Miller becomes one half of Prowlers' 1-2 punch

As seen in Pataskala Standard
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Kurt Snyder

By Andrea Kjerrumgaard/ThisWeek Jake Miller moves the puck up the ice for the PRPC Prowlers on Nov. 6 during their 2-1 loss to the Newark Generals. Miller is a sophomore at Watkins Memorial. Freshman phenom Watkins Memorial's Jake Miller had 12 goals and 11 assists last year as a freshman for the PRPC Prowlers.

PATASKALA -- It has not taken long for Watkins Memorial sophomore Jake Miller to endear himself to his new hockey coach.

Miller had two goals and three assists in the first four league games for the PRPC Prowlers and new coach Joe Tonello.

"(Miller) is sharing a line with the top returning scorer, Adam McGrath, and he has definitely become a 1-2 punch with Adam," Tonello said. "He is definitely one of the offensive threats in the league."

The Prowlers, who are made up of players from the Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Pataskala and Canal Winchester communities, play in the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League. Tonello took over for former coach Jay C. Catherine in the offseason.

The Prowlers have three Pataskala-area players this season: Miller, Licking Heights sophomore Sean Straker and Bishop Hartley sophomore Erik Heinmiller.

Miller had 12 goals and 11 assists in a productive freshman year for the Prowlers, who won their fourth regular-season championship in five years. The organization also has three tournament championships since 2003.

"He is an all-around player," Tonello said. "He knows how to find the openings to make an offensive play, and he knows how to find the empty net."

Straker already is one of the Prowler's defensive anchors as a sophomore, and he can be deceptively strong offensively from the blue line with a tough slap shot.

He is easily the team leader in hits with 19 so far and is on pace to blow past the 52 he had last year.

"(Straker) plays like a senior," Tonello said. "He is a talented individual; he is definitely one of our leaders on our defense, and he does a lot of good things on our power play."

Heinmiller is one of the Prowlers' options at their deep goaltender position. He started the season on the JV, but he already has been moved up because of a season-ending injury to Dan Smith.

Heinmiller has not yet played in a league game this season, but he was 4-1-1 in limited action last season with only 15 goals allowed in 10 games.

"It is good to be able to go down and bring up Erik and not worry about it," Tonello said. "The best thing for me as a new coach is the flexibility I have. I am able to take a look at each goaltender at any given time."

Tonello said the season might start slow for the Prowlers, who play against Westerville on Friday at the Chiller Easton, after graduating several seniors and a coaching change, but he expects them to hit their stride by the time winter arrives.

"One of the roles of a coach is trying to find the right chemistry," Tonello said. "You are constantly changing and making sure you find out which kids are going to jell the best. We have been trying to find that mix, and there will still be some slight changes."

Kurt Snyder can be reached at (740) 328-8556 or ksnyder@nncogannett.com.