By Larry Moko
One loss was too many for the Bishop Ryan girls' high school hockey team in 2025-26.
The Celtics, who went 10-0 en route to capturing the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic championship, lost 7-2 Oakville's Holy Trinity Titans at Mountain Arena Monday.
And that Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference final result eliminated Bishop Ryan from further play.
Holy Trinity advances to the 20-team provincial AAA tournament March 24-26 in LaSalle.
"When a team takes a loss at such a crucial moment, it really hurts," Celtics coach Paul Altobelli said. "We were undefeated all year and just one step away from an OFSAA berth. So it's hard to take."
Bishop Ryan trailed 4-0 and 6-1 at the period breaks.
"They got up on us quickly at the beginning of the game," Altobelli added. "I thought our offence and defence were playing extremely well. We had a lot of great opportunities in their end.
"I don't think the score (in the first period) reflected what was actually happening on the ice."
As the game wore on, however, the Titans goaltending and defensive play remained solid. Said Altobelli: "We didn't get an offensive turnaround that we were looking for early enough."
Goals for the Halton champions were scored by Katie Callaghan, Olivia Nelson (2), Elleh Joaquin (3) and Trysta Jouquin.
Aly Pescetti had both goals for BR, assisted each time by Julia Sayej.
Two of the Titan goals were scored during BR power plays.
"Those were huge," Holy Trinity coach Vince Cianciolo said of the shorthanded markers. "It's a big component for momentum.
If they had gone the other way, it could have changed the game."
Cianciolo said depth also played a big part in the outcome. "Everybody bought in. Everybody was doing their job. That's why we won the game."
After winning the Halton Catholic title over Burlington Notre Dame, 5-3, Holy Trinity edged Oakville's Garth Webb Chargers, 3-2, in a GHAC semifinal.
Said Cianciolo: "I didn't know anything about Bishop Ryan except what I could see in the standings. They had 52 goals-for and they scored seven goals in the final. So we knew they were a goal-scoring team.
"Playing with a defensive mindset was important for us. We wanted to take their better players out of the game so we could control the puck."
The most dominant player in the Bishop Ryan lineup was captain Pescetti. In addition to her two goals, she rang a shot off the crossbar and created numerous other dangerous scoring opportunities.
Next fall Pescetti begins a hockey scholarship at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S.
"We knew they were a good team and that this game would be tough," Pescetti said. "We played hard. It wasn't a bad game. We just didn't score."
Pescetti has helped BR to four consecutive Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic titles. But in the last two seasons, on Hamilton ice, Halton's GHAC representatives (Bishop Reding and Holy Trinity) have won by large margins.
"We've had a tough couple of years against them," Pescetti said.
According to Altobelli, the Celtics have been riddled by injuries lately. Four starters were sidelined against Holy Trinity.
Behind the bench, Sara Pavao has been a key assistant coach for BR. Said Altobelli: "We've been coaching together for close to 10 years and I'm thankful for her contributions with girls' varsity hockey. Coaching with Sara has been effortless. We're so in sync that we can anticipate what the other is thinking, helping us make the right coaching calls throughout the game."
The Titans have lost only once in 11 starts thus far.
"It's been a really successful season and I'm confident we'll be able to carry that over at OFSAA," the Holy Trinity coach said. "They are all on the same page. They'll be excited and motivated to do well."
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on HWCDB Athletics Facebook page
