Balanced Scoring, Strong Goaltending Fuel PRPC

As seen in ThisWeek News
Thursday, December 25, 2003

FORREST CLARKE
ThisWeek Staff Writer

The Pickerington/Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/Canal Winchester high school club hockey team doesn't expect many easy games this season, knowing opponents will give their best effort against it.

But PRPC thrives under pressure, as its record attests. The Ice Prowlers were 10-1 both overall and in the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League before facing Newark last Sunday.

"It's been a combination of balanced scoring, timely goaltending and good defense," said coach Marty Laroche, whose team won it first seven games before losing 4-2 to Westerville on Dec. 5. "On nights when one of those aspects isn't clicking, the other two usually are to pick up the slack."

Still, PRPC has fallen behind early on occasion, including 2-0 to Westerville.

"The other teams have been geared up for us and we haven't always matched their intensity," Laroche said. "As a staff, you don't like waiting for a wake-up call early in the game."

The Ice Prowlers trailed in three of their five games before last Sunday, but won four, all by one goal. T.J. Hess (19 goals, 15 assists, 34 points) and Brian Kay (14-18-32) have been the two biggest offensive reasons.

"Kay is more of a playmaker and he's putting the puck where Hess wants it," Laroche said. "There's some good chemistry there."

Eric Willard is third in points with 19 (9-10), followed by Nick Hess (4-12-16), Anthony Kantor (12-3-15) and Nick Miller (7-4-11).

In a 3-2 win over Newark on Dec. 12, the Ice Prowlers trailed 2-1 heading into the third period before Willard tied it at 2. Hess scored the winner with eight minutes left.

Perhaps the biggest win was 4-3 over Olentangy on Dec. 14. Even though PRPC led 3-0, the Braves tied it in the third period before T.J. Hess scored in the last seven minutes on an assist from Kay's assist. Both T.J. Hess and Key finished with two goals.

"There are two ways to look at it," said Laroche, whose team also defeated the Northeast Storm 4-3 on Dec. 7 and 2-1 on Nov. 23. "It builds character and confidence as you get further into the season, but we're not completely satisfied. We haven't really accomplished anything yet."

A defense led by senior Josh Martyn and sophomore Mike Laird has surrendered 23 goals. Laroche has been impressed with the defensive play of freshmen Cody Berkedile and Brian Rossi and junior Matt Schuh, who also has nine assists.

"Even though we've fallen behind later, our resilience has been good," Laroche said. "When things are going well, it's easier to come to practice. We've got some good guys who understand what it's all about."