Chaminade goaltender Nate Pitman makes 26 saves against Kellenberg, lifts Flyers to 13th win in a row
Chaminade's Nate Pitman makes a save in the second period during a CHSAA boys ice hockey game against Kellenberg on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 at Cantiague Park. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Chaminade ice hockey continues to find ways to win. In a physical rivalry game, goaltending and depth made the difference.
Nate Pitman collected 26 saves to lead Chaminade to its 13th straight win.
The Flyers defeated Kellenberg, 3-1, in CHSHL on Wednesday night at Cantiague Park in Hicksville.
“We’re family”. Pitman said. “We have a lot of seniors, and we just want to win after last year’s loss in the finals. This one feels great. We get them again Friday, and we need to play this way again.”
The game opened with thunderous hits on both sides. Kellenberg (3-5-2), sitting in fifth place, came out with an edge against the first-place Flyers (16-1).
“I was happy with the intensity,” Kellenberg coach Dan Szalai said. “Early on, we held them, and I thought this was some of the best hockey we played all year. Hopefully, we take this momentum and make the playoffs.”
Chaminade’s top line of Michael Johnson, Timothy Barins and Jack Petrone began generating chances midway through the first period, but Kellenberg goalie James Rudzewick rose to the occasion. He made several point-blank saves to keep the game scoreless after one period.
Pitman answered in the second period with multiple glove saves and a key pad stop while shorthanded. He had 16 saves through two periods.
“Nate has been rock solid,” Chaminade coach Keith Macias said. “The cohesion is great. These seniors have really come together and want to achieve something. They really want to bring a championship back to Chaminade.”
The Flyers finally broke through late in the second period. Steven Katagas found Maximus Wood in the slot for a one-timer, giving Chaminade a 1-0 lead with 29.6 seconds left.
“It was a little sloppy, but I found open ice,” Wood, a senior, said. “Katagas did a great job finding me, and I had to finish.”
The same combination struck again early in the third, with Wood setting up Katagas in front for a goal just over a minute into the period.
Kellenberg’s Luca Coschignano responded, burying a shot in the bottom left corner to pull within one with 10:50 left.
Pitman then turned aside 10 shots in the third period. Michael Johnson added an empty-net goal with 8.7 seconds left to seal the win.
The teams meet again at 7 p.m. on Friday at Cantiague Park.
“Every night we get results from different guys,” Macias said. “This is a complete team from top to bottom, and tonight it came down to our depth.”
