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MANCHESTER • Adam Trunko would love to have celebrated on Monday after his Chaminade hockey team tied powerhouse CBC 3-3 in a Mid-States Club Hockey Association battle at Queeny Recreational Complex.

But the senior sniper simply could not.

Trunko, like many of teammates, felt the Red Devils should have beaten the four-time defending MSCHA champs.

"This is nice, a great effort," Trunko said. "But we could have won this. We should have won this."

Chaminade certainly showed it belongs among the league's elite - at least for one night.

The Red Devils (4-2-3) jumped to a 2-0 lead and controlled play at times, especially during a scoreless third period when they hit the goal post twice.

"It's a statement," Trunko said. "The past couple of years, we haven't been that strong as a team. But tonight, we proved we can not only play with teams, but that we can be a powerhouse too."

Trunko would get no argument from the Cadets, who have lost just nine times in 135 games during their current four-year title run.

"To be honest with you, we're probably fortunate to get out of here with a point," CBC veteran coach John Jost said. "They were that good."

Alexander Stewart, Vincent Servizzi and Trunko scored for the Red Devils. Sophomore goaltender Nicholas Jacoby, after a slow start, turned into a brick wall down the stretch with a trio of game-saving stops.

"I was seeing the puck pretty well in traffic," Jacoby said. "And when I needed to step up, I felt like I did."

Chaminade bolted out of the gate with some early jump that led to goals by Trunko and Stewart in the first 9:44. Brown then scored twice in the first four minutes of the second period to put the Cadets in front for the first time.

CBC appeared set to take control, but Jacoby made a couple saves to thwart a power play. Servizzi then shook loose and converted on a clear-cut breakaway to knot the score 3-3.

"Obviously, this is something we can build on," Hill said. "They're a good team and right now we're just trying to learn our way through the regular season."

CBC (6-0-2) still remains the team to beat, although Jost says there is plenty of room for improvement. The Cadets lost several key cogs, especially on offense, from last year's 23-5 title team.

"We have the ability to be a really good team," Jost said. "We're just not there yet. It's a process. Some days, it's very encouraging and some days, like today, it's not."