The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Comets aiming high behind points leader
Senior Kramer is Ohio’s all-time best in points and assists
When Steve Morris returned to coach the Amherst hockey program in 2016 after four years without a team at the school, he knew he had his work cut out for him.
Four seasons later, Morris has helped guide the Comets to three consecutive Southwestern Conference and Baron Cup II titles, re-establishing Amherst as the class of Lorain County. But it’s been more than the leadership of Morris, as he’s coached some of the state’s most prolific point scorers, including senior Jacob Kramer.
“Jacob has done a great job for us over the four years he’s been here with us,” Morris said. “He’s grown into a leader, whether it’s during games or practices. It’s been fun, the ride he’s taken us on.”
Scoring 53 goals and assisting on 50 others, Kramer’s senior season has featured him becoming the OHSAA’s all-time leader in points and assists, while also moving into the top three for goals scored.
Feb. 4, on the Comets’ senior night at the North Park Ice Arena in Elyria, Kramer took the top spot in assists, passing former Amherst star Connor Morris. Morris held the record previously with 249 assists.
It was the second time Kramer broke a Morris-held record, as the former Comet also was the all-time leader for career points. Jacob broke that record with 444 and counting.
Led by Kramer the Comets have run roughshod through the SWC and the Baron Cup. In his final run through the Baron Cup II, the senior put up 13 goals in three games, including a six-goal game against North Olmsted. Amherst avenged its lone SWC loss of the year with an 8-1 win.
Kramer recorded eight total points in the game with the six goals and two assists, one to Nick Ciura and another to his brother, sophomore Joey Kramer.
“I never thought we’d be three-peating in the SWC and the Baron Cup,” Jacob said. “It’s awesome and it really shows how hard the team has worked this season. I’m very proud. Not many kids can say they were a part of a team that won so many championships. And with all of the memories I’ve made it’s been great over the past four years.”
The Comets then went on to defeat Avon Lake, 4-2, in the Baron Cup II title game.
The younger Kramer was the second leading point-man for the Comets this season with 79 (32 goals and 47 assists), many of those to his older brother.
In his second season playing with Jacob on the varsity level, Joey continued to progress. He Helped fill the hole left by two of the team’s top players, Michael Giannuzzi and Jacob Fekete, who graduated in 2019.
One major reason for Amherst’s success, particularly this season, is the on-ice chemistry between the brothers who have been playing together since they were children.
“Him and I know exactly how one another play and we’ve been able to make some really great plays and score crucial goals,” Jacob said.
“It’s been a lot of fun
to play with him,” Joey said. “We’ve been playing together since we were younger, and when I came in as a freshman I was really happy to get to play with him again. This year it really meant a lot to me, knowing that he’s going away to college and this was going to be our last year together.”
But it’s not just the Kramer brothers who are driving the bus for the Comets, and they would be the first ones to tell you that.
“It feels really great,” Jacob said of his individual records. “But the team has really helped me achieve those records. So I owe a lot to them.”
Ciura and junior forward Nathan Harmych both averaged over a point per game this season. Ciura finished his first varsity campaign with 20 goals and 21 assists, while Harmych added nine goals and 27 assists. Providing much needed depth for a team that fields 13 players.
Amherst opened its OHSAA tournament Feb. 22 with a 8-0 Win over SWC foe Westlake, moving on to a showdown with Strongsville in the second round. It’s a proving-ground game for the Comets, who received the fifth seed in the Brooklyn District.
“We’re just trying to compete at that level,” he said. “I told the guys it was great the respect that they gained from other schools and other coaches to get that fifth seed. It was because of their hard work and their discipline.
Should they defeat the Mustangs, awaiting them would more than likely be the four-time defending state champions, St. Ignatius. Something Morris would welcome, as would his players.
“That game (against Strongsville) is going to be hard, and then if you get to Ignatius, that would be fun to go out and be on the same ice as them and compete,” Morris said.