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12/3/06-Hockey
Young skaters join veteran Eaglets
BY MIKE ROSENBAUM OF THE OBSERVER AND ECCENTRIC
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Orchard Lake St. Mary's hockey team is blending the old with the new this winter in a bid to remain in contention for statewide honors.
Several key Eaglets who helped the team win the Division 3 state title in 2004-05, and a Division 1 regional crown last season, have graduated, including forwards Alex Prough, Shane Dwyer, Jon Connors and Kristian Dziubinski and defenseman Jon Castine.
Key returners include senior forwards Tony Aukskalnis, Brandon Kozlowski and Stephan Tallman, junior forwards Clinton Bourbonais and Billy Balent, senior defensemen Mac Watts, Charlie Semaan and Jon Falvo, junior defenseman Dan Stanisz and senior goaltender Joseph Savona.
Newcomers who should contribute include senior forward Colin Bloor, junior forward Tim Hooker, sophomore forward Shane Halaas, junior defenseman Brandon Krefski and sophomore forward/defenseman Andrew Huckleby.
Balent, Kozlowski, Bourbonais and Watts are the captains.
"I think we've got more speed than we did last year," says coach Brian Klanow. "I think we're a more talented team. They've got to come ready to play every night. They're going to need to be a disciplined team. But we'll be very competitive."
Klanow will count on Bourbonais, Balent, Kozlowski, Hooker and Tallman as the Eaglets' key goal-scorers, although Tallman won't play until January due to injury. Watts should lead the defense corps while Savona is the undisputed number one netminder.
As always, St. Mary's will play a challenging schedule, with this year's slate heavily tilted toward road contests. The Eaglets scheduled eight home games this season, not including a possible Catholic League playoff contest, and will play 13 times on the road.
"We always try to create a tough schedule to help us prepare for the (state) playoffs," Klanow said.
St. Mary's did open the season at home Nov. 18, dropping a 3-2 decision to Catholic Central, before rebounding with a 1-0 victory at Dearborn Divine Child Nov. 22.
Klanow "saw some things that we certainly need to work on," in the opening game. "We'll make our adjustments."
Klanow adds that his players "have to be prepared, night-in and night-out," to be successful. "They've got to be focused, each and every game and each and every practice, to make themselves better players, and make themselves a stronger team."
With proper preparation, Klanow hopes for another chance for Division 1 state glory next March.
"I think this team has the potential to go to the state finals," he says. "As long as things fall into place, they're working hard every night, I think they're going to be very competitive and they're going to be right where they need to be, to advance."
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