The Tiebreaker: Birds, Boards, and a Very Feisty Freshman

Look, we’re 1-1 against the Avon Eagles this season. Tonight is the tiebreaker. The rubber match. The "who actually gets to talk trash in the Chipotle line" bowl.

Let’s talk about the Eagles. They’ve got the purple, they’ve got the gold, they’ve got the "I'm definitely the main character" energy. But let’s be real about the biology: an Eagle is just a raptor that peaked in high school. They’re basically the sky’s version of a guy who still wears his varsity jacket to the grocery store. They love to glide, but gliding doesn't work when there's a Mustang trying to turn your ribs into a xylophone.

To ensure the Eagles stay at sea level, we’re starting The Fuse.

FEATURING: Anderson "The Fuse" Purtell (#4) 🧨

Anderson is 15 years old and plays hockey with the frantic, unhinged energy of a raccoon that just found a discarded espresso shot in a dumpster. He doesn't just "check" people; he introduces himself to their internal organs.

While most freshman are worried about world history projects, Anderson is out here making opposing defenders wonder if they should have taken up a safer hobby, like competitive knitting or deep-sea welding. He plays like like the opposing team reset his Netflix password. He isn't angry; he’s just "exceptionally thorough." If there’s a loose puck or a player in his way, he considers it his civic duty to provide a prompt relocation service.

If you’re an Eagle planning on a "majestic" flight tonight, good luck. Anderson provides mandatory turbulence therapy to anyone with a bird on their chest.

GAME DAY MANIFESTO:

The Vibe: High-stakes bird-grounding

The Target: Avon Eagles (Sky-Karens)

The Time: 5:40 PM

The Venue: Brunswick Auto Mart Arena

Bring a coat. It’s going to be cold, but the hits are going to be spicy. 🐴💚🦅

#MustangsHockey #TheFuse #TurbulenceTherapy

The Royals Are Coming to Town (And We’ve Misplaced Our Curtsies) 🏰🏒

Listen, I checked the travel itinerary, and apparently, we have "Royals" arriving at the BAM tomorrow. The Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy is bringing their majestic lion logo and a team name that sounds like they should be greeted with a trumpet fanfare and a plate of cucumber sandwiches.

Look, it’s all very The Crown, isn't it? I half-expect a tabloid photographer to be hiding in the penalty box trying to get a quote from Prince Harry about the odiferous nature of the locker rooms. But here’s the thing, while they’re worried about their "divine right" to the puck, we’re celebrating a different kind of lineage.

It’s Senior Night. 🎓

We’re honoring five guys who have put in more work than the entire House of Windsor combined. This class is the real deal:

Cole "Coley the Goalie" Clark (#30): Our very own Tower of London. He’s been in the crease since 2011 and was named Strongsville’s MVP last season. If you want a puck to get past him, you’re going to need an Act of Parliament. 

Jack "KitKat" Katrinak (#28): A Captain who’s been a Mustang since he was three years old. He’s our blue-line veteran heading to Ohio University next year. He’s the guy who keeps the "realm" secure while the rest of us are busy worrying about the snacks. 

Nolan Miller (#11): If CVCA is the monarchy, Nolan is the mischievous Jester who’s here to absolutely wreck the palace. He’s a "grinder" who lives for the chaos; basically a one-man agent of anarchy who dreams of being a pilot one day. Probably so he can fly away after he's finished checking everyone into the boards. 

Dustin Primozic (#24): A three-year veteran who "works in silence." Dustin is heading into the Army National Guard after graduation , so he’s already practiced at defending the territory from invading "lions." 

Andrew Pacl (#17): A forward who’s become a total staple of this roster. He’s heading to paramedic school to become a firefighter, which is good, because he’s spent his career putting out fires on the ice for us. 

So, come out to the BAM. No fascinators or morning suits required, just wear green. Let’s show these Royals that in Strongsville, we don’t bow; we just play hockey. 🐴💚🦁

THE ROYAL PROTOCOL:

The Matchup: Mustangs vs. CVCA Royals

The Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026 

The Time: 7:40 PM

The Palace: The BAM (Strongsville)

#MustangsHockey #SeniorNight #RoyalRumble #BAM #NoSpares

TOP GUN: MUSTANGS — SORRY KENSTON, THE SKY IS FULL

🏒 GAME DAY - SNOWMAGEDDON EDITION ✈️❄️

Look, I’ve been watching the local news, and the meteorologists are acting like we’re entering the plot of The Day After Tomorrow. They’re talking about "Winter Storm Watches" and "sub-zero wind chills" like we don't live in Northeast Ohio. Schools are closing because it’s a little chilly? Please.

