PRPC finishes 1-2 in Buckeye Cup

As seen in ThisWeek News
Thursday, March 16th, 2006

FORREST CLARKE
ThisWeek Staff Writer

By Laurie Stevenson/ThisWeek Adam McGrath, a student at North, controls the puck for PRPC earlier this season. The Ice Prowlers went 1-2 at the Buckeye Cup tournament.

AT A GLANCE: Record: 19-15-3 overall, 14-7-3 (second) in GCHSCHL Seniors lost: Ben French, Jeff Laird, Nick Miller and Tyler Walcutt Key returnees: Cody Berkebile, Nick Hess, Geoffrey Killan, Justin Lohrman, Max Matsanoff, Adam McGrath, Brad Noskowiak, Brian Rossi, Luke Wilkins and Austin Zurbriggen

Playing without its full roster, the Pickerington/Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/ Canal Winchester club hockey team went 1-2 last Friday and Saturday in the Buckeye Cup state tournament.

PRPC, which qualified to the Buckeye Cup for the second year in a row and played in the Blue Jackets Cup final for the fourth consecutive season, finished 19-15-3 overall. It was second at 14-7-3 in the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League behind Athens (16-6-2).

The Ice Prowlers, who lost the Blue Jackets Cup final 4-2 to Westerville on Feb. 19, played the Buckeye Cup without juniors Nick Hess, Brian Rossi and Cody Berkebile and freshman Brad Noskowiak. Hess, who had a team-best 33 assists and was second on the team in goals with 24, joined Rossi and Noskowiak to play for the U-18 Columbus Capitals AA Major team in a tournament in Cleveland. Berkebile, who was fourth on the team in scoring with 19 points, hasn't played since injuring a knee in the Blue Jackets Cup final.

PRPC, which went 1-1 in the Buckeye Cup a year ago, including a 1-0 loss to eventual champion Medina, opened the Buckeye Cup this season with a 6-1 win over Cincinnati Colerain/Northwest last Friday as six players scored. It lost 2-1 to eventual champion Medina last Saturday, then fell 4-1 to Jackson.

"If you took away the top players on any high school team in Columbus, I think they would struggle to compete," coach Marty Laroche said. "But the way that we played last weekend was very satisfying."

PRPC's goal against Medina was scored by Geoffrey Killan off an assist from Ben French with six minutes left. Walcutt and freshman Adam McGrath both missed scoring opportunities in the final minute.

"There was no question we had good chances, even with our goalie pulled," Laroche said.

Medina defeated Athens 2-1 in the final last Sunday.

Taylor Walcutt scored in the third period against Jackson.

"It was a lot different because we were used to having four lines to keep us fresh," French said. "Still, I thought we did an excellent job considering the circumstances."

PRPC won six of its last seven games of the regular season as it finished ahead of fellow Buckeye Cup qualifiers Westerville (13-7-4) and Hilliard/Southwest (13-7-4) in the GCHSCHL.

The expectations were high heading into the Blue Jackets Cup on Feb. 17-19 and got higher after an 11-3 win over Northeast in the first round. But the Ice Prowlers lost 6-5 to Westerville in the second round and had to go through the losers bracket. It won 6-0 over Hilliard/Southwest, 4-3 over Olentangy and 4-3 in overtime over Athens to earn another shot at Westerville.

In the final, McGrath tied the game with his second goal with 8 minutes, 7 seconds left. Nick Mertz gave the Warcats the lead for good when his shot got past junior goalie Justin Lohrman with 2:44 remaining. Justin Sachs added an empty-net goal with 42.7 seconds left.

"Taking the route of the losers' bracket didn't help us. I just think we just had tired legs after playing six games in 41 hours," assistant coach Jay C. Catherine said.

PRPC will lose seniors French, Walcutt, Jeff Laird and Nick Miller.

Hess (24 goals, 33 assists, 57 points) led the league in assists and was second in scoring behind Walcutt (28-20-48). McGrath (23-24-47) and Berkebile (19-25-44) also are expected back. Lohrman (2.91 goals-against average) is expected to lead the defense with juniors Max Matsanoff and Loren Chrisman and sophomore Zach Wiard.

"Every year it's hard to predict who you're going to have because come September you never know whose going to make a team at a higher level," Laroche said. "At this point last year we didn't know (goalie) Miles McGrew was going to move, but those are the kinds of things that happen and you have to adapt as you go."

## ALL-STARS -- The inaugural GCHSCHL all-star game will be 6 p.m. Saturday at the Dublin Chiller.

Thirty-six players were selected by the league's seven head coaches. Teams that finished first, fourth, sixth and seventh in the regular-season standings will comprise Team White, while teams that finished second, third and fifth will be Team Red.

Athens coach Jack Pepper will lead the White, while Laroche will coach the Red. The other five head coaches will serve as assistants on the team in which their respective team is represented.

Westerville's Aaron Archibald, Sean Hundley, Jacob Lieberman, Nick Merz, Justin Sachs and William Sorokas will compete on the Red team.

From PRPC will be Rossi, Berkebile, McGrath, Hess, Walcutt, French and Lohrman. From Olentangy will be defenseman Brandon Urhammer, forwards Andrew McKinley, Josh Dennis and Caleb Cramer, and goaltender Sean Wallace.

Playing for the White will be Athens defensemen Braddock Caesar and Brett Chambers, forwards J.D. Rappold, Brian Carlson, Zack Brainard and Stefan Lombard with goaltender Alex Hubbard. Hilliard/Southwest will have forwards Chase Newcome, Zach Wilburn, Danny Marie and Tim Hahn and goalie Matt Bridger. Newark will have defenseman Brandon Wingeier, forward Tyler Brest and goaltender Evan LaNouette. Northeast's representatives include defensemen Mitch Derr and Brian Lynch.