OHIO CITY, OH - After a tremendous two years on the ice for the Wildcats, Zack Bleick has been signed to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) by the Flint Firebirds in Flint, Michigan. The Wildcat defenseman joins the highest level of Junior ice hockey in Canada as a member of the Firebirds.
"Playing high school hockey at Saint Ignatius has been an incredible experience. To my teammates, thank you for being more than just teammates. You were brothers, role models, and lifelong friends," says Bleick. "From the grind of practice to the thrill of game day, we built something bigger than ourselves. Winning a State Title was incredible, but the bond we formed is what I'll remember most."
Since stepping on campus at Saint Ignatius, Bleick has been a towering defenseman for Head Hockey Coach Pat O'Rourke '90. Standing at 6'5" 190-pounds, Bleick was a two-year varsity member for the Wildcats and a member of the 2023-24 State Championship squad as a freshman.
"While we will obviously miss him in the halls of Saint Ignatius and on the ice, we are absolutely elated for Zack and so proud of him - he's worked very hard, and he deserves this," says O'Rourke. "Zack and his family have been wonderful throughout this process, and we are happy to have played a small part in his journey. We will be watching Zack's progress over the next few years and cheering him on - here's hoping he makes it far in the world of hockey."
In his first year at Saint Ignatius, Bleick scored eight goals and had nine assists, playing an integral part in the Wildcats' State Title season. In his sophomore year, Bleick scored 15 goals and had 12 assists, including a goal in the State Semifinal game (an overtime win against Toledo St. Francis).
"We are incredibly grateful to Saint Ignatius for making the past two years so special. To the teachers, counselors, staff, and especially the coaches, thank you for the countless hours you've poured into Zack's development, both in the classroom and on the ice," says the Bleick family. "Your dedication, discipline, and belief in him have helped shape the player and the person he is today."
On June 13, Bleick signed a free-agent deal with the Flint Firebirds to continue his hockey journey in the prestigious OHL - a league that placed 188 alums onto NHL rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season. The Firebirds themselves have seen multiple former players move on to the NHL, including Tyler Tucker (St. Louis Blues), Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers), and Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida Panthers).
Saint Ignatius student AJ Spellacy chose a similar path a few years ago. After his sophomore year, he was signed by the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Later, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted Spellacy in the 2024 NHL Draft. Bleick could be drafted into the NHL when he becomes eligible in 2026.
While AJ did not play for the Saint Ignatius hockey program, his cousin Aidan Spellacy '16 did - and he reached incredible heights throughout his career. After playing his final three years of high school hockey at his Alma Mater, including leading Saint Ignatius to State Championships in 2014 and 2016, Aidan played two years with the Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), followed by five years of NCAA Division I hockey.
In the 2022-23 campaign, his final one with St. Cloud State - which rose as high as number one in the country in January of that season - Aidan was named a captain of the team. He led the Huskies to an NCHC tournament championship and a win in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling in the Regional Finals, just one game short of the Frozen Four.
"We want the Saint Ignatius hockey program to be a place where Cleveland kids can get a world-class education and achieve their wildest hockey dreams," notes O'Rourke. "Zack's signing is just the start of us taking this program to even bigger heights. By fielding a talented roster and playing a demanding schedule - including annual games against nationally-known teams such as Detroit Catholic Central (MI) and Shady Side Academy (PA) - we have shown that we can get our players in front of scouts and that's exactly how Zack got signed. He rose to the occasion this year against DCC and played a whale of a game. An OHL scout was in attendance that night and liked what he saw - and the rest is history."
O'Rourke also notes that the Wildcats have had multiple players advance in the Mid-Am development program in recent years, including a few of their younger players from the 15U team. Not to mention that this upcoming weekend, four returning Saint Ignatius Prep players (Aiden White '27, Patrick Rose '27, Cade Bradley '27, and Levi Gallucci '28) will be skating at the Youngstown Phantoms' main camp. The Phantoms play in the United States Hockey League (USHL), which rivals the OHL as the junior leagues that place the most players in the NHL each season (there were 195 USHL alums on NHL rosters when this past season began in October).
"The fact that four of our players were invited to skate at a USHL main camp is unbelievable," O'Rourke continues. "But a lot of the kids in our program want to advance in the world of hockey - they're hungry, and they're putting the work in - and so as coaches, we're going to bust our tails to provide them with every look we can."
"Gone are the days when students will feel they must leave Saint Ignatius High School - and the wonderful Jesuit education that we offer - to go on wild goose chases across the country pursuing their dreams. Now, they can stay here, get the best of both worlds, and know that there will be eyes on them because of the teams we choose to play," says O'Rourke. "If they perform well when they get those opportunities and at some point, it makes more sense to leave Saint Ignatius than to stay, as it does now for Zack, then the students and their families can do so with a contented heart and no regrets."
Bleick adds, "Although I'm moving on, I'll always carry the pride of being a Wildcat. You'll still find me cheering from afar, grateful for everything this community has given me."
A two-year varsity letter winner for the Ice Cats, he will continue his Hockey career professionally in the Ontario Hockey League, the highest level of Junior Hockey in Canada.
