Hockey: Beuselinck’s shutout sends Dublin Jerome to state for first time since 2019
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Dublin Jerome goalie John Michael Beuselinck knocks another shot aside during his shutout performance against St. Charles Sunday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. Photo: Kevin Rouch
On paper, the Dublin Jerome hockey team appeared to be heavy underdogs heading into its regional final matchup against top-seeded St. Charles in front of a packed crowd at the OhioHealth Ice Haus on March 8.
The Celtics had lost to the Cardinals three times on the ice and another by forfeit at the beginning of the season. But games are played on the ice and not on paper.
Thanks to goals by Luke Myers and Nick Myers, 18 saves by goaltender John Michael Beuselinck, and a well-rounded effort, second-seeded Jerome knocked off St. Charles 2-0 to capture its fourth regional championship.
The Celtics (25-10-2-1) advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2019 where they were the first from central Ohio to reach the state final since the OHSAA began sponsoring the tournament in 1978. Since then, programs from the area – Olentangy Liberty (2023) and Upper Arlington (2025) – have won state titles.
“I think we’ve gotten progressively better as the weeks have gone by,” Jerome coach Pat Murphy said. “We tell our players that we have to be committed to playing defense. That doesn’t mean just the guys who skate backwards. Everybody has to play defense when you don’t have the puck.
“We’ve got terrific goaltending, our defensemen were fantastic and our forwards do just as good a job on defense as they do on offense. That’s a complete game that we play … especially when we play it like (we did today).”
Dublin Jerome’s Luke Myers (9) faces off with St. Charles’ William Howard during the Celts’ 2-0 regional final win at the OhioHealth Ice Haus Sunday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Jerome faces Cleveland St. Ignatius in a state semifinal on March 14 at Nationwide Arena. The winner faces the winner of Sylvania Northview and Gates Mills Gilmour Academy on March 15, also at Nationwide Arena.
St. Charles (29-6-1) had the Capital Hockey Conference’s Red Division regular season wrapped up in early January and won the Columbus Blue Jackets Cup last month, defeating the Celtics 1-0 in the final seconds of a semifinal matchup.
The Cardinals also won 3-1 on Jan. 2, 3-2 on Nov. 21, and by forfeit on Nov. 15.
“Mentally, as a team, we knew we were the better team,” Beuselinck said. “We lost 1-0 with 23 seconds left in the CBJ Cup. We knew right in that locker that we weren’t done yet. We knew this game was going to happen and we were going to win right here. We were fired up.”
Luke Myers gave the Celtics a 1-0 lead with 1:12 remaining in the opening period on a power play goal off Mikey Pagnotto tripping penalty. Mason Shea and Nick Myers assisted.
But the turning point came earlier in the period with a heavy check by Jerome defenseman Trevor Randles. The Celtics were the aggressors from that point forward.
Dublin Jerome’s Nick Myers skates up the board during the Celts’ regional final game with St. Charles Sunday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“I think it kind of turned the tide,” St. Charles coach Danny Greiner said. “I think we looked good at the start and then after that (hit), momentum kind of swung their way. Their physicality was a big positive for them. They came out ready to grind it out and that’s what they did.”
Tripping penalties by Jerome’s Nick Myers and Carson Delmore within a three-and-a-half-minute stretch of the second period gave the Cardinals a power play advantage. But Beuselinck and the Celtic defense were able to thwart both opportunities.
“You start to get tired,” Beuselinck said. “So, that’s where mental composure and mental strength comes in … and a bunch of blocked shots from the defense and a lot of clears during those penalty kills. So, that helps a lot.”
The lead held until Nick Myers corralled a Dylan Forney bouncing puck on the left side and scored to give Jerome an insurance goal, accounting for the final margin.
Dylan Bell stopped six shots in goal for the Cardinals.
“I think (our defense) does a great job of letting (Beuselinck) see the puck and letting him see the shot,” Murphy said. “Like their goaltender – in most cases, if he sees, he’s going to stop it. We scored a couple of good goals today and (played) great team defense and we’re looking forward to next weekend.”
The Dublin Jerome Celts and their student section celebrate the first of their two goals during their regional final win over St. Charles Sunday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. Photo: Kevin Rouch