Tim Sullivan, a 1992 St. Edward graduate, returns as just the fourth head coach in the history of the storied program.  He will be charged with ending an 11-year state title drought—the longest in school history for the 11-time state champions. 

The potential for a powerful marriage is obvious:  combining the appeal of a private school program with the most state championships in Ohio history with a three-time GLHL Coach of the Year who played for four seasons and was a part of two state championships at the school as a player (1990 & 1992). 

It is a unique opportunity for Sullivan, who had no idea as he soaked in Holy Name’s 2019 Cleveland Cup championship that it would be the last game of his tenure with the program he started from scratch 16 years earlier.

“All I knew was I had a good group of kids coming back,” he said.

Holy Name had a bit of a question mark hanging over its head when it was included in the original eight-team group that broke away from the sprawling Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League in 2013.  They had only advanced to the Red South Division of that league three years prior and were not yet considered one of the major players in Northeast Ohio.  But, with Sullivan at the helm, the Green Wave proved they belonged with the big boys and the veteran coach put an exclamation point on his tenure in Parma Heights with the Cleveland Cup win.

Ironically, Sullivan and the Namers knocked St. Edward out of the league tournament in the semifinals, then did it to them again in the districts.  Now Sullivan finds himself on the other side of what has turned into one of the more interesting rivalries in the region in recent years.  And with the change behind the bench, and talent returning at all positions, the Eagles will be a closely-watched team this season – not just in the region but state-wide.

With all of the excitement around the St. Edward program this season there is one glaring loss:  43-goal scorer and 2018-19 GLHL scoring leader Tanyon Bajzer took his talents to the Gilmour Academy Prep team but since he was not with St. Edward last year, and has never coached Bajzer, Sullivan doesn’t really feel the sting.

“Great kid and very talented but I didn’t coach him,” he said.

While Bajzer has left the Eagles’ nest, the next four scorers from last year’s team do return:  Noah Schultz (20-22-42), Sean Kolenich (13-18-31), Tyler Fowles (11-16-27) and Matt Smith (12-13-25).

All three goalies are back as well, including last year’s #1 Nate Cappellazzo (15-5-0, 2.24, .900).

Sullivan brought his entire staff with him:  Jason Levanduski, Kevin Madden, Sean Francis, David Fassbender, Dan Humphrey, Craig Drdek and Dom Ramicone.  The acclimation process began immediately, and Sullivan is happy with how things are progressing. 

“Between the boys, the families and the coaches we’ve had seven months to get to know one another,” he said.  “I can confidently say we are all on the same page and working towards the same goal.”

At St. Edward, there is no question what that goal is.  The immediate challenge, aside from pulling together a group of players he did not himself assemble, is to provide rival Saint Ignatius – winners of the last four state titles – with some competition and, ultimately, guide the Eagles to a 12th state championship.

St. Edward and Saint Ignatius will face off at Brooklyn Rec Center on December 28 - just one of the big tests along the way in a season-long grind that will be the first steps for St. Edward in the next chapter of the program.

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest