Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin’s portion of the banner wall at Mentor Civic Arena is probably a bit more barren than anyone with a vested interest would prefer. Baron Cup III championships that this current edition of the Lions would be unable to recall firsthand since they were more than a decade ago . A Blue Northeast title with which their parents may not have instant recall, either, more than 20 years removed now. So it was Jan. 17, as NDCL welcomed North Olmsted for the game to all but decide the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League’s Blue South crown, that a night like this could feel like a long time coming. Plenty of nights in recent years have felt long. Nights like these, for as much work as they’ve put into getting back to such a juncture, the Lions wish wouldn’t end. Senior captain Colin Krajnak lit the lamp twice, including a key second-period power-play tally as NDCL toppled North Olmsted, 3-1. NDCL senior forward and captain Colin Krajnak discusses a 3-1 win over North Olmsted that, essentially, wraps up the Blue South for the LionsNo secret the program has had some lean years recently, so league success is a nice step forward pic.twitter.com/fMQG2agJYT — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2026 The Lions (10-3-1) are 9-0 in the Blue South with three league games remaining, with the Eagles (11-2-1, 8-2-1) and Nordonia (5-2-1 Blue South) each two back in the loss column. NDCL has swept the season series in league play with both. So for all intents and purposes, things are looking promising as far as adding to that wall again. “We’re undefeated in the conference, and in my four years here, this is the best season we’ve had,” Lions coach Keith Abood said. “I think leadership (has led to a turnaround). Colin has just been an incredible leader, and Klara Stergar, who is in her third year with us. Nic Davis, a sophomore. They’re just showing incredible leadership. The kids listen. They respond. They’re leading by example.” NDCL took a 1-0 lead into the second period. Josh Gucciardo threw a wrister on net at the 4-minute, 36-second mark of the first. Krajnak was stationed in front of the crease for a tip. Gucciardo was announced as the goal scorer, but Krajnak confirmed postgame that he got a tip on the initial shot. Update: Confirmed with Colin Krajnak postgame that he got a tip on thisCould've sworn that was the case but wanted to make sureHere it was, now that that's been clarified pic.twitter.com/ed0wsFnurM — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2026 In the second, the Lions killed off 30 seconds of a 5-on-3, followed by the second penalty. At 10:09, a North Olmsted player was assessed a five-minute major, providing NDCL a window to break open a tight game on a lengthy power play. The Lions were glad to oblige and made it the pivotal point in the encounter. Krajnak delivered a goal at 10:15, and freshman Wyatt Clemens Basham pounced on a look from the right side of the crease at 12:49 to make it a 3-0 game. To complement that, Lions junior goaltender Nate McClellan had a timely six-save period. That was highlighted by solid turnaways on A.J. Ferretti at 2:51, Sidney Perry on a slapper at 3:43 and Tanner Perry at 9:52. “He is obviously the most improved on our team,” Abood said. “He just started playing goalie a year ago. It’s his second season. He had never really played sports before. And he saw that the team needed a goalie, or else it wasn’t going to be a good year. And he decided to step up. He’s in his second year. He’s exceeded my expectations.” Such is life as a Blue South program, but an injury and a suspension pushed the Lions’ skater numbers into single digits trying to see this out. Conditioning amid those circumstances is vital, and especially so here. “We stress high-intensity scrimmages and practices, small-group scrimmages, which completely adapt and change over into the game conditions,” Abood said. “So I’m not a guy who’s going to go blue line, red line. We don’t do it that way. And I’ve gone to enough seminars and spoken with enough pros that I know how to train kids with a small team.” Tanner Perry got North Olmsted on the board at 12:49 of the third, assisted by Sidney Perry. NDCL had to spend much of the third in custodial mode in the defensive zone, but did enough to see it through. Now, the Lions are ever so close to making that banner wall a little less barren. “This is a big benchmark, I can’t even stress,” Abood said. “If I thought it was going to happen this year — I thought maybe next year. But it’s a year early. So Christmas came early.” THE SCORE NDCL 3, North Olmsted 1 ...read more read less