Prowlers are big fish in club hockey wars

Reprinted courtesy of The Pickerington Times-Sun/SNP ©2004
Wednesday, January 28, 2004

BRIAN McLEAN
Staff Writer

News photo by Chris Miles Reynoldsburg's Eric Willard skates down the ice during the Prowlers hockey game Sunday.

You look into the stands of a high school winter sporting event, and see students, parents and just plain fans from Pickerington North, Pickerington Central, Reynoldsburg and Canal Winchester all cheering for the same team.

Does this mean: A) You're in some school administrator's strange dream; B) The event does not involve teams from Central Ohio; or C) You're watching the PRPC Ice Prowlers hockey team skate to another victory.

If you answered C, you've at least heard of the defending Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League champion Prowlers.

Although the Pickerington Reynoldsburg Pataskala Canal Winchester lineup is predominantly composed of Pickerington North and Central players, second-year coach Martin Laroche said no cliques have developed among students who are sometimes bitter rivals in other sports.

"It's kind of interesting, students from the three schools cheering for the same team," the coach said. "The team has really bonded well together. I attribute our success to that fact as much as anything."

That success began with winning the GCHSCHL championship -- the Blue Jackets Cup -- last year and dominating league play in 2003-04.

After beating Athens 5-3 Sunday, the Prowlers improved to 16-2 in league play (17-4-1 overall). They have a 9-point lead over second-place Westerville with six conference games remaining.

Despite his team's spot atop the standings, Laroche remains emphatic that the regular season is far from over.

"We're in first place, but there's nothing decided by any means," he said. "Every game is important. In mid-January you've really got to bear down or you get what happened Friday night (PRPC lost 5-3 to the NorthEast Storm) -- we didn't show up to play."

That the Prowlers are in first place at all is a bit of surprise. PRPC lost eight players to graduation and another to junior B hockey.

But several players who played lesser roles last year have stepped up to become leaders this year. In addition, the Prowlers picked up a couple of key move-ins.

Through Friday's game, captain T.J. Hess (Pickerington Central senior forward) leads the squad in scoring with 52 points. Bryan Kay (Pickerington North junior forward), who moved in from Michigan, is second with 51.

Josh Martyn (Reynoldsburg senior defenseman) and Mike Miller (Canal Winchester junior forward) are the assistant captains.

The goalkeepers are senior Zach Ahem and sophomore Jesse Betts (both from Central).

Other Pickerington North players include senior Matt Macciomei, juniors Eric Weinhold and Anthony Kantor, sophomore Nick Miller and freshman Cody Berkebile.

Central players are junior Matt Schuh, sophomores Jeff Laird and Ben French and freshman Nick Hess.

Senior Mike Westling and junior Eric Willard are from Reynoldsburg.

In addition to its strong team chemistry, the Prowlers' success is a result of playing well in all three zones. PRPC has put the biscuit in the basket up to 14 times in a game, but also pulled out five one-goal victories along the way.

The ability of the Prowlers forwards, blue liners and netminders to step up in different games will be critical as the squad heads toward this year's Blue Jacket tournament Feb. 19-22.

"We've just got to take all the momentum we have now into the tournament," T.J. Hess said. "We had a little letdown, but I think we're picking it back up, the tempo's back up.

"Were definitely stoked to go in and hopefully reclaim the championship. To go out No. 1 my senior year would be excellent."

The Prowlers host Olentangy Friday (8 p.m.) at the Easton Chiller. PRPC hosts Athens Sunday at 4 p.m. at Easton Chiller.

Read more Central Ohio Community News at the Suburban News Publications Web site, SNPonline.com.