The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
High school hockey watch list
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(in alphabetical order) George Brinn, University: The junior (15-22-37) appears to be another in the long line of great US blueliners — steady and consistent, a physical force on the backcheck and a smooth breakout trigger. Matt Carson, Benedictine: A third-team News-Herald all-star last winter, this quick junior forward showed a lot of promise with 38 goals and 24 assists for the White South runner-up Bengals. Matt Mangel, Gilmour: Last year was one to forget for the Lancers, but this senior was a bright spot with a 13-14-27 campaign and will seek to help pace a turnaround season.
Jack Perish, Mentor: The Cardinals have thrown a lot of underclassmen on the ice the last couple seasons, and one who has capitalized on the opportunity is this junior defenseman (2-12-14) and second-team N-H honoree last winter. Mitch Pozwick, Kenston: After logging some shifts with veteran performers for the Bombers a year ago, a breakout season could be in store for this junior (15-15-30), who was 2017 second-team N-H. Jacob Schmitt, Lake Catholic: Given the graduation and roster-depth hit the Cougars have taken, a big key to staying competitive will be this junior forward, who had some flashes of promise as a sophomore in an 11-10-21 season.
Jacob Tackett, Mentor: It’s meant as a compliment, but it seems like this senior goaltender (681 saves, 2.32 GAA) and returning first-team N-H honoree has been between the pipes a lot longer than four years for the Cardinals. Ethan Whetstone, University: This dangerous winger (19-35-54) played with two gamers a year ago for US on the first line in the sincegraduated J.D. Clemens and Tommy Nook, and that will benefit him greatly as he helps carry the scoring load as a senior. Ben Winovich, Chagrin Falls: On a senior-laden squad a year ago, this now-senior goaltender was very solid — particularly given his short tenure at the position — with a 2.44 goals-against average as the Tigers won the White South.
Connor Zoul, NDCL: With some of the big-time scorers who have graduated for the Lions in recent years, namely Joe Iademarco and Jaret Cipollone, the onus will be on this senior forward (17-13-30) to lead that offensive-zone charge now.
GAMES TO WATCH
Benedictine vs. Chagrin Falls (Dec. 16 at Cleveland Heights and Feb. 3 at The Pond), Kenston vs. Mentor (Jan. 5 at Mentor and Jan. 27 at The Pond); Chagrin Falls vs. NDCL (Jan. 6 at Mentor and Feb. 2 at The Pond); Gilmour vs. University (Jan. 19 at Gilmour and Jan. 28 at Cleveland Heights); Gilmour vs. Lake Catholic (Jan. 20 at Gilmour); Lake Catholic vs. University (Jan. 24 at Mentor and Jan. 27 at Cleveland Heights); Mentor vs. Shaker Heights (Dec. 8 at Mentor and Jan. 20 at Thornton Park); Benedictine vs. NDCL (Dec. 28 and Jan. 20 at Cleveland Heights); University vs. St. Edward (Jan. 6 at Cleveland Heights and Jan. 7 at Winterhurst)
ONE-TIMERS
• There have been some notable exits — both area and non-area — during the offseason. The area contingent has one fewer squad as West Geauga goes on hiatus. Among the non-area ranks, the biggest offseason shift came in the Great Lakes Hockey League, as St. Ignatius departed the league in order to field a prep squad. • It would probably be fair to characterize this as one of the youngest squads University has had in recent memory, with seven seniors. Much of that experience is on defense, with Adam Alt, Reid Anderson and Trip Gorman all solid performers to roll with the outstanding Brinn. Jack Henry Muha and Henry Saada should be ready to take another step after giving US some steady production as sophomores. • The area squad with the least turnover from 201617, by far, is Mentor. With Tackett returning in goal, Perish on defense and a deep forward corps including Alec Weaver, Evan McBride and Kyle Backston, Coach Paul McKito has a nice squad back to be competitive in the Red North. If it all comes together, the Cardinals might be able to flirt with 20 wins, a peak the program hasn’t reached since 2004-05. • Gilmour should be much better after one of the worst seasons in its Varsity A history, going 4-30-1. Longtime Lancers coach John Malloy is confident this group can provide an upswing — and he’s been right so far as they’ve started 6-1. In addition to the aforementioned Mangel, Charlie Valenti and John Treppo should also assist in giving Gilmour more teeth in the offensive zone. • With just 12 skaters and two goaltenders, numbers have never been this low at Lake Catholic. But Cougars coach Justin Vance is hopeful with a “tight-knit” group that better days are ahead. This seems like a development year with so many underclassmen, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see some of that growth come January and February. • Former Ohio State standout and Monsters forward Tom Fritsche takes over at Kenston. The Bombers went 3-1 and took second at the Midwest Thanksgiving Classic, which was encouraging, and will hope for a better second half this winter after going 3-11-1 to close last season. • In the White South, it will be interesting to see who emerges to vie for a Baron Cup II berth from the area ranks. Chagrin Falls graduated the senior class that led it back from its dormant year in style. Benedictine has some potency in place, and NDCL should be pretty solid again. In the Blue South, Brush and Mayfield are waging their annual commendable battles against the numbers game.