2006-2007 Season Preview

This season the PRPC Prowlers will be doing something they haven't done since 2002-2003. They will be starting the season as neither the GCHSCHL Regular Season nor Blue Jacket Cup Champions.

This year also marks the departure of four year head coach Marty Laroche who advanced on to pilot the Ohio Blue Jackets AAA U16 team after leading the Prowlers to two Blue Jackets Cups in 2003 and 2004 and two Regular Season Championships in 2004 and 2005. Leaving behind a career 92-33-7 record, Laroche will be replaced by four year assistant and goaltending coach Jay C. Catherine. Coach Jay C. is ready to take the team to the next level by bringing the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup back to PRPC and lead the team to its first ever Buckeye Cup State Championship. Coach Jay C. brings former Prowler and GCHSCHL Blue Jacket Cup Champion Chris Van Ooyen on staff as his assistant this year and will look to continue the tradition of winning that has been bread into the program over the past five years.

After losing only four seniors to graduation last season, the Prowlers core on defense will remain intact with senior captains Brian Rossi and Cody Berkebile (both Pickerington North) serving as the foundation for this Prowler team. Despite losing four year Prowler Jeff Laird (Pickerington Central) to graduation, the team will continue to have a physical presence on the blue line with returning senior Loren Chrisman (Pickerington North) and juniors Zach Wiard (Watkins Memorial) and Ryan Straker (Licking Heights). Junior Tyler Annetts (Pickerington Central) who played in the Buckeye Cup for the varsity club last season will move up from the JV team full time this season and will be joined by newcomer, sophomore Ryan McMullen (Pickerington North) as the Prowlers look to keep their steady defensive presence from a year ago.

Last season, senior Justin Lohrman (Pickerington North) came into camp inexperienced, but he shouldered the majority of the load for the Prowlers in goal playing beyond all expectation. This year he will be joined by a young goalie in freshmen Dan Smith (Pickerington North). Smith will learn from Lohrman as the season goes on while challenging him for ice time at the same time.

On the offensive front, the Prowlers lose 2 four year Prowlers with the graduation of last year's team captain Ben French (Pickerington Central) and hard hitting Nick Miller (Pickerington North), along with two time GCHSCHL leading goal scorer Taylor Walcutt (Pickerington North). They also will be without perennial point getter in senior Nick Hess (Pickerington Central) who becomes the fifth Prowler to advance to the Junior B level as he joins the Columbus Junior B Blue Jackets. Hess leaves the Prowlers as the second all time leading point getter with 145 points (70G, 75A) in 101 games played, second only to his brother T.J. Hess who graduated in 2004 with 187 points (81G, 106A) in 145 games played.

This years Prowlers will look for a more balanced attack with two sophomores leading the way. Last year's only two freshman on the GCHSCHL All-Star team, sophomores Adam McGrath (Pickerington North) and Brad Noskowiak (Reynoldsburg) are expected to play a dominant role in the Prowlers offense as just second year players. Combined with the leadership of seniors Geoff Kilian (Pickerington North) and Max Matsanoff (Pickerington North), returning juniors, alternate captain Luke Wilkins (Canal Winchester), Austin Zurbriggen (Canal Winchester), Taylor Markell (Pickerington Central) and Tommy Newhard (Bishop Hartley) will look to present the Prowlers with many options on offense. Also joining the Prowler forward lines will be three players who suited up for the JV team last season in junior Bobby Castricone (Pickerington Central), sophomore Tyler Cole (Pickerington North) and freshman Taylor Kantor (Pickerington North).

While many people have counted the Prowlers out for the 2006-2007 season, coach Catherine will have his Prowlers playing an emotionally fired style of in your face hockey, while relying on the continued stability of the Prowler defense and goaltending. This year's Prowlers hope to continue were they left off last season and focus on returning to the Blue Jackets Cup Finals and the Buckeye Cup State Championship Tournament.

Good luck to this year's Ice Prowlers as they begin the 2006-2007 season.