CBC senior Matthew Jost is proof that not all goals are considered equal.
Jost has 16 goals and 10 assists in 17 games. The 6-foot-1 forward is the top goal scorer for the Cadets, who at 14-1-3 are battling for the lead in the hyper-competitive Municipal Division of the Mid States Club Hockey Association.
And while some scorers pad their stat sheet with tack-on goals in blowouts or empty-netters, Jost has a knack for making his count directly towards CBC’s win-loss record. His seven game-winning goals leads all of Mid States.
“Obviously, it's not really something I'm trying to do,” Jost said. “I'm trying to like have an effect in every game I play, but it's just the way things are going this season. Find the puck at the right times and put it in the back of the net.”
Jost’s game-winners have accounted for half of CBC’s wins.
CBC coach John Jost, Matthew’s uncle, said his senior leadership is showing up in the clutch.
“He understands every game is critical and he understands every shift is critical,” John Jost said. “So, with that being said, he has gotten some big goals for us. Late in the games, gives us the lead, you know, early in the game to get us going. He comes out, gives a hit and scores a goal. Those are critical things for a high school team.”
Jost has more than doubled his scoring from his junior year, when he finished with six goals and nine assists.
John Jost said injuries hampered Matthew down the stretch last year, but a big part to his offensive spike is due to an increase in his skating speed. Matthew said he focused on getting faster with specific workouts and drills this offseason.
“I still think I have a way to go with my skating,” Matthew said. “But even since my freshman year, every summer I'm working on my skating, working on my stride, just be able to get a little bit faster so I can get that loose puck in the corner and I can win those races in our games.”
John Jost said Matthew is more than just a goal scorer.
“He's really took it upon himself to play a 200-foot game,” John Jost said. “We're using him in every situation, whether it's obviously the power play, a lot of five-on-five time of course, and he’s killing a lot of penalties for us this year. He really is truly a team guy. He’s an assistant captain this year and he's exceeded our expectations.”
John Jost said Matthew is also willing to sacrifice his body to block a shot.
“All our captains have been that way this year, but Matt is really taking that role to the next level,” John Jost said. “He's very physical. He doesn't shy away from a hit.”
Matthew Jost has been involved in several line combinations involving Carter Clemons, William Casseau, Samuel Carosello and Cameron Wilson.
All of those guys are at least a point a game playmakers and are always dangerous with the puck.
“If I don't have my ‘A’ game on a certain night, I know that if I can find my ‘B’ game somewhere, I know one of those guys will step up,” Matthew Jost said. “We even have a lot of sophomore and freshman guys on our team that can really step up in those chances to put the puck in the net.”
CBC hockey is a Jost family passion.
Matthew is the seventh nephew coached by John Jost, who also coached his son John Jr. in 2009. The veteran coach has gotten used to the balance between family and hockey.
“It's not that tough because they understand,” John Jost said. “They want to win and they understand the pride, what’s put into the program. It's an automatic buy-in.”
Matthew Jost said carrying on the family tradition is special.
“I was what they called a rink rat,” Matthew said. “Growing up, I'm at Affton every Friday, Saturday night watching CBC, watching the Junior Blues play and watching my cousins and even some of my older uncles play when I was growing up, and it was really special. I looked forward to these years playing for CBC my entire life. It's been great so far. It's everything to be able to wear the sweater.”
And Matthew Jost would like to continue another family tradition — winning the Challenge Cup championship. CBC has won a Mid States-best 17 Challenge Cups, with the last one in 2021 when these seniors were freshmen.
The Cadets have plenty of motivation after being ousted from the playoffs last year by Chaminade.
“It was heartbreaking,” Matthew Jost said. “I can't describe it. It hurt. It really felt like a failure that we didn't get to the semifinals. But I think we learned to use it as learning experience and that we don't want to be the seniors in the locker room crying this year. We don't want to feel that way.”
John Jost said the road to a title won’t be easy. He said the Challenge Cup is as wide open as he can remember with more than a half a dozen teams having a realistic chance at making a run.
“We’ve got great chemistry, you know, because throughout the year with this 30-man roster everyone's going to get called upon in a critical moment,” John Jost said. “That's just the way the game is now in high school hockey.”
Only one of CBC’s 13 seniors, Carosello, saw the ice in that 2021 championship game. The rest want to put their stamp on the Cadets’ winning tradition.
“There's no off nights,” Matthew Jost said. “I think we learned that last year in the playoffs. We take every game very seriously and every game like we're playing a SLUH or De Smet on a Friday night, even if it's a Monday at Maryville. So, I think if we just play CBC hockey and not change the way we're playing based on who we’re playing, I think we'll be OK.”