Here’s the thing: while everyone else is hunkering down with their emergency bread and milk, the Mustangs are heading to Chagrin Falls. Specifically, to a place called The Pond. Because apparently, playing a winter sport during a polar vortex wasn't quite "on brand" enough, we had to go play in a building named after a body of water that is currently a solid block of granite.

Tonight’s mission: The Kenston Bombers.

While the rest of the world is panic-buying rock salt, the Mustangs are heading to The Pond for a little 5-on-5 dogfight. Now, we've talked about the Bombers before. They've got the history, the WWII nostalgia, the "hint of red" color added in '53 to honor Auburn, and that coordinated coaching staff drip that says, "We definitely have a flight plan." Very respectful. Very historical.

But here's the thing about Bombers in a Cleveland snowstorm: Grounded. Delayed. Stuck on the tarmac waiting for DE-ICING. And they are going to need it. 

Enter our own freshman ace: #5 Mikey "Icy" Giampietro.

If Kenston thinks they’re in Top Gun, Mikey is the guy who just walked into the hangar and made their entire flight crew look like they're flying paper planes.

Meet Freshman Forward Mikey "Icy" Giampietro, one of the Mustang's leading scorers and the coldest person in any building he enters. While the Bombers are busy checking their altitude, Icy is busy putting pucks in the net with a "no-sweat" demeanor that would make Val Kilmer jealous.

The nickname fits: Mikey doesn't get shook by defense. He doesn't lose his cool when temps drop. He doesn't mess around when he steps on the ice; shots are getting fired faster than a Fox 8 weather alert. He's been lighting up the stat sheet all season, and tonight, he's looking to turn The Pond into his own personal highlight reel.

Kenston might think they own the "wild blue yonder," but "The Pond" is our airspace tonight. Sorry, Bombers. There are no points for second place in a dogfight.

MISSION INTEL:

Opponent: Kenston Bombers (WWII nostalgia meets grounded flight plans)

Date: Friday, January 24

Puck Drop: 8:50 PM (Late night hockey > Sleep)

Location: The Pond (Chagrin Falls) - Bundle up, it's arctic

Weather: Winter Storm Watch active. Sub-zero wind chills. Heavy snow expected.

Forecast: Icy conditions. Literally and figuratively.

Stay frosty, Strongsville.

#MustangsHockey #IcyMikey #TopGunMustangs #Snowmageddon #GroundedBombers 🏒🐴💚❄️✈️

FROM BOBCATS TO WOLVES: THE ALI-EN'S WILD KINGDOM TOUR CONTINUES

🏒 WFE TOURNAMENT, FINAL SCENE 🏒

If you weren't at the rink yesterday, you missed a literal Close Encounter of the Winning Kind.

Ali Amawi (#27)—officially dubbed The Ali-en 👽 decided overtime was taking too long, beamed up the game-winning goal against the Bobcats, and sent them back to the litter box. Yesterday: cats defeated. Today: wolves targeted.

We are officially in the middle of a Wild Kingdom tour, and The Ali-en is the apex predator.

At 10:50 AM, we close out the WFE Tournament against Worthington Kilbourne, the Wolves. And look, we get it. Wolves are supposed to be intimidating. They're the Starks' sigil. They're what Jacob turns into when he takes his shirt off. They're part of the the reason people built stone walls in Westeros.

But here's the thing: the Starks lost. Jacob lost Bella to a sparkly vampire. And the Night King's ice dragon melted that wall like butter. Wolves talk a big game, but they always end up either betrayed at a wedding or friendzoned in the PNW.

Also, they're basically just dramatic huskies who forgot how to enjoy a warm couch. They spend all night howling at the moon like it owes them money. It's theater kid energy, but make it feral.

Here's the challenge: Kilbourne's scoring stats are terrifying. I'm looking forward to this matchup about as much as a root canal-colonoscopy combo. It's a stretch goal. But then again, so was winning in OT yesterday, and we had an alien on our side.

