2008-2009 Season Preview

The theme for the 2008-2009 season is definitely one of change for the Prowlers. Immediately after winning their forth (4th) GCHSCHL regular season championship and representing the GCHSCHL in their forth (4th) consecutive Buckeye Cup Ohio State Championship Tournament in 2007-2008, the Prowlers went through the start of their transformation. The program graduated eight (8) seniors from their varsity roster in the spring, and saw a wholesale coaching staff change in the summer. The Laroche/Catherine era ended when head coach Jay C. Catherine stepped down behind the bench after being on board for over six (6) seasons. During that time, the Prowler Hockey saw it's greatest success winning four (4) GCHSCHL regular season titles, three (3) Blue Jackets Cups, five (5) consecutive Blue Jackets Cup Finals appearances and four (4) consecutive Buckeye Cup Ohio State Championship Tournament appearances (including one Final Four appearance).

Now the Prowlers look to head coach Joe Tonello to lead the ship and keep the Prowlers on track through the transition. Coach Tonello takes the reigns after leading the Dublin Scioto High School Irish of the Capital Hockey Conference (CHC) for five seasons. He brings with him assistant coach Walt Johnson at the varsity level and Larry Miller to lead the JV squad. After successful playing and coaching careers, the new staff brings the pedigree of coaching that Prowler Hockey has become accustom to over it's first 10 seasons.

In addition to the changes behind the bench, the squad will also see 10 new names on the 20 man varsity roster in 2008-2009.

The anchor for the team will remain in goal where last season's year of transition is now one of the club's strengths. Last year's GCHSCHL goals against average (1.58 GAA in 16 GP) and save percentage (0.916 SV% in 16 GP) leader, junior Jeramiah Holland (Reynoldsburg), returns between the pipes along with junior Dan Smith (Pickerington North), who used last season to rehabilitate from off season MCL/ACL surgery. Smith helped lead the Prowlers to the Blue Jackets Cup Championship and Buckeye Cup Final Four in his freshman season before injuring his knee last summer. Now he looks to return to form as the junior goaltending duo look to battle it out for the starting position. Last season sophomore Erik Heinmiller (Bishop Hartley) also saw time at the varsity level as a freshman and is waiting in the wings for another opportunity while he shuttles back and forth between JV and varsity, showing the depth that the program has developed between the pipes.

The Prowler defense saw a big hit in the off season with the graduation of captain Zack Wiard (Watkins Memorial) and alternate captains Ryan Straker (Licking Heights) and Tyler Annetts (Pickerington Central). The trio combined for 319 of the clubs 777 registered hits last season and anchored a blue line that showcased a stingy 2.6 goals against in 35 games played.

This years defense is a lot less experienced with senior Ryan McMullen (Pickerington North) returning from a year away from the program while playing for the Columbus Capitals U16 AA and senior Dan Johnson (Pickerington Central) serving as the elder statesmen. Junior Alex Daniels (Reynoldsburg) and sophomore Sean Straker (Licking Heights) return from their first full season at varsity to continue bringing their physical play while looking to contribute on the offensive side of the puck as well. This quartet will be joined by three defenders who served as varsity alternates last season while anchoring the JV blue line for the Prowlers. Juniors Erik Flom (Reynoldsburg) and Alyssa Smith (Pickerington Central) will be joined by sophomore Trevor Annetts (Pickerington North) as they look to gain from their varsity exposure last season and round out the Prowler's seven man defensive unit.

The Prowlers lost a total of seven forwards over the summer. Gone through graduation were three players who skated at varsity from their freshman season in Austin Zurbriggen (Canal Winchester), Taylor Markell (Pickerington Central) and Tommy Newhard (Bishop Hartley), as well as two forwards who progressed through the club's JV program in Bobby Castricone (Pickerington Central) and Aaron McKenzie (Pickerington North). In addition, the club also lost the pure goal scoring ability of three year Prowler senior Brad Noskowiak (Reynoldsburg) and junior J.D. Klinger (Watkins Memorial) who did not return to the club this season.

The five returning varsity forwards look to provide a big chunk of the teams offense, built around senior Adam McGrath (Pickerington North). The three time GCHSCHL All-Star and 2007-2008 GCHSCHL Goals (30G in 22GP) and points (44 PTS in 22 GP) leader, McGrath became the program's all-time career goal scoring leader last season netting 91 goals in 98 career games played and moved into second on the club's all-time points list (91G and 82A for 173PTS in 98GP). He looks to rewrite the Prowler Hockey record book during his senior season as he attempts to lead the team back to the Blue Jackets Cup Finals and in the quest for the elusive Buckeye Cup State Championship.

Supporting McGrath up front are a quartet of talented forwards who look to increase their contribution this season. Led by a pair of three year Prowlers in senior Tyler Cole (Pickerington North) and junior Taylor Kantor (Pickerington North), along with second year Prowlers sophomores Jake Miller (Watkins Memorial) and Kyle Baughman (Canal Winchester), the offense appears to have a solid core who can fill the net going into the new season.

This year’s offense will also showcase six forwards who have worked their way through the club's JV program and look to take advantage of the opportunity to wear the Prowler crest at the varsity level. Senior Michael Hutton will lead that group along with juniors Matt Thompson (Pickerington Central), Christopher Lohrman (Pickerington North) and Josh Katz (Pickerington North). They will be joined by sophomore Darien Bryant (Reynoldsburg) and the varsity team's only freshman, Seth Hunter (Canal Winchester), who skated for the JV team as an 8th grader last season.

The team will be led on and off the ice this year by senior captain Tyler Cole. He will be supported by three alternate captains in fellow senior Adam McGrath, serving as an alternate captain for the second time, and juniors Taylor Kantor and Dan Smith.

With a solid talented core of returning players and an up and coming group of newcomers, the Prowlers look to make coach Tonello's first year behind the bench a successful one. Even in a year of change, the Prowlers have high expectations after last season's success. The team is anxious to start the defense of their 2008 GCHSCHL Regular Season Championship, and hopes to make another run at bringing back the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup and capturing the club's first ever Buckeye Cup state title.

Good luck to this year's Ice Prowlers as they begin the 2008-2009 season.