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11/18/07-Hockey
St. Mary's ready to defend D-1 ice crown
By Mike Rosenbaum of The West Bloomfield Eccentric
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Start with a strong core of key returning players. Add a few young returners who'll play bigger roles, mix in some fresh faces, then add one great, big bulls-eye on each player's back, and you have a recipe for the 2007-08 Orchard Lake St. Mary's hockey team.
Eaglet returners include seven skaters who played key roles last season. Among the other returners who'll need to step up this year is former backup goalie Devon Carr. Newcomers include four sophomores who could all be solid contributors.
The bull's-eye? That's St. Mary's reward for winning last season's Division 1 state championship.
As the defending champ, all of St. Mary's opponents "are going to want to play their best game" against the Eaglets, says St. Mary's coach Brian Klanow, who also coached the Eaglets to the 2005 Division 3 title. "We'll need to bring our best game every night," Klanow adds.
The Eaglets lost some key players to graduation, including defensemen Mac Watts, Jon Falvo and Brandon Kozlowski, forwards Tony Aukskalnis, Charlie Semaan, Ben Shields, Steve Tallman and Colin Bloor, plus netminder Joe Savona. Additionally, Clinton Bourbonais, a three-year letterman who would've been a senior this season, has moved on to the Traverse City North Stars Junior A club.
Returning forwards who saw regular action last season include second-year captain Billy Balent plus first-year captains Tim Hooker and Aaron Schneider, all seniors, along with junior Shane Halaas. Other returners up front include junior Andrew Cloonan and senior Sean Nagorsen, who played defense last season.
On the blueline, returning senior Dan Stanisz will be a captain. Senior Brandon Krefski and junior Thaddeus McConkey saw regular duty last season. Other returners include senior Chas Irmen, junior Dane Muller and sophomore Cody King.
St. Mary's newcomers include a promising sophomore quartet, led by 6-foot-4 winger Nick Czinder, along with forward Mike Szmatula and defensemen Kevin Killian and Dan Milan.
Carr, a senior, takes over in goal after backing up Savona last season. Carr hopes to pick up where he left off in his previous start, a 7-0, nine-save shutout over Rochester in last season's state playoff opener. Other goalies include senior Ryan Marley and sophomore Christopher Sullivan.
Overall, Klanow says this year's Eaglets are a well-balanced group.
"There's a lot of parity here," he says. "It's going to be a hard-working, hard-skating team. They look to be very competitive this year."
Klanow adds that he's seen "a real strong work ethic, so far" in pre-season practice. "I think they're going to be a close-knit group. When you can combine hard work and good team spirit you're ahead of the 8-ball. And it's a talented team. A little on the young side. They've just got to learn how to win."
The Eaglets began their regular season last night (score was not available at press time) against Novi Catholic Central. St. Mary's will be a well-traveled team this season with road trips to Hamilton (Ont.), Pittsburgh, Culver (Ind.) and Buffalo. In February, the Eaglets will again play host to the Catholic League championships.
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