by The 3rd seeded Solon Comets met the 6th seeded Aurora Greenmen in the first round of the 2026 Baron Cup Blue Division. Solon was on attack for most of the game but it was the Aurora defense that would prove superior in this one. Auroras senior goaltender Max Stefano was absolutely electric down the stretch and had some amazing game saving saves in the 3rd period and in overtime. His elite goalkeeping kept them in it for the entirety of the game, and the offense made the absolute most of their scoring opportunities, which were hard to come by. In the end Stefano couldn’t be beat late, and an goal off a turnover sealed the game 4-3 in overtime for the Greenmen.
Solon came out the gate hot after winning the opening faceoff. They wasted no time getting into the offensive zone and throwing pucks at the net. Just 50 seconds into the game Comet junior defensemen Jack Cruickshank fired the puck at the net and it popped loose on the rebound. Junior forward Nate Kehrier scooped up the rebound and put it between the open pipes to put the Comets up 1-0 early.
Aurora bounced back in the period however. They settled into the game and ended up getting a lot of good looks at the net. Unfortunately for them, Solons freshman goaltender Carpenter was looking sharp. He made save after save and kept his squad in the lead the whole period. His counterpart, Aurora goalie Max Stefano, also looked super sharp after giving up the early score. Both guys kept their squad in the game and the first period ended with a 1-0 lead for the Comets.
The Greenmen came out in the second period playing much faster and looking a lot more comfortable. They controlled the puck early and gave themselves multiple scoring chances. 3 minutes into the period was when they finally broke through. Junior Max Schechterman slapped a shot from the right side and it banged off the left post right into the middle of the ice. Sophomore Jared Janzig dashed to the puck from the right side and found the back of the net with a sliding shot to tie it up at 1.
Solon got their chance to get the goal back not too long later, after a Greenmen trip. They struggled on the power player however, only getting 2 shots on goal, thanks to strong defense from Aurora. The Comets stuck with it though and got a nice chance when it was back to 5 on 5. Nate Kehrier shot the puck from the top of the zone and it rebounded right into his teammates stick. Senior Brady Dean fired it right back off the rebound and put the Comets back up 2-1.
Right after the goal Solon was called for roughing and it put the Greenman in a prime chance to tie it back up. They did exactly that. Sophomore Kale Hajek flew past the blue line and past a defender. He then put a perfect pass right on to the stick of his teammate Johnathan Janzig. Janzig slapped it bottom glove sided and tied the game back up at 2, which is where it would stay heading into the final period.
Solon came out in the 3rd much like they did in the 1st, fast and aggressive. They had shot after shot in the first half of the period, but they couldn’t be Stefano, who was looking lights out. Other than Stefano, the Greenmen looked like they were playing on the back of their heels. But they stuck with it and kept skating. And in hockey, great defense always leads to great offense.
With around 5 minutes left in regulation Solon went for a change. The Greenmen got aggressive on the forecheck and forced a turnover in their offensive zone. Jared Janzig got the puck after the steal and fired and absolutely perfect shot into the top right corner of the net. It was the Greenmen’s first shot of the period and it did not disappoint, putting them up 3-2 with 5 minutes left.
Solon was now desperate for a goal and they found themselves with an offensive faceoff with the goalie pulled and just a minute left on the clock. They battled and battled until with just 18 seconds left the puck slid loose right in front of the crease. Bodies started flying and it was Comets Jack Cruickshank who got a stick on it. He found the back of the net to send what was already a thriller, into OT.
Overtime carried the trend of the rest of the game. Solon are the aggressors while the Greenmen rely on Stefano looking for a chance. Stefano was nothing but phenomenal in the extra period. He made game saving save after game saving save. He was a brick wall in net that the Comets just could not break through.
It looked like it was gonna be heading into another overtime but a costly turnover was what ultimately sealed it. The Comets were getting set up in their offense when an errored pass hit the stick of Aurora’s Kale Hajek right at the blue line. He fired the shot from deep and it slid right through the goalies legs and into the back of the net to seal the win for the Greenmen.
Aurora moves on after this absolute thriller and will take on Chagrin Falls, who had an upset of their own against Mayfield, on Wednesday.
