Sirimaturos brothers help Francis Howell climb the Municipal Division standings

By Joe Harris | Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

CHESTERFIELD — Francis Howell senior Wyatt Sirimaturos wasn’t going to let his younger brother have all the fun.

After William Sirimaturos, a junior, scored his first varsity goal against Marquette in a Mid-States Club Hockey Association game Monday night at Maryville University Ice Center, Wyatt added two more goals in a 4-1 Vikings win.

“Obviously, he raised the competition,” Wyatt Sirimaturos said. “I had to put one in the back of the net, too. I didn’t want him to steal the show.”

It was the first time the Sirimaturos brothers, known throughout Mid-States as two of the league’s best defensemen, scored in the same game.

The younger Sirimaturos gave Francis Howell the lead five minutes into the game on a slap shot from just inside the blue line that found its way into the net through traffic and off the Marquette goalie’s stick.

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For a couple of periods, William had bragging rights over Wyatt.

“I felt like I was better than him … at that moment,” William said.

Nobody was happier for William than his older brother.

“I was really excited when he scored,” Wyatt said. “A lot of us got really excited, especially me, it was good to finally get to see him get a goal.”

Wyatt Sirimaturos added a pair of insurance goals in the third after an Alex DeGroat goal snapped a 1-all tie.

“A couple of weak goals,” William quipped.

All joking aside, Francis Howell is off to a 13-1-1 start. It is a far cry from last season in which the Vikings won just seven regular season games while adjusting to the ultra-competitive Municipal Division after dominating in the St. Charles Division for years.

“This group just wants to succeed and play for each other and it’s really paying off in this division this year,” Francis Howell coach Larry Bumb said. “This is where we want to be. This is absolutely where we want to be.”

Powering the turnaround is a stingy defense that entered Monday’s game allowing just 1.38 goals a game. The Sirimaturos brothers have led the unit.

“They’re really solid and the other part of it is they’re not the leaders by talking, they’re the leaders by going out and playing hard and giving it everything they got,” Bumb said. “When they’re out there I always know I’m going to get their best effort. They’re just really, really good people and they’re just really good defensemen.”

The other part of the defensive equation is goalie Joe Christophel, who entered the Marquette game with a .935 save percentage.

True to form, Christophel made several tough saves during a Marquette power play early in the third period while the game was still tied at 1-all right before DeGroat scored what turned into the game-winner.

“Just kind of save what I can and be there for my team,” Christophel said. “I can’t win the game for my team, but I can make a difference.”

Christophel and the Sirimaturos brothers are quick to give each other credit for the lack of goals allowed by the Vikings this season.

“They’re always solid,” Christophel said of the blue-liner brothers. “I can always count on them when they’re on the ice and they make my job easier.”

Wyatt said the team’s success starts with Christophel: “He’s been a rock.” 

Bumb said the humility shown between the goalie and defenders permeates throughout the entire team, creating a winning culture in the locker room.

“I see it all the time, they play for each other,” Bumb said. “They’re here as a team and it’s a true team. When we win, when we lose, it’s all about togetherness and they play for each other.”

Hockey has been a bonding agent for the Sirimaturos brothers, who also play high-level club.

“We talk hockey,” William said. “We talk plays that we’re going to do and he (Wyatt) helps me a lot.”

Bumb said the Sirimaturoses bring the same intensity to practice that they do to the games.

“It’s great example to give to the underclassmen that they literally come to practices just like it’s a game and that’s why they have the success that they get,” Bumb said.

The Sirimaturoses, like the rest of their teammates, endured the growing pains last season in moving to the Municipal division.

“It’s a lot different playing teams in the Municipal Division,” Wyatt said. “It’s a completely different pace of game.”

But, he added, he likes the switch.

And the Vikings are making a statement that they can compete with the best Mid-States has to offer.

“I love playing those better teams,” Wyatt said. “It just makes the game a lot more fun. We definitely belong in this division. We’re a good team.”

Francis Howell 4, Marquette 1

Francis Howell Vikings Corey Fernandez (50) takes a shot past the attempted block of Marquette Mustangs Joshua Li (32) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Drew Cloninger (29) skates the puck into the offensive zone during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Thomas Vodnansky (8) clears the puck out from behind his own goal during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell Vikings Wyatt Sirimaturos (8) knocks the puck away from the attacking Marquette Mustangs Andrew Vendt (55) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell Vikings William Sirimaturos (2) celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Bradley Odman (77) works to try and clear Francis Howell Vikings Erik Anderson (57) out from in front of his goalie during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Brock Wrisberg (38) celebrates as his team scores during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Trent Lewis (16) takes Francis Howell Vikings Zachary Harristhal (91) out of the play freeing up the puck during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Thomas Saunders (2) cuts of the shot attempt of Francis Howell Vikings Ethan DeGroat (74) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Bradley Odman (77) clears the puck off the boards past the attacking Francis Howell Vikings Corey Fernandez (50) and out of his zone during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell Vikings Samuel Huelsing (25) fires a shot towards Marquette Mustangs Dominic Klein (30) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Marquette Mustangs Bradley Odman (77) knocks Francis Howell Vikings Alex DeGroat (20) off the puck during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell Vikings Joe Christophel (30) stops the rebound shot of Marquette Mustangs Thomas Vodnansky (8) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell Vikings Wyatt Sirimaturos (8) puts a big hit along the boards on Marquette Mustangs Chase Nolan (72) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell players come together to celebrate the goal by Francis Howell Vikings Wyatt Sirimaturos (8) during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

Francis Howell Vikings Joe Christophel (30) makes a blocker save during the Mid States Club Hockey game played on Monday January 02, 2023 at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield MO, Mo. Rick Ulreich, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Rick Ulreich

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