McGrath sets up linemates for PRPC

As seen in ThisWeek News
Thursday, January 4th, 2007

JEREMY STEWART
ThisWeek Staff Writer

By Karen Carter/ThisWeek Adam McGrath, a sophomore at Central, leads the GCHSCHL in assists and has 30 points. PRPC will play Olentangy on Friday at Chiller at Easton. The Ice Prowlers have won 11 of their last 12 games.

AT A GLANCE: Below are the recent results and coming schedules for the PRPC club hockey team: *Dec. 17 -- Defeated Westerville 8-6. *Friday -- At Chiller at Easton vs. Olentangy. The Ice Prowlers tied Olentangy at 3 on Oct. 13 and won 4-2 on Nov. 17. Olentangy is 3-10-3. *Sunday -- At Dispatch Ice Haus vs. Hilliard/Southwest. The Wildcats are 9-15-3 overall and 3-10-3 in the GCHSCHL and will play the Northeast Storm today at the Chiller at Easton. Of note: The Ice Prowlers are 12-2-5 overall and 9-1-5 in the GCHSCHL. *GCHSCHL game

After opening with five ties in its first seven games, the Pickerington/Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/Canal Winchester club hockey team now is leading the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League in scoring and has won 11 of its last 12.

"We're really getting in a groove," said forward Adam McGrath, a sophomore at Pickerington High School North. "Guys are doing what they're supposed to. We've got the goal-scorers. We got the guys on the point keeping the puck going. We've got the goalies holding it down in the net."

"We found our weakness," said defensemen Brian Rossi, a senior at North. "It was our lack of effort in the third period. We finally figured it out that we have to work all game. It's been just knowing that it's the third period. That's when I tell guys, let's not let this one get away. In our five ties, we had the lead in the third period in all of them."

McGrath, who was one of two freshmen along with teammate and Reynoldsburg sophomore Brad Noskowiak to play in the first GCHSCHL all-star game last year, has helped PRPC score a league-best 72 goals. His 30 points trails only teammate and North senior Cody Berkebile (34) for tops in the league. McGrath leads the league with 21 assists and Berkebile leads the league with 23 goals.

McGrath said he's comfortable this year because he's doing the same things under first-year coach Jay C. Catherine that he did while playing his freshmen season for Marty Laroche.

"I try to put pucks in the back of the net," McGrath said. "It's pretty much the same role I had under (Laroche) last year. I just try and go out there and get goals and try and put points on the board and help Cody Berkebile as much as I can."

"He's always moving his feet and it helps him set other people up," Rossi said of McGrath. "He keeps moving and keeps his head up. It keeps him open and allows him to make plays."

"Adam has come on and had a great season for us," Catherine said. "He's also playing for the (under-18 AA Columbus Blue Jackets). He never has a slow shift. He's going to give 100 percent effort. Other guys see the energy he plays with and it makes them want to go 100 percent."

PRPC's last loss was to Dublin Jerome 3-1 on Nov. 26 in a non-league game in the championship of the St. Charles Invitational Tournament. The only league loss PRPC has was to Athens 4-2 on Nov. 3. The Ice Prowlers avenged that with a 4-0 win Dec. 15.

Three of the Ice Prowlers' last five games have been shutout wins. They beat Newark 5-0 on Dec. 7 and Northeast 6-0 on Dec. 8.

PRPC defeated Hilliard/Southwest 8-4 on Dec. 10 and Westerville on Dec. 17.

The Ice Prowlers have allowed 36 goals in 15 league games, which is second in the league to Athens, which has allowed 34 in 15 league games.

McGrath said the physical presence of defenseman and Watkins Memorial junior Zach Wiard along with the leadership of Rossi has helped the defense play to its potential.

"( Wiard) goes out there and really hits guys and that motivates everyone," McGrath said. "Brian Rossi has also done a great job getting everyone motivated with his leadership."

What also can't be lost is the fact that goalies Dan Smith, a North freshmen, and Justin Lohrman, a North senior, have started well. Lohrman is second in the league with a 2.35 goals-against average and Smith is fourth with a 2.67 GAA. Newark's Andrew Clark, a Granville Christian sophomore, leads all goalies with a 2.34 GAA.

The Ice Prowlers have earned 23 points, which ties them with Athens for best in the GCHSCHL. They are followed by Westerville (21), Newark (19), Hilliard/Southwest (9), Olentangy (9) and Northeast (2).

"I think the team has really come together and really bonded on the defensive side," Catherine said. "We didn't have a full 20-man roster before with injuries, soccer and football. Now we don't have to rely on one line or two lines. We have four lines of forwards that can play.

"We were also a little overconfident at the start. There's four points separating the top four teams. I think (the players) have a better idea that they have to come out and compete hard every night because any team is capable of beating the other one."