2005-2006 Season Preview

Last season finished on a sour note for the Prowler Hockey Club. With a triple overtime loss in the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Final and a preliminary round loss in the inaugural Buckeye Cup State Championship Tournament, the Prowler's post season success was put on hold after their consecutive 2003 and 2004 GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Championships. For a team that has experienced post-season success in recent years, these two losses stood out despite the many achievements the team experienced in 2004-2005.

The Prowlers fought their way to the top of the GCHSCHL regular season standings with a record of 21-3-0 (42 points, 28-8-0 overall) and brought home the club's second consecutive regular season GCHSCHL Championship. As a result, they qualified for the inaugural Buckeye Cup State Championship Tournament as the number one seed out of Columbus. Their only playoff losses came at the hands of the two eventual cup champions, the Westerville Warcats in the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Final and the Medina Bees in the Ohio Buckeye Cup playoffs. The way this team battled all season and through the playoffs, the Prowlers had plenty to be proud of.

This season, the team has a fire in their belly and their sights set on continuing the success the program has seen over the past three seasons in the GCHSCHL. For a team that lost 5 players to graduation, including captain Eric Willard (Reynoldsburg), the only 4 year Prowler last season in alternate captain Eric Weinhold (Pickerington North), alternate captain Mike Miller (Canal Winchester), scoring leader and alternate captain Anthony Kantor (Pickerington North) and hard hitting defenseman Matt Schuh (Pickerington Central), many of the underclassmen will have to step out of the shadows for the Prowlers to succeed this year. Led by senior captain Ben French (Pickerington North) and alternate captains, seniors Jeff Laird (Pickerington Central) and Taylor Walcutt (Pickerington North), and junior Brian Rossi (Pickerington North), this year's squad looks to take the torch and compete for their third straight league championship while carrying that success through the Blue Jackets Cup Tournament and into the second Buckeye Cup State Championship Tournament.

For the first season under four year head coach Marty Laroche the Prowlers come into the season without a proven starting goaltender. With workhorse Miles McGrew (Pickerington North) transferring to Michigan this season after a stellar freshman campaign (23-6-0, 1.64 GAA, .911 SV%), three juniors will carry the heavy burden of learning while under fire. Assistant/goaltending coach Jay C. Catherine will have his work cut out for him training the inexperienced goaltenders. Junior, Justin Lohrman (Pickerington North) brings with him a total of 42 minutes of experience over 3 game appearances last season as McGrew's backup for the Prowlers. He did post a .909 save percentage allowing only one goal while defending the Prowlers' net and looks to be the go to man between the pipes out of training camp. He will be joined this season by juniors, Darren Coykendall (Reynoldsburg) and Nick Stypinski (Gahanna Christian) who will both be wearing the Prowler crest for the first time this season and facing their first high school competition at the club varsity level.

The defense remains stable despite losing Schuh to graduation and the loss of sophomore Brandon Goettel (Reynoldsburg) to the Columbus Blue Jackets Midget AA team. Four year Prowler, senior alternate captain Jeff Laird (Pickerington Central) will lead a defense anchored by juniors Cody Berkebile and alternate captain Brian Rossi (both Pickerington North), considered by many two of the best all around defensemen in the league. Junior, Loren Chrisman (Pickerington North) and sophomore Zach Wiard (Watkins Memorial), a steady stay-at-home defenseman, will provide the physical presence lost with Schuh after spot duty last season. The veteran core from last year will be joined by freshmen Ryan Straker (Watkins Memorial), who brings grit and physical play to the Prowler zone.

The Prowler offense will have a new look this season with GCHSCHL scoring champ Anthony Kantor graduated from the Prowlers. Last season's goal scoring leaders, senior alternate captain Taylor Walcutt (Pickerington North) and junior Nick Hess (Pickerington Central) will run a still potent Prowler offense.

Four year Prowler, senior captain Ben French (Pickerington Central) will be looked upon to increase his offensive numbers in addition to leading this years's team, while senior Nick Miller (Pickerington North) will be asked to provide the team with both offense and the physical play lost with the graduation of his line mate from last season Mike Miller.

Several second year Prowlers will be looked upon to step up their production and responsibilities from a year ago. Juniors Max Mattsanoff and Geoffrey Killan (both Pickerington North), along with sophomores Taylor Markell (Pickerington Central), Tommy Newhard (Bishop Hartley), Luke Wilkins (Canal Winchester) and Austin Zurbriggen (Canal Winchester) will all be key contributors to the Prowler offense this season. They will be joined this season by first year Prowlers, freshmen Adam McGrath (Pickerington) and Brad Noskowiak (Reynoldsburg) who look to show their worth to the organization and contribute on the score sheet for this young Prowler team.

Zurbriggen, who was buried on the org chart last season by three senior centers (Willard, Kantor and Miller), will find himself the most experienced natural centerman on the club and will not only be looked to for his offense, but also his face-off and leadership abilities. He and his teammates will be expected to step out of the shadows and pick up their level of play to keep the Prowlers at the top of the league.

With only four seniors on the roster and 7 players gone from last year's team, this young Prowler team hopes to retain it's place atop the GCHSCHL and bring the Blue Jackets Cup back to south east Columbus. Last year's overtime heartache may be the fuel this team needs to stay at the top of the GCHSCHL and compete this season for the Blue Jackets and Buckeye Cups.

Good luck to this year's Ice Prowlers as they begin the 2005-2006 season.