skip navigation
|

Recent Moeller News

Too Much of a Good Thing?

By Scott Harrington 04/24/2019, 2:15pm EDT

Weekend Tournaments Producing Diminishing Returns

Having worked in pro and junior hockey, I am familiar with the “three-in-three” concept.  When teams are trying to maximize attendance, or must consider players’ schooling, lots of games are crammed into weekends.

I can also tell you that the third game in three days tends to be $&%@ hockey…

So, what about the long-standing tradition of in-season high school hockey tournaments where teams routinely play four games in three days? – less than three days, really, when you consider the first is generally payed Friday night and the fourth is played Sunday morning.  Sometimes the championship tilt can be a good match-up, but how about those Sunday 8:00 a.m. seventh-place games?

It is difficult to measure the quality of a hockey game, but I don’t think many hockey players, parents or coaches would challenge the assertion that tired hockey players make for bad hockey games. 

The high school hockey culture is no different than youth hockey in that in tends to over-value the number of games young players cram into their schedule.  More games do not necessarily mean better development or better hockey.  There is something to be said for practice and rest.

Pat McKendry was the head coach at Walsh Jesuit from 2009-2019, where the Warriors host three tournaments per year at KSU Ice Arena.

McKendry had a problem with the standard high school tournament format, so he decided to change it up.  At each of the tournaments Walsh hosted during the 2018-19 season, teams played just once on Saturday.  To make up for some of the lost playing time, all tournament games consisted of three 17-minute periods instead of the OHSAA’s standard 15-minute periods.

The concept is less is more, or quality over quantity, when it comes to varsity competition.

“I always thought that playing two games in one day was a bit crazy and not very productive,” said McKendry.  “When talking with a few other coaches, we essentially came up with the same discussion points: #1 – it is to many games in a short amount of time, #2 – the second game on Saturday always has problems, and #3 – Playing 17-minute periods you don't lose much game time and the games are of a higher quality.  Truthfully it is a winning combination all around.”

While the quality of any given hockey game may be subjective, there are data points that can be collected on individual players through physical testing that compare how they perform in different environments.

To back his theory up with data, McKendry points to the research of Ken Martel, technical director of USA Hockey’s American Development Model.  With over 25 years of experience in player development, and a long history as a coach with USA Hockey, Martel is charged with helping to provide a framework for optimal athlete development for associations nationwide to follow.

Martel’s master’s thesis at Eastern Michigan University researched the T1EHL showcase setups, and our National U18 and U17 Teams, using the same technology that is being deployed in the NHL and others in high performance sports.

The full thesis paper, “Quantifying Changes in Accelerations and Heart Rate Indicative of Fatigue During Condensed Competitions in Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players” is available here for your reading enjoyment:

Brad Gibson Named Moeller Head Coach

By Scott Harrington 03/21/2019, 2:45pm EDT

Replaces 16-year veteran Reeder behind Crusaders bench

The Moeller Crusaders have elevated junior varsity coach Brad Gibson to the head coach of the varsity team, replacing 16-year veteran Mike Reeder.

“I am honored and humbled to become the next head hockey coach at my alma mater,” said Gibson.  “Since 1982 our former players and coaches have worked to establish Moeller as the premier high school program in southwest Ohio.”

Moeller won the White Division of the Capital Hockey Conference in 2017-18 and moved up to the Red Division this past season.

The Crusaders posted an overall record of 14-12-1 and finished sixth in the CHC Red Division.  They won the consolation bracket of the Blue Jackets Cup before advancing to the district quarterfinals of the state tournament, where a 3-2 triple-overtime loss to Olentangy Liberty ended their season.

“I want to thank Coach Mike Reeder for his many years of service and bringing Moeller to the Capital Conference to compete at the highest level of high school hockey in the state,” Gibson said.  “I am excited to work with an incredible group of young men who are committed to building on this legacy and taking the program to the next level.”

Gibson coached the JVs for the past three seasons.  He graduated from Moeller in 2000 after playing four years of hockey for the Crusaders. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and economics from Boston College in 2004, a master's degree in education from Xavier University in 2005, and a law degree from NKU Chase College of Law in 2010.

 

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest

St. Xavier wins third straight SWOHSHL title

By Michael Schemmel 02/11/2019, 11:15am EST

LaSalle, Moeller win their brackets

The Red Division tournament of the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League followed the final regular season standings with St. Xavier winning the tournament over Talawanda in the championship game by the score 6-3.

In the first round, #4 Alter beat #5 Elder 6-2 and #3 Centerville won over #6 Beavercreek 3-2. In the second round #1 St Xavier beat Alter 3-2 and #2 Talawanda beat Centerville 6-4.

The win gives St Xavier their third straight SWOHSHL tournament championship.

In the league’s Gold Division tournament Troy fell to Mason, 4-2, and La Salle beat Sycamore, 4-1, in first round games. The winners played Sunday for the Gold Championship with La Salle coming out on top by the score of 4-1 over the Trojans.

In the Capital Hockey Conference, Moeller and Springboro met in the Blue Jacket Cup Consolation Championship on Sunday with Moeller winning 11-2.  The Crusaders and Panthers were the top two seeds in the Consolation Bracket.

The path to the championship for Moeller was a win over Gahanna 6-0 on Friday evening and a win over Thomas Worthington 8-3 on Saturday. Springboro beat St Francis DeSales 3-2 on Friday and then topped Columbus Academy 6-4 on Saturday.

All the teams from Southwest Ohio area are placed in the Columbus Bracket for OHSAA District tournaments and will be in action next weekend.

 

--- Michael Schemmel for Ohio Hockey Digest

 

|