THE ALI-EN: A BRIEF FIELD GUIDE

Ali Amawi is a puck-seeking missile with one speed setting: Hyper-Sonic. If you're near the puck when he arrives, you're a proximity mine casualty. He circumnavigated the ice five times in a single shift yesterday. That's not hockey, that's orbital mechanics.

Yesterday's theme song: "Move (please), Get Out The Way."

Today's soundtrack: Full alien invasion vs. the Direwolves of Columbus.

The Wolves are rocking Royal Blue and Black, its giving "Winter Is Coming." We're bringing an extraterrestrial who doesn't understand Earth gravity, the concept of "slowing down," or why anyone would choose Team Jacob.

GAME DEETS:

Opponent: Worthington Kilbourne Wolves (House Stark, but make it hockey)

Tournament: WFE Final Game

Date: Sunday, January 19

Puck Drop: 10:50 AM

Status: Ali-en Invasion in progress 🛸

Yesterday: Bobcats to the litter box. Today: Wolves to the kennel.

Winter came. The Ali-en came harder.

Pack the stands. Bring coffee. The truth is out there... and it's currently top-shelf.

#MustangsHockey #TheAlien #WFEChampionship #WinterIsComing 🏒🐴💚👽🐺

📅 REMATCH SUNDAY: THE BOBCATS ARE BACK 🏒🐴

Look, we’re all familiar with the "Sunday Scaries," but playing the same team twice in one weekend takes it to a new level. Especially when that team is the Bowling Green Bobcats—the school that still hasn't explained why they’re named after a color they refuse to wear. 🚩🤔

We’re looking for a little redemption tonight after a tough 4-1 loss in the first half of this double-feature. If we’re being honest (and we always are), a couple of those goals were... let's call them "profoundly lucky bounces." The kind of bounces that only happen when the hockey gods are bored. We know we match up with this squad; we just need to shake off that "slow start" energy. 🐎💨

The Challenge: It’s a double-header day. Historically, the Mustangs and "Game Two of the Day" have a relationship status of It’s Complicated. But hey, what’s a little fatigue when there’s a Bobcat mascot to confuse?

FEATURING: ANDREW DEMKO

Today we're spotlighting Freshman #22 Andrew Demko, and here's what you need to know about Andrew: he brings energy.

 Andrew shows up, works hard, and, most importantly, keeps the locker room loose. Hockey is a long season. Back-to-back game days are exhausting. Sometimes what a team needs most is a guy who can crack a joke, lighten the mood, and remind everyone that we're here because we love this game.

That's Andrew. He's finding his footing on varsity ice, learning from every shift, and making sure the guys around him stay engaged. Freshman year is tough. Double-header days are tougher. But Andrew's doing the work, and that matters.

🥅 GAME DAY INTEL

Opponent: Bowling Green "Scarlet-But-Named-Green" Bobcats (Rematch)

Timing: Sunday, January 19 @ 5:50 PM

Location: Brunswick Auto Mart Ice Arena (The Stable)

Challenge: Second game of the day. Tired legs. Time to dig deep.

Let's get this one back. Redemption time.

#MustangsHockey #Rematch #TwoGameDay #CatRedemption 🐴💚🐱

THE "ALTER-NATIVE" TO A SUNDAY AFTERNOON NAP

🏒 EHRNFELT TOURNAMENT - GAME 3 🏒

Look, it’s January 18th. The golf clubs are gathering dust in the garage, the sky is the color of a wet sidewalk, and we’ve reached the "I forgot what the sun looks like" stage of the Ohio winter. You need a reason to feel alive. You need the WFE Tournament, Game 3.

Enter: The Archbishop Alter Knights.

These guys are stomping through this tournament like they’re the main characters in a Disney sports movie. They’re coming in hot, and their jerseys are... let's call them highly functional. That specific shade of "High-Intensity Safety Mustard" is a statement. It’s the kind of yellow that screams, "I’m here to guide you through a highway construction zone," but today, they’re just providing a bright, easy-to-track backdrop for a Mustangs comeback.

It’s hard to lose track of an opponent who looks like a fleet of school buses in a hurry. 🚌💨

But here’s the deeper irony: The Knights. Their entire medieval identity is built on the back of a horse. Without us, they’re just guys in heavy metal suits walking very slowly toward a destination, probably complaining about a lack of WD-40. A knight without a horse is basically medieval cosplay with joint problems.

