St. Ignatius Wildcats reach OHSAA ice hockey state final with thrilling overtime win

Kyle Rucinski's game-winning goal in third sudden-death period sends Wildcats to championship game against Gilmour Academy

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:34am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The St. Ignatius Wildcats rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the third period to defeat Dublin Jerome 2-1 in sudden-death overtime and advance to the OHSAA ice hockey state championship game. Junior forward Kyle Rucinski scored the game-winning goal, tracking down a loose puck behind the net and tucking it past the goalie. Sophomore Levi Gallucci had tied the game earlier in the third period with a rebound slap shot. The Wildcats, who have trailed in 21 of their 30 games this season, will face off against Gilmour Academy in the state final on Sunday.

Why it matters

The Wildcats' comeback victory highlights their resilience and ability to win close, high-pressure games. As the "Comeback Cats" or "Cardiac Cats," St. Ignatius has proven it can overcome deficits and grind out victories, even in a hostile environment against a tough opponent like Dublin Jerome. Reaching the state final is a major accomplishment for the program, which has won 8 state titles previously.

The details

After falling behind 1-0 in the third period, the Wildcats tied the game 63 seconds into the frame when sophomore Levi Gallucci scored on a rebound slap shot from the slot. The game then went to sudden-death overtime, where junior Kyle Rucinski scored the game-winner by tracking down a loose puck behind the net and tucking it past the goalie. St. Ignatius had trailed in 21 of its 30 games this season, but the team's experience in close games gave them the confidence to rally and secure the victory.

  • The game-winning goal was scored in the third period of sudden-death overtime.
  • Levi Gallucci's game-tying goal came just 63 seconds into the third period.

The players

Kyle Rucinski

A junior forward for the St. Ignatius Wildcats who scored the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime to send his team to the state championship game.

Levi Gallucci

A sophomore forward for the St. Ignatius Wildcats who scored the game-tying goal in the third period to help his team rally and eventually win in overtime.

Pat O'Rourke

The head coach of the St. Ignatius Wildcats, who has guided the team to 8 previous state titles and now has them in position to win another championship.

Dublin Jerome

The opposing team, Dublin Jerome, which put up a tough fight against the Wildcats before ultimately falling in sudden-death overtime.

Gilmour Academy

The Wildcats' opponent in the state championship game, Gilmour Academy, which defeated Northview 4-0 in the other semifinal matchup.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was behind the net looking for a play and I thought if I could get the goalie looking the other way, I could tuck around the other side, then it should go in.”

— Kyle Rucinski, Junior forward (cleveland.com)

“I saw an open spot in the top right corner to put it home. Originally, I was staying back a little because my D man had the puck and I wanted to make sure I was back for him. Then I saw the puck coming out in the slot and I was right there.”

— Levi Gallucci, Sophomore forward (cleveland.com)

“We actually did a study on this and found out that we've been trailing 21 games out of the 30, so we have to fix that tomorrow. They've been through it so many times that now they have confidence. I've called them the Comeback Cats or the Cardiac Cats because they don't panic and have a strong belief in themselves that they will win.”

— Pat O'Rourke, Head coach (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Wildcats will face off against Gilmour Academy in the OHSAA ice hockey state championship game on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Nationwide Arena.

The takeaway

The St. Ignatius Wildcats have proven their resilience and ability to win close, high-pressure games throughout the season. Their comeback victory over Dublin Jerome to reach the state final showcases the team's confidence and determination, as they continue their quest for another state championship title.