The Flyers had their work cut out for them, squaring off against five top-quality opponents over the last several weeks. Chaminade held strong, however, posting a 4-1 record over that span to improve its record to 7-2-1 overall (4-1-1 in conference play). The Flyers currently occupy the second-place position in CHSHL. 

Chaminade's first game in the five-game stretch was at home against league opponent Stepinac. The Flyers had a bit of trouble against the Crusaders earlier in the season, clawing their way to a 1-0 road victory back on on December 3. 

However, that would not be the story on December 20, as a well-rested Chaminade team dismantled the Crusaders, 8-0.

"Very happy with the performance from the boys,"  stated head coach Keith Macias '98. "We got a second crack at [Stepinac], and we shut them out."

The goal parade got started with a well-worked tally by senior Brody Murray. Then, a few minutes later, junior Michael Johnson scored his first of three goals. Chaminade headed into intermission up 2-0, outshooting Stepinac 15-2 in the process.

The Flyers' domination continued in the second period, as a goal from junior Richard L'Esperance and a short-handed tally from senior captain Jack Coletti gave Chaminade a 4-0 advantage. 

The Flyers kept piling on the goals in the third, showing off their offensive firepower. Junior Donovan Butler netted the Flyers' first power-play goal early in the period, followed by back-to-back goals from Johnson to complete his hat trick. Another power play goal from junior Jack Petrone finished off the emphatic 8-0 statement win for Chaminade.

Junior netminder Chase Martone was a brick wall, stopping all 12 shots he faced to earn the shutout.

After Christmas, Chaminade took a road trip up to the Ice Hutch in Mt. Vernon for the Mid-Hudson Classic, where the Flyers were tested by two teams from Buffalo, Lancaster High School and St. Joseph Collegiate Institute. 

Chaminade faced off against Lancaster on December 27 and started the tournament hot, defeating the Legends 5-2 in a contest that was closer than the final score might indicate.

The Flyers continued their streak of fast starts, as junior Seamus O'Hara ripped one past the Lancaster netminder to give Chaminade an early 1-0 lead.

Not too far behind him in the goal scoring was senior Jeremy Zawitosky, who capped off an incredible solo effort by slotting one into the back of the net to put the Flyers up 2-0 heading into the first intermission.

Lancaster's Max Hochulski and Jack Sweich scored back-to-back goals in quick succession to even the score in the second period, with Hochulski's a power-play tally. 

Now tied at two, the Flyers needed a response as the game headed to the third period. Junior Timothy Barrins answered the call, scoring on a Chaminade power play just three minutes into the third to give his Flyers a 3-2 lead.

The defense stepped up from there, laying the body and blocking multiple shots in front. Senior netminder Nicolas Lamano stood his ground in net, and with just under 10 minutes to go, Johnson once again proved his eliteness by lasering one past the Legends' goalie to extend the Flyers lead by two.

An empty-net goal by senior Nicholas Juliano capped off an incredible team effort by Chaminade.

Two days later, the Flyers squared off against the team that defeated them four years ago in the state championship game - St. Joseph Collegiate Academy.

In a full team effort, the Flyers exorcised some of those demons, soundly defeating St. Joe's, 4-0.

"This was our best game overall, and I'm proud to see that performance from the boys," said Coach Macias.

With junior goalie Nathaniel Pitman in net, Chaminade needed another fast start to steal momentum from St. Joe's. Johnson helped with that task, scoring a power-play goal six minutes into the contest to give the Flyers an early 1-0 lead.

Junior Maximus Wood kept the hot Flyers rolling, sneaking one past the St. Joe's netminder late in the period to make it 2-0 heading into intermission. The defense once again showed its physical presence on the ice, only allowing four shots in the first. 

Although the goals did not come early on in the second, Chaminade kept chipping away, creating great chances and limiting high-danger opportunities in the defensive zone.

Their hard work would pay off late in the period, as a costly penalty by St. Joe's would lead to another Flyers power play goal, this time scored by Juliano, to put Chaminade up 3-0 heading into the final period of play.

In the third, the Flyers frustrated St. Joe's with their blazing speed and no-nonsense checking. Midway through the period, Juliano reaped the benefits of the Flyers' consistent puck control and tallied his second of the game to make it 4-0.

From there, Chaminade went into lockdown, stifling the St. Joe's offense and helping Pitman earn the shutout he deserved.

The Flyers' 5-2 and 4-0 wins marked an impressive milestone for this team, and Coach Macias was a joyful man heading into the New Year:

"Nice to let the teams from upstate know we can beat them," he boasted.

As 2024 turned to 2025, Chaminade headed back home to Cantiague Park to take on Fordham Prep on January 3, and the Flyers dispatched the Rams in a blowout, 9-1.

The first period did not foreshadow what was to come. Though Murray once again gave Chaminade an early lead, the Rams fired back late in the period, and the game reached its first intermission tied 1-1. 

However, this was a short-lived stalemate, as Chaminade went into the second period full throttle. Five goals were scored by the Flyers, four of which came inside a minute and a half. 

Johnson, Katagas, Butler, and Dobkowski put this game out of reach with their flurry of goals, with Johnson adding a second tally another later in the period to give Chaminade a 6-1 lead at the break.

The onslaught continued in the third, with Petrone capitalizing on the power play six minutes into the period to make the score 7-1. Captain Coletti scored three minutes later off a great feed from Murray, and Steven Katagas netted his second goal of the contest with under two minutes to play to put the cherry on top of a sweet Chaminade performance.

Between the pipes, the Flyers' Lamano stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced.

The Flyers looked to continue their winning streak two days later, when they traveled to New Rochelle to meet the Gaels of Iona Prep.

Chaminade came into this matchup undermanned, with both Murray and Coletti out, as well as key defenseman Thomas Cuddeback. 

Iona Prep took advantage of this undermanned Flyers squad to give Chaminade a taste of their own medicine, soundly defeating them, 9-1.

The Gaels skated circles around the Flyers; whatever Chaminade tried to do did not work, and the team saw themselves in a 4-0 hole at the end of the first period. 

Things would not be much different for the Flyers in the second, as the Gaels continued to show no remorse, scoring another four goals in the second stanza. 

Down 8-0 after two periods, Chaminade was now playing for pride, and Juliano helped Chaminade restore some early in the third with a great goal. 

Though the Gaels would score later in the period to cap off their 9-1 performance, Coach Macias saw this as a learning experience for his team.

"No excuses," he said. "It was disappointing, but we will get more chances at them, and I know the boys will be hungry for revenge."

Chaminade's next two games will be against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season, the Xavier Knights. Both games will be at World Ice Arena in Queens, with the first being a make-up on January 15th at 7 p.m., and the second scheduled for Monday, January 20 - also at 7 p.m.