So today, the Mustangs—the literal foundation of knighthood—face off against the guys who owe their entire career path to our species. In an ALTER-native reality, they might be intimidating. But in this timeline? Knights without horses are just pedestrians.

PLAYER FEATURE: ALEX "BACON" THOMPSON (#23)

If you haven’t watched sophomore Alex Thompson yet, you’re missing the most reliable part of our roster. Alex is pure bacon.

Think about it: Bacon doesn't demand the spotlight or have an ego. It just shows up and suddenly the entire meal is five stars. Alex is new to the roster this year and fit in immediately. No drama. No "finding himself." He just showed up, got to work, and made everything around him better.

Alex is low drama, high impact—the secret ingredient that makes every line he’s on sizzle. Need a forecheck? Alex. Need a defensive stop? Alex. Need someone who won’t overthink it and will just play solid, lunch-pail hockey? That’s #23. He’s the cure for a bland Sunday.

Watch him today—he’s about to make this tournament taste better.

THE VIBE CHECK:

Opponent: Archbishop Alter Knights (The Horse-Dependent Order)

Tournament: Walter F. Ehrnfelt Memorial Tournament (Game 3)

Date: Sunday, January 18

Puck Drop: 3:00 PM

Location: BAM (Brunswick Auto Mart Arena)

The Knights might be on a roll, but every Knight eventually meets a Mustang that refuses to be ridden. Let’s get weird at the BAM.

#MustangsHockey #EhrnfeltTournament #AlterNativeReality #BaconSizzles 🐴💚⚔️🥓

THE CORPORATE CATS ARE COMING: MUSTANGS vs THE BRAND™

🏒 EHRNFELT TOURNAMENT - GAME 2 🏒

The Strongsville Mustangs continue their run in the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Memorial Tournament today against the Springboro Panthers™, and I need to address something immediately:

I've seen a lot of things in high school hockey, but I have never seen a 22-page document dedicated to the "Area of Isolation" around a mascot's head.

Apparently, we aren't just playing the Springboro Panthers™ tonight. We're playing a highly regulated, Pantone-certified, "monotone logo with crisp lines and smooth curves" enterprise.

Springboro's Official Brand Guidelines® are so professional I'm honestly surprised they didn't send us an NDA just to look at their jerseys. They have rules for their "Checker Border" that specify it can only appear at 0° or 180°. Zero or 180. If someone tilts that border to 45 degrees, does the school board just dissolve? Does the Panther lose its "resolved sense of confidence"?

We're entering the arena tonight with our Mustangs energy—which is mostly "hope Coach JT remembered to wash the water bottles"—against a team that has a specific hex code for "Panther Grey" (#CFD2D3™, if you're wondering). It's a lot.

But here's the thing: all the Official Brand Guidelines in the world don't help you when the puck drops. A panther is just a bobcat that refuses to be seen in any color other than "Panther Blue" (Pantone 2945 C, obviously). We're horses. We don't need an "Area of Isolation." We prefer a mosh pit.

FEATURING: ANDREW PACL

Tonight, we're highlighting Senior Forward Andrew Pacl, and Andrew is what we call a "Tactical Late Bloomer."

While most of these kids started skating before they could successfully use a spoon, Andrew decided to wait. He let the "hockey meta" develop. He studied the game from the outside like a sophisticated scout before deciding, "Yeah, I can do that."

Andrew is the guy who brings the level-headed energy to the locker room when the underclassmen start vibrating with caffeine. He didn't start at age four, which means his joints actually still work and he hasn't been burnt out by 6:00 AM practices for a decade. Every shift he takes represents more work, more determination, and more guts than most players will ever need.

He's the "Efficient Specialist." He's here for a good time, a hard skate, and to show the Brand™ Boys that you can't calculate senior heart with a Pantone™ color chart. Today, as a senior in the Ehrnfelt Tournament, Andrew gets his moment—and he's earned every second of it.

