McGrath helps keep PRPC in first

As seen in ThisWeek News
Thursday, December 27, 2007

ANDERS LARSON
ThisWeek Staff Writer

By Ann Tormet/ThisWeek Alex Daniels (right) of Reynoldsburg protects the puck from Newark's Jake Metcalfe in PRPC's game Dec. 16 at Chiller North. PRPC won 2-1.

AT A GLANCE: Below are the recent results and coming schedule for the Pickerington/ Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/Canal Winchester hockey team: Dec. 14 -- Lost to Athens 3-1. Dec. 16 -- Defeated Newark 2-1. Ryan Straker and Bobby Castricone scored. Jake Miller, J.D. Klinger and Brad Noskowiak had assists. Jeramiah Holland made 13 saves. Last Friday -- Def. Northeast 7-3. Miller scored two goals. Adam McGrath, Kyle Baughman, Thomas Newhard and Noskowiak all had one goal and one assist. Castricone added a goal. Jan. 3 -- At Newark Jan. 5 -- At Athens Of note: The Prowlers are 14-5-2 overall and 11-3-2 in the GCHSCHL.

It's not a new problem for coach Jay C. Catherine and the Pickering-ton/Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/Canal Winchester club hockey team.

For the last few years, the Prowlers have dealt with the loss of several of their most talented players as they moved on to play travel hockey at the Junior B or Junior A level. It's not really a bad problem to have, either, since Catherine has had the luxury of coaching so many players capable of playing at a higher level.

So when Adam McGrath, one of the best players in the league last season, decided to return to the Prowlers for his junior season, it was a particularly pleasant surprise.

"He made the decision to keep his academics first and stay here with us," Catherine said. "But it's something where he's one of those guys where there's a good chance we probably won't get him next year."

McGrath and Cody Berkebile, who graduated from Pickerington High School North last spring, were the most productive offensive duo in the league last season, combining for 93 goals and 64 assists as the Prowlers went 28-3-5 and reached the semifinals of the Buckeye Cup. McGrath's 66 points boosted his two-year total to 112, already good for sixth in team history.

The decision on whether or not to play travel hockey was made more difficult thanks to the departure of the Columbus Capitals two years ago. That meant the closest teams were in Cincinnati and Cleveland, where McGrath would have to live for over half of the year to play.

McGrath had an uncle in the Cleveland area, so he decided to try out for the Cleveland Lumberjacks. He made the Junior B team, but the idea of moving away from home still seemed a bit too daunting.

"I decided to stay because I'm closer to home and my family is here, and friends and school," McGrath said. "It's worked out a lot better because I'm enjoying the season, and I kind of didn't want to be there. I'd be having fun, but I'm having a lot more fun here."

McGrath has continued to play at a level above most of the players in the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League. He had 44 points, including a league-leading 31 in league games. He is also the leader with 22 goals in league play.

"He dominates the league," Catherine said. "He's by far the best player in our league. He plays both ends of the ice. He's the best defensive forward, and he can score."

The Prowlers are 14-5-2 overall and first in the GCHSCHL with 24 points (11-3-2). McGrath has been a big reason, but he has had help. The goaltending play has been a nice surprise according to Catherine, as Jeramiah Holland and Eric Heinmiller have filled in well as Dan Smith recovers from an injury.

Holland, a sophomore, is allowing a league-low 1.57 goals per game in league games. Heinmiller has started five league games and is allowing 2.93 goals.

Junior Brad Noskowiak is not far behind McGrath in points (26) and leads the team in assists (16). Catherine said Noskowiak gives the Prowlers another dangerous scoring threat and keeps teams from gearing up solely to stop McGrath.

"There was a while where we had them on the same line together, and I think that kind of hurt them because teams could just focus on one line," Catherine said. "So we split them back apart. They're both a step ahead of the rest of the players in the league as far as talent, being able to read the play, their puck-handling, their shot."

McGrath is up to third in team history with 156. T.J. Hess holds the all-time mark with 187. With another year at PRPC, he would almost certainly wind up as the all-time leader in every offensive category, but there's no guarantee that he'll be back.

McGrath said his decision will be based on where he intends to attend college. If he plans to attend an NCAA Division I school, he likely will play travel hockey, hopefully at the Junior A level, in order to prepare for the jump to college. He said it's possible he'll attend a smaller school, in which case he could very well end up back on the Prowlers for a fourth season.

Either way, his place in the record books isn't particularly significant to him. What's important is how he performs as a teammate.

"I don't really mind the scoring. It comes with the territory of playing hard," McGrath said. "I like to be a team leader and have guys look up to me. If they need help with something or aren't playing well or whatever, they can come to me and talk to me. Instead of talking to the coach directly, they can come to me with whatever they've got."