The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Young Bengals logging key ice time this winter
In this week’s high school hockey notes, Benedictine coach Joe Primiano chats with Chris Lillstrung about the Bengals’ young talent taking on key roles, along with the Top of the Crop and stats.
With 11 skaters and a goaltender this winter, underclassmen need to be ready for high school hockey at Benedictine.
The ice time is there for the taking, and as the Bengals look to remain viable in the White South, they’re doing so with one of the area’s youngest rosters. Freshmen are logging key shifts for Benedictine coach Joe Primiano, whose team was 8-9-2 after an 8-1 win Jan. 14 over Chagrin Falls at the NDCL Winter Invitational.
“Luke Faulisi is a great little defenseman — small guy, but a ton of heart,” Primiano said. “And he has been playing great for us — exceeded all of my expectations for the year.
“And Michael Price is just a beast. He plays like a 6-foot-5 junior or senior and not a freshman. So I am very happy with what he has been able to do for us.”
Sophomore goaltender Tristan Cotter is also starting to show signs of growth in his second season between the pipes for the Bengals. In a 5-3 loss to Red South foe Cleveland Heights on Jan. 13, Cotter turned in a solid 20-save second period against the potent Tigers. In a game during which Benedictine was outshot, 51-17, every bit of that goaltending was needed to provide a window to stay in it.
“I think for Tristan, it’s just a matter of recognizing that he can do it and convincing himself,” Primiano said. “Sometimes, us telling him that he’s a great goalie and playing well isn’t enough. He needs to really convince himself he belongs here and can compete here. He is a big part of our team.”
The Bengals have three seniors this year — blueliners Ted Houser and Henry Jacobs and forward Luke Brown — so much of this group will be in place next winter.
With a young group, line chemistry can be a concern, but against Heights there were occasional glimpses outside of a significant amount of defensive-zone work for breakouts and decent puck movement.
“We did change (the lines) up a little bit, and it worked out in our favor,” Primiano said. “Anytime you get into the middle of a season, some of that chemistry goes away. So we shook it up recently, and it kind of worked out in our favor.”
Coming out of holiday tournament play, Benedictine is 3-3 in the White South, tied for third on six points with NDCL with four league games remaining, starting Jan. 18 against Brecksville at Brooklyn. The Bengals are 6-1 against their remaining opponents so far this season, making a Baron Cup II berth seem likely.
Baron Cup II, which starts Feb. 5, has its White North and White South playing each other again this year in the first round and semifinals and not crossing over until the final.
Honor roll
A look at a few of the top performances by area teams from Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend tournament games:
• University went 3-0 to win the Titan Invitational at the venerable Tam O’Shanter in Sylvania. US is 13-1-1 at this annual MLK weekend staple in the last four seasons. After defeating Cincinnati Moeller and Providence Catholic (Ill.) on Jan. 13, the Preppers recorded a 5-1 win in the tournament final over Toledo St. John’s. Andre Berglund scored twice for US, and Ethan Whetstone, Henry Saada and Tyler Alt also lit the lamp.
• Mentor secured its fourth and final holiday tournament championship of the season, going 3-0-1 through the Pioneer Classic in Columbus. The Cardinals dispatched New Albany in the final, 4-1, on Jan. 14, getting four goals from Evan McBride and three assists apiece from Kyle Backston and Andrew McBride.
• After finishing last in the tournament a year ago, going 0-5 and getting outscored, 17-7, Gilmour won the St. Andrew’s (Ontario) tournament. The Lancers defeated Everest Hockey Academy (Ontario), 4-1, in the championship game.
• After MLK holiday tournament action Jan. 14, the top four teams in The NewsHerald Top of the Crop — University, Gilmour, Mentor and Kenston — were a combined 47-11-5 in holiday tournaments this season with nine tournament titles. US went 10-3-1, Gilmour 104-2, Kenston 14-1 and Mentor 13-3-1. A year ago, those four teams were a combined 32-33-2 in holiday tournament action, including the Lancers going 1-15.