glhl opens third season with busy week great lakes hockey league

GREAT LAKES HOCKEY LEAGUE WEEKLY
www.greatlakeshockeyleagueohio.com
VOL. 3, NO. 1
Dec. 2, 2015
WED 12/2, 7:00 pm
Saint Ignatius @
Lake Catholic
FRI 12/4, 4:00 pm (Q)
Gilmour Academy @
Saint Ignatius
FRI 12/4, 5:50 pm
Walsh Jesuit @
St. Edward
FRI 12/4, 7:00 pm
Holy Name @
Padua Franciscan
FRI 12/4, 9:00 pm
Lake Catholic @
Shaker Heights
SAT 12/5, 3:50 pm
Saint Ignatius @
Walsh Jesuit
SAT 12/5, 4:00 pm
Holy Name @
Gilmour Academy
Q = @ Quicken Loans Arena
SUN 12/6, 2:30 pm
St. Edward @
Gilmour Academy
SUN 12/6, 4:00 pm
Rocky River @
Padua Franciscan
DEC 4-6 tournament
University School
@ Jamestown, NY
= league game
GLHL OPENS THIRD SEASON WITH BUSY WEEK
The Great Lakes Hockey League kicks off it’s third season this week and begins a 74-day campaign that will culminate
with the crowning of the Cleveland Cup champions on February 13.
Last March, the GLHL sent two representatives to the OHSAA Frozen Four in Columbus for the second year in a row. St.
Edward upset Saint Ignatius, 3-2 to win the Brooklyn District while University School defeated Lake Catholic in the Kent
Final, reversing the result from 2013.
All eight GLHL teams opened their regular season by participating in one of the many Thanksgiving Tournaments
around the region or out of state.
There are seven league games on the slate this week beginning with the two-time defending Cleveland Cup
champion Saint Ignatius Wildcats visiting the Lake Catholic Cougars at Mentor Civic Arena on Wednesday evening.
Saint Ignatius, favored to make it a Three-Peat in a preseason poll of GLHL head coaches, will dive right into
their league schedule with three games.
The Wildcats started out their season by sharing the title
of the Walsh Thanksgiving Tournament with the host
Warriors as both teams posted 3-1-0 marks.
Saint Ignatius won their second Cleveland Cup in 2015.
Seven of the eight teams in the GLHL play a league game this week with University School being the only exception.
The Preppers, who are at the prestigious National Invitational Scholastic Showcase in Jamestown, NY this weekend, will
open their league schedule on Saturday, December 12 when they host Lake Catholic at The Pond in a re-match of the last
two Kent District championship games.
FINAL 2014-15 GLHL STANDINGS
POS
1
2
3
5
7
8
Team (overall record)
W L OTL T PTS GF GA DIFF
Saint Ignatius (32-4-3)
10 0
0
0 20 57 7
50
University School (23-12-3)
7 3
0
0 14 38 24 14
St. Edward (26-9-5)
4 4
1
1 10 21 20
1
Lake Catholic (18-11-3)
4 4
1
1 10 23 29
-6
Holy Name (9-18-6)
3 5
0
2
8
25 34
-9
Padua Franciscan (12-15-5)
2 4
1
3
8
23 31
-8
Walsh Jesuit (10-17-4)
3 6
0
1
7
23 38 -15
Gilmour Academy (10-22-3)
2 6
0
2
6
9 36 -27
win = 2 pts, OT loss or tie = 1 pt
2015-16 COACHES POLL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Saint Ignatius Wildcats
St. Edward Eagles
University School Preppers
Lake Catholic Cougars
Holy Name Green Wave
Padua Franciscan Bruins
Walsh Jesuit Warriors
Gilmour Academy Lancers
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GREAT LAKES HOCKEY LEAGUE—TEAM NOTES
GILMOUR ACADEMY LANCERS
The Cold Turkey Tournament at the Tam O’Shanter was not kind to the Lancers from Gilmour Academy. GA was outscored 26-3 in four losses although they were right in their final game against Sylvania Northview on Sunday, narrowly
dropping a 2-1 decision. An opening 4-1 loss to St. Andrew’s College (ONT) was followed by an 11-0 defeat at the hands
of the defending state champions from Toledo St. Francis. The Lancers also lost to Blythe Academy (ONT), 9-1, on Saturday...Goal-scoring was identified as an area of concern going into the season by head coach John Malloy.
HOLY NAME GREEN WAVE
The Green Wave of Holy Name had a rough start to their season at the Walsh Thanksgiving Tournament, going 0-4-0
against four Pennsylvania teams. The Namers lost to Shaler (7-2), Seneca Valley (5-3), Upper St. Clair (6-5) and Bethel
Park (6-4). The 24 goals against has to be concerning for a team that projects to be stronger defensively and in goal than
up front but, at the same time, the 14 goals scored has to be encouraging for a team that did not return a lot of offensive
firepower from last year’s team...Holy Name’s senior goaltending tandem of G C. J. Balodis and G Ryan Madden makes
the Green Wave the only team to have the same two net-minders for all three years of the GLHL.