THE VIBE CHECK:

Opponent: Springboro Panthers™ (The most "Official" team in Ohio)

Tournament: Walter F. Ehrnfelt Memorial Tournament

Date: Saturday, January 17

Puck Drop: 6:40 PM

Location: Brunswick Auto Mart Arena

Atmosphere: High-stakes hockey meets Corporate Compliance

If we win, do we get to officially rotate their Checker Border to 90 degrees? Only one way to find out.

See you at the rink. For Mayor Ehrnfelt. For Andrew. For unregulated brand chaos.

#MustangsHockey #EhrnfeltTournament #OfficialUseOnly™ #FelineWeekend 🐴💚🐾

DAM THE TORPEDOES: MUSTANGS VS. THE LOG-CHOPPING LOYALISTS 🏒🦫

The Strongsville Mustangs kick off the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Memorial Tournament today, and we need to start with a moment of genuine appreciation. Mayor Ehrnfelt basically willed ice hockey into existence in Strongsville. Without him, we'd all probably be doing something productive on Saturday mornings instead of freezing our tails off in a rink. The man was a legend. This tournament means something. This ice means something. And today, we defend it.

Now, let's talk about our guests.

The Mustangs open at 11:00 AM against—and I'm reading this correctly—the Beavercreek Beavers.

Listen, I am a man of restraint. I see the low-hanging fruit, and I am choosing to walk past it with dignity. I am not going to mention that "Beavercreek Beavers" is the most redundant branding since the "Los Angeles Angels" (The The Angels Angels). It's like naming a team the "Strongsville Strongsvillians" or the "Ice Rink Ices." We get it. You guys really like semi-aquatic rodents.

But here's the thing: after the Frankenstein monstrosity of mismatched identities we've been exposed to lately (cough Bowling Green cough), the Beavercreek Beavers are a welcome snap back to reality. Finally, an authentic brand. A team that knows who they are. They live in Beavercreek. They're the Beavers. Respect.

They've got the orange and black color scheme going, which is the official palette of "Construction Zone" and "Halloween Clearance Aisle." It makes sense—beavers are basically nature's orange-coned road crews, constantly building infrastructure nobody asked for in the middle of a perfectly good stream.

That said, let's talk about what beavers actually do: they build dams. They chew wood. They create obstacles. All very industrious, very admirable... in a river.

On ice? Against horses? That's a different equation entirely.

FEATURED MUSTANG: NOLAN MILLER

To lead us into tournament play, we're rolling out Senior Defender Nolan Miller—the steady, unshakeable backbone of this squad.

While the boys from the 'Creek are busy chewing on their sticks and looking for loose lumber, Nolan is going to be playing the role of the ultimate environmental hazard. He's a human No-Fly Zone. He's the guy who sees a well-constructed offensive play and says, "That's cute, let's knock it over and see what happens."

Nolan doesn't just defend; he simplifies the game. Opponent enters the zone? Nolan exits the opponent. It's physics. It's beautiful. It's probably going to result in some very frustrated rodents.

If the Beavers think they're going to set up shop and build a dam in front of our net, they haven't met Nolan. He's calm. He's calculated. He's the guy you want on the ice when the game matters.

And today? In this tournament? Every game matters.

TOURNAMENT INTEL

Opponent: Beavercreek Beavers (The "Busy Ones")

Tournament: Walter F. Ehrnfelt Memorial Tournament

Date: Saturday, January 17

Puck Drop: 11:00 AM (basically brunch time, but with more body checks and less avocado toast)

Location: Brunswick Auto Mart Arena

Let's honor Mayor Ehrnfelt's legacy the right way: with grit, heart, and a W.

Pack the stands. Bring your energy. Leave your wood chips at home. 🏒🐴💚

#MustangsHockey #EhrnfeltTournament #DamTheBeavers 🐴💚🦫

THE MAP SAYS GREEN, THE JERSEY SAYS SCARLET, AND THE MATH ISN'T MATHING 🧭🚩

Listen, I'm a simple man. I see the name "Bowling Green," I expect green. Maybe some forest green, maybe some lime, I'd even settle for a questionable chartreuse. Maybe even some bowling pins on the jersey for good measure. But then I look at tonight's opponent and I'm seeing... scarlet and gray?

Look, I'll give them the name. They live in Bowling Green. Fine. Geography wins this round. You're in a city named after a color, so naturally, you'd think the school colors would be… well, green.

But no.

