Catholic Central scored three goals in two minutes and 19 seconds, and that was the difference in the Shamrocks’ 4-1 win over Wyandotte Roosevelt on Wednesday night at Yack Arena.

With the game tied at 1-1 after the first period, CC’s Lucas Linville beat Roosevelt goalie Dalan Bulchak 6:46 into the second period. Twenty-six seconds later, Tyler VanAcker made it 3-1. And 1:53 after that, Tyler VanNorman gave the Shamrocks a three-goal lead.

Roosevelt Coach Mike Quint then put Justin Green in net, and he shut out CC the rest of the way. Over the three periods, the Shamrocks outshot the Bears, 34-14.

Catholic Central’s Pete Halash scored the first goal of the game just 4:37 into the first period. Roosevelt’s Kyle King tied the game on a power-play goal with Joshua Hinderliter and John Calhoun assisting.

CC – the No. 1-ranked team in the state – improved to 6-0.

Wednesday night’s game was the first between the two schools in the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League. Roosevelt left the Michigan Metro Hockey League at the end of last season and joined the MIHL, which is considered the toughest high school hockey conference in the state.

Catholic Central Coach Todd Johnson, who remembers games between his Shamrocks and the Bears when both teams played in the Michigan Metro in the 1990s, said Roosevelt is a strong addition to an already competitive league. He said other than the CC burst in the second period, it was a very even game.

“I think they’re good,” Johnson said. “They’re really well coached. I think Tyler Groat might be one of the top three most explosive forwards in the state. I thought he was unbelievable in the first period. We were fortunate to be 1-1. (Jacob) Carlisle’s a great player. King is a great player. They’re going to win a lot of games this year.”

Halash, a senior forward, said the Shamrocks know all about the Bears’ state championship, called Roosevelt a “great addition to the league” and said he looks forward to a rematch between the teams on Feb. 4 on CC’s home ice at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.

Halash said the Shamrocks started slow vs. the Bears, but benefited from four solid forward lines as the game went on.

“We have the ability to wear teams down with our forward lines, for sure,” Halash said.

Roosevelt Coach Mike Quint said Catholic Central has had a strong second period in every game.

“We knew it,” he said. “We warned the kids. We just couldn’t adjust quickly enough. They got those two goals we probably should not have allowed.”

Roosevelt senior defenseman Lynch admitted the Shamrocks wore down the Bears in the third period. He said the game would serve as a “wakeup call” for his team.

“They’re a very good team,” Lynch said. “”They’re very fast. They move the puck well. They’re an all-around solid team.”

Quint said Roosevelt hockey expected plenty of competition in the MIHL, calling Catholic Central “the best of the best.”

Catholic Central hosts Grosse Pointe North at 7 p.m. Saturday.