LAKE CATHOLIC COUGARS
The Lake Catholic Cougars had some trouble putting the puck in the net as they opened the season at the Midwest
Thanksgiving Classic in Dublin. The Cougars scored three goals in regulation in their opener against St. Xavier, then
claimed a 4-3 victory in a shootout. They were shut out in their next three games at the event, however, falling 5-0 to St.
Charles, 9-0 to Dublin Coffman and 6-0 to Springboro. Lake Catholic is under the direction of first-year head coach Justin
Vance, an assistant coach for the past four years who also played for the Cougars from 2001-2005.
PADUA FRANCISCAN BRUINS
The Padua Franciscan Bruins opened the season with a 0-3-1 showing at the Bowling Green Thanksgiving Tournament.
They opened with a 4-2 loss to tournament host Bowling Green and an 8-2 loss to Findlay. On Saturday night, they were
unable to convert on a late power play and ended up with a 1-1 tie with Olentangy Liberty. That set up a re-match with
the Patriots on Sunday, which the Bruins dropped, 4-1, to close out the tournament...The Bruins will face GCHSHL Red
Division power Rocky River in a key non-league game next Wednesday on Padua’s home ice at OBM Arena in Strongsville...Some of the top teams in the state will be on hand for the Padua Christmas Tournament December 18-20 at OBM.
U. S. ARMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK—DREW MUSGRAVE, WALSH JESUIT
Walsh Jesuit senior forward Drew Musgrave is the U. S. Army Great Lakes Hockey League Player of the Week for November 23-29. Musgrave, an alternate captain for the Warriors, scored six goals and added a pair of assists to help capture a
share of the title at the annual Walsh Jesuit Thanksgiving Tournament.
"Drew led the way for our team this weekend with his efforts, attitude, and leadership,” said Warriors head coach Pat
McKendry. “Playing forward on a regular shift and defense on special teams—he did it all for us.”
Musgrave played the final game of the tournament with a splint on his finger—the result of blocking a shot.
McKendry says Musgrave, along
wit his linemates Adam Romanski
and Max Miotke, have set the
tone for the team early on.
"We talk about playing hard for
the guy on your right and on your
left, everything else will take care
of itself,” says McKendry. “We
Walsh Jesuit
also stole a line from baseball
forward
where they say ‘you go-we go!’ It
Drew Musgrave
was a great start to the season,
but like we said in the locker
room after the last game—time
to get back to work.”
“
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GREAT LAKES HOCKEY LEAGUE—TEAM NOTES
ST. EDWARD EAGLES
The 2015 OHSAA runners-up from St. Edward opened their 2015-16 season in Chicago at the Loyola Academy Thanksgiving Tournament. The Eagles posted one win and two losses in the Windy City, notching a 6-1 win over Buffalo Grove (IL)
to start things off. Senior F Jason Steckle and junior F Paul D’Amico each scored a pair of goals in the win. A pair of
losses followed, however, 5-0 to St. Rita (IL) and 4-1 to tournament host Loyola Academy (IL). Senior G Warren Hill made
21 saves against LA...Hill enters the season as the all-time league leader in minutes played (755). He also ranks second in
shutouts (4) and third in saves (364).
SAINT IGNATIUS WILDCATS
Saint Ignatius defeated Upper St. Clair (PA), 8-1, to open their season on Friday. Junior forwards Cullen Frebes and Benji
Renchin each scored twice and senior G Dylan McKeon made 25 saves. In a 3-2 loss to Bethel Park (PA) on Saturday,
Renchin and another junior F Connor Koehnke lit the lamp. Following a 5-4 win over Shaler (PA), in which the Wildcats
allowed two late goals to make it interesting, the Wildcats’ final game on Sunday was forfeited, giving them a share of the
tournament title. Head coach Patrick O’Rourke expressed some concern about where the goals were going to come
from this year, so 15 goals in three games has to be a welcome sign for the Wildcat faithful.
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL PREPPERS
A trip to Pittsburgh was on tap for the University School Preppers to open their season. They faced some stiff competition at the Shadyside Tournament and came home with four losses. A 4-1 loss to host Shadyside Academy started things
off Friday, followed by setbacks to Wyoming Seminary (6-3) and Lawrenceville (NJ) (5-3) on Saturday. They closed out
the event with a 5-1 loss to Northwood (NY). Senior F Ryan Gorbett set up classmate F Robby Engoglia for a shorthanded goal in that one. Gorbett and Engoglia are among the top returning scorers in the GLHL this season.