In a move that can only be described as "Ohio Sports Mad Libs," the Bobcats have created a brand that is a literal scavenger hunt of Ohio college athletics. Let's look at the evidence:

The Name: Bowling Green (they live there, fair enough)

The Colors: Scarlet and Gray (stolen directly from the Buckeyes)

The Mascot: The Bobcat (borrowed from Ohio University)

The Vibe: Is it red? Is it rust? Is it a cry for help? Unclear.

They've essentially raided the "Lost & Found" of every major university in the state and decided to wear it all at once. It's like they went to a sporting goods store, found the "Discontinued/Misc" bin, and just said, "Yes." If we hear the Miami University fight song coming from their locker room, I'm calling a wellness check on the mascot.

Are they Bobcats? Are they Falcons? Are they Buckeyes in disguise? Who knows. They're like that one friend who changes their entire personality depending on who they're hanging with. You know THAT guy!

Basically, playing Bowling Green is like opening a box of Thin Mints and finding pizza rolls inside. It's not necessarily bad, it's just… why are we here? Who authorized this?

FEATURED MUSTANG: DOMINIC SILVESTRI

While the Bobcats are busy trying to decide which university's identity they're going to borrow for the second period, we're keeping it simple with our Junior workhorse, Dominic Silvestri.

Dominic is the original "No Quit" Mustang. While the Bobcats are busy trying to remember if they should be singing "Hang on Sloopy" or "Stand Up and Cheer," Dominic will be busy being in four places at once.

He's got that Roy Kent energy (minus the growling… mostly). He's here, he's there, he's everywhere, and he's currently intercepting a pass while the Bowling Green defense is still trying to figure out why their jerseys don't match their GPS coordinates.

Dominic doesn't care about the branding confusion. He just cares about the "W."

GAME DAY INTEL

Opponent: The Bowling Green "Scarlet-But-Named-Green" Bobcats

Date: Friday, January 16

Puck Drop: 6:30 PM

Location: Brunswick Auto Mart Arena (The Stable)

Come out and support the boys. We'll be the ones in the green jerseys. Because our name is Strongsville and we actually like things to make sense.

#MustangsHockey #TheGeographyLesson #ScarletGrayAndGreenConfusion #RoyKentEnergy 🐴💚🐱

MASCOT IDENTITY CRISIS: MUSTANGS VS. THE MAROON LUMBERJACKS?

Look, I’ve spent a lot of time staring at the Avon Lake’s Mascot. I’ve done the research. I’ve consulted the ancient scrolls (Wikipedia). And I’m still confused. They call themselves the “Shoremen,” which sounds like a very sturdy, reliable brand of rain boots. But their mascot? It’s a guy who looks like he just walked out of a 1950s Popeye cartoon, holding an anchor over his head like he’s about to shot-put it into Lake Erie.

Is he a sailor? A dock worker? A guy who lost his boat and is now just really, really mad at the water? We may never know. What we do know is that tonight, at the Brunswick Auto Mart Arena, that anchor is going to feel a lot heavier when our Mustangs start circling.

Listen, gold and maroon is a bold choice. It says, “We want to look like a hot dog with fancy mustard.” Respect. But while the Shoremen are busy trying to figure out if they’re supposed to be rowing a boat or lifting weights, our boys are focused on one thing: speed. You can’t drop anchor on a horse that’s already halfway down the ice.

Speaking of speed, let’s talk about Lucas Haigh. We called him a “masterclass in hustle” last week, and honestly? We undersold it. Watching #19 chase a puck is like watching a heat-seeking missile that’s had way too much espresso. He plays with the kind of vendetta usually reserved for people who spoil movies on opening night. If the Shoremen think they’re going to have a relaxing “day at the shore,” Lucas is here to be the seagull that steals their entire lunch.

The Mustangs are ready. The ice is chilled. The snark is at an all-time high. Come watch us turn the Shoremen into… well, just men on a shore.

THE DEETS:

Opponent: Avon Lake Shoremen (The Anchor Tossers)

Time: 6:50 PM TONIGHT

Location: Brunswick Auto Mart Arena

Vibe: High-octane horse power vs. nautical confusion

Bring your energy. Bring your green. Leave the anchors at home. 🐴💚⚓️

#MustangsHockey #ShoreNoMore #AnchorDownMustangsUp #GCHSHL