoffs.
“When the game was going to overtime, we talked to the kids about how important it was to maintain position,” Gateway coach Justin Evans said.
“We had the chance to really come through and walk away with a win which was the main goal. The kids did it in dramatic fashion. Connor didn’t have the strongest game offensively, but he came through when it counted the most. It was a resilient effort from everyone. It also was a learning experience that if we take our focus off our No. 1 priority, which is defense, things can get out of hand pretty quickly.”
Freshman Tristan Cole made 17 saves in the OT win over Wilmington.
Regular starting goaltender Dakota Montedoro, a senior, came through in a big way in a 4-3 win over Deer Lakes on Nov. 18 at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville.
He made 61 saves to help preserve the win. It was a game that saw Evans score twice. Olson and freshman Beau Ritson also found the back of the net.
Senior forward Jakob Williams was whistled for a significant penalty in the second period, and he ended up facing further discipline in the form of an eight-game suspension.
Coach Evans said he could return to the ice for Gateway’s home game against Bishop Canevin on Jan. 27.
“Dakota put on one of the most amazing displays of goaltending I’ve ever seen,” coach Evans said.
“Because of Jakob’s penalty, we were shorthanded for 12 straight minutes. We ended up letting up only one goal during that time. Dakota has been so important to our team. We have been so impressed with how consistent he has been between the pipes.”
The Gators won five of seven after an 0-6 start.
“The team really wanted to win,” coach Evans said.
“There was some growing pains. Early on, we were trying to find the right spark to put us in the best position to get wins. It was about finding that right amount of playing time for each of our players to succeed. Some changes really put us in a good position, and we were able to go on a nice winning streak. So many of the kids have stepped up their games.”
A four-game win streak was halted in a 3-1 loss to Connellsville on Dec. 17.
“We made some costly mistakes and took some ill-advised penalties,” coach Evans said.
“We went from being in a good position up 1-0 to giving up three goals. That took a lot of wind out of our sails because that was a division game.”
Six days later, Burrell defeated the Gators, 11-2.
Gateway was missing three key players and Olson (fractured finger) and junior forward Caleb Sonafelt (broken collarbone) left the game with injuries.
Olson has not missed any time, but Sonafelt is feared lost for the season.
“Burrell is impressive, but I feel that if we had all of our players, we could’ve given them a good game,” coach Evans said.
“We played the rest of the game with only two lines.”
CJ Evans and Ritson are focused on the Gators’ stretch run to a possible playoff spot. But they also are gearing up to represent Gateway in the Division 2 all-star game Jan. 26 at Robert Morris’ Island Sports Center.
“It was really exciting to see both get selected,” coach Evans said.
“They both deserve to be there. It’s very unique to have multiple players selected to participate in the event. It’s pretty gratifying as a coach to see their hard work be rewarded.
“CJ has really stepped up and has been a driving force on the offensive side of the puck. It’s not easy to score. Looking at our stats, our second-highest goal scorer (senior Gavin Grant) has six goals, and there’s CJ with 14 (as of the Wilmington game).”
Evans ranks 10th in goals scored in all of Division 2.
Ritson, through 13 games, owned five goals and a team-best 11 assists.
“It is awesome to see how well Beau has fit in with this team as a freshman,” coach Evans said.
“The single distinct reason why he’s able to keep up with these older players on the team and against opposing teams is that his skating is phenomenal. Beau just loves the sport. He’s constantly working on his skating, his technique, and his edge work. It puts him at a big advantage every game. His skating gets him out of a lot of dangerous situations. He’s able to create so much offense with how well he skates.”
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
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