WALSH JESUIT WARRIORS
A 3-1 win over Upper St. Clair (PA) on Sunday gave the Walsh Jesuit Warriors a share of the title at their own Thanksgiving
Tournament. Walsh opened with a 7-3 win over Bethel Park (PA) on Friday night behind a hat trick from senior F Drew
Musgrave. Two goals from junior F Adam Romanski and a shutout by sophomore G Jakhari Desphy headlined a 5-0 win
over Seneca Valley (PA) on Saturday. Their only loss was to Shaler (PA), 5-4...The Warriors are again icing a young team in
2015-16 and head coach Pat McKendry does not think we have seen the best of his team yet. “You have to be careful
when talking about peaking because we are still very young,” said McKendry.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT—J. J. PLUTT, LAKE CATHOLIC
J. J. Plutt was the 2005 News-Herald Player of the Year after scoring 42 goals
and assisting on 21 others for Lake Catholic.
Plutt piled up 102 points in the last two years of a decorated career and was
named to the News-Herald's all-decade Red Division team
Shaker Heights coach Mike Bartley called Plutt "one of the league's true snipers
this season," after Plutt was a unanimous pick for the 2004-05 Red North Division All-Star team announced by the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey
League.
Longtime Lake Catholic head coach Tony Prpic certainly has fond memories of
coaching Plutt, who went on to play collegiately at Ohio University.
“I recall J.J. having some of the best set hands I have ever coached,” said Prpic.
“He was the first high school player to my recollection that could make a backhand toe-drag look easy.
His former coach also remembers Plutt as a player who enjoyed a challenge.
“Prior to the 2005 District Semifinal against Gilmour Academy, their goaltender
was quoted in the school newsletter saying ‘J.J. is a snipe shot but he won’t
score on me.’”, Prpic recalls. “Well, J.J. went out and scored four goals in a 4-0
victory for Lake Catholic. He was very competitive and you knew you would get
the best out of him night in and night out! He was pleasure to coach.”
J. J. Plutt
© HARRINGTON SPORTS MEDIA (216) 548-2345/[email protected]
2016
CLEVELAND
CUP
FEBRUARY 9-13
@ OBM Arena
Strongsville
GREAT LAKES HOCKEY LEAGUE—2014-15 SCORING LEADERS
Note: returning players in bold
#
1
2
3
4
5
PLAYER
Krueger
Gorbett
A. Piazza
Geither
Bauchens
Wiegandt
Mazanec
8 Kisel
9 Whitney
Engoglia
11 Albitz
Szpak
13 Van Bokkelen
Sill
15 Hyland
Dempsey
Koehnke
Price
Wtulich
Heller
Yopka (D)
CLASS
SR
JR
SR
SR
SO
SR
SR
JR
SR
JR
SR
SR
SR
SO
SR
SR
SO
FR
JR
JR
SR
SCHOOL
U.S.
U.S.
Lake
St. Ignatius
Holy Name
St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius
U.S.
Holy Name
Padua
Walsh
Holy Name
St. Ignatius
Padua
St. Ignatius
St. Edward
Padua
U.S.
U.S.
GP
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
9
10
9
10
10
10
10
G
15
5
12
6
11
9
5
2
7
4
5
4
7
4
5
5
4
3
3
3
1
A
6
14
4
9
3
5
9
10
4
7
5
6
2
5
3
3
4
5
5
5
7
PTS
21
19
16
15
14
14
14
12
11
11
10
10
9
9
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
24126 Lorain Rd
North Olmsted, OH 44070 USA
(440) 979-9700
GREAT LAKES HOCKEY LEAGUE—2014-15 GOALTENDING LEADERS
Note: returning players in bold
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
PLAYER
CLASS SCHOOL
Wes Deacon
JR Saint Ignatius
Dylan McKeon
JR Saint Ignatius
Charlie Denner
SR Lake Catholic
Warren Hill
JR St. Edward
Alec Silver
JR U. S.
Troy Kozak
SR Padua
Ryan Madden
JR Holy Name
Lynsey Wallace SO Padua
Michael Bridges
SR Gilmour
Jakhari Desphy
FR Walsh
C. J. Balodis
JR Holy Name
Kevin Henderson SR Lake
W-L-T
4-0-0
5-0-0
3-0-2
3-4-2
5-2-0
0-2-2
0-2-1
2-2-2
2-6-2
3-6-1
3-3-1
1-4-0
MIN SV
165 67
225 84
232 128
392 189
315 161
185 93
162 101
284 138
435 352
447 182
293 195
225 174
GA SHO GAA SV%
2
2 0.55 0.971
5
2 1.00 0.944
9
0 1.75 0.934
16 3 1.84 0.922
13 1 1.86 0.925
11 0 2.68 0.894
10 1 2.78 0.910
20 1 3.17 0.873
32 1 3.31 0.917
35 0 3.52 0.839
24 0 3.69 0.890
20 0 4.00 0.897
Alec
Silver
U. S.
Saint Ignatius senior
Jack Wiegandt
© HARRINGTON SPORTS MEDIA (216) 548-2345/[email protected]