2022-23 Great Lakes Hockey League Preview
Five teams chase the Cleveland Cup in leaner, meaner GLHL
The Great Lakes Hockey League goes forward with five schools this year after the departure of defending champion St. Edward and the hiatus of the Holy Name program. What remains is a predominantly East Side circuit that will see the five remaining teams – 2022 Ohio state champion Gilmour Academy, Padua Franciscan, Shaker Heights, University School and Walsh Jesuit – battle for the Cleveland Cup in February.
John Malloy’s Gilmour Academy Lancers are the only league member competing this year to have previously captured the league’s post-season tournament championship (2018 & 2020). The remaining titles exited the league with St. Edward (2021 & 2022) and, before that, Saint Ignatius (2014-2017). Holy Name captured the Cleveland Cup in 2019.
That opens the door for the remaining four programs to claim their first GLHL title if they can get past Gilmour.
University School and Padua Franciscan jumped to an early lead in the league standings with wins over Shaker Heights and Walsh Jesuit, respectively, before the Thanksgiving weekend that saw all five teams in holiday tournament action.
GILMOUR ACADEMY LANCERS
Head Coach: John Malloy
2021-22: 28-9-4 (7-2-1, 2nd place GLHL)
OHSAA STATE CHAMPIONS
CLEVELAND CUP
W, 9-1, Holy Name
W, 2-1, Walsh Jesuit
L, 2-3 (OT), St. Edward
KENT REGIONAL
W, 11-0, Mayfield
W, 16-2, Solon
W, 3-2 (OT), Walsh Jesuit
W, 2-0, Mentor
STATE TOURNAMENT
W, 2-0, St. Edward
W, 2-1 (OT), Toledo St. Francis
Gilmour Academy won the first Ohio High School Athletic Association championship in school history with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Toledo St. Francis.
The Lancers made it to the state title game by knocking out St. Edward, which had defeated them in the Cleveland Cup championship game for the second year in a row.
Gilmour, which typically has a lot of roster turnover from year to year on the “Varsity A” team, returns its top three scorers for the first time: Senior captain Matt Bauman, Viktor Povozhaev, and Justin (Bocheng) Wen.
The Lancers return 11 players in all from their state championship team, including Brennen O’Neill, Jacob Malinas, Rocco Hice, Luke Radke, Gavin Fielder and Evan Underwood in net.
Bauman scored the “golden goal” to secure the state title. Even more is expected from him in his senior season.
“Matt Bauman is a seasoned, well-prepared and all-around player,” said Malloy. “It’s like having an assistant coach on the ice. He makes everyone around him better.”
Provozhaev hit the weight room over the summer and put on 15 pounds of muscle, so look for him to be a force.
“Justin Wen is coming into his own as well,” said Malloy. “I expect him to have a huge season. He is bigger and faster, and his shot is much better.”
O’Neill will anchor the defense along with returner Jacob Malinas and U16 graduate Cole Bridges.
Even with St. Edward departing the GLHL, Malloy expects league play to remain competitive. The team wasted no time jumping into a challenging schedule, visiting the Eagles at Winterhurst for their regular season opener (3-1 loss) then heading to Sylvania for the Cold Turkey Shootout. Gilmour lost their tournament opener there to the Dayton Stealth before getting things going with wins over Cathedral Prep (PA), Toledo St. John’s and Trenton (MI).
In addition to league play against longtime rivals Shaker Heights and University School, Malloy points to a pair of re-matches of the state championship game with St. Francis and key dates on the schedule.
“I always want my team to get better throughout the year and compete at their highest level, whatever that ends up being.” said the veteran coach. “I always try to focus on us. Maybe I should do a better job scouting, but I always feel that if we take care of our locker room and our team, we will make them have to adjust to us vs the other way around.”
Having 11 returning players who played regularly the year prior is a luxury Malloy doesn’t usually have at GA. For those returnees to have state championship experience is an even bigger advantage.
“They put in a lot of work in the weightroom with our fitness coaches and as a group are much bigger, stronger and faster,” said Malloy. “I am looking forward to seeing how that hard work pays off.”
Rocco Hice with the stick check, the puck retrieval and the finish. @GALancerHockey leads @SEHSicehockey 2-1 but the Eagles on the power play. @GLHL1 pic.twitter.com/UjDpDykw5V
— Ohio Hockey Digest (@hockey_ohio) February 13, 2022
PADUA FRANCISCAN BRUINS
Head Coach: Perry Cohagan
2021-22: 14-12-7 (3-6-1, 5th place GLHL)
CLEVELAND CUP
W, 5-4 (OT), Shaker Heights
L, 1-2 (OT), St. Edward
BROOKLYN REGIONAL
W, 2-0, Avon
W, 4-3 (OT), Rocky River
L, 1-10, St. Edward
The only GLHL team that will play out of the Brooklyn Region in the state playoffs, the Padua Franciscan Bruins, will be looking to build on a strong 2021-22 campaign that saw them score over 100 goals and put in a competitive showing in the league standings after going without a GLHL win over the three previous seasons.
The Bruins took eventual league and regional champion St. Edward to overtime in the Cleveland Cup semifinals and knocked off a competitive Rocky River team in the regional tournament before the Eagles ended their post-season run.
Although the likes of Brock Bisler, Josh Jarecki and Jack Smith will be missed, Padua has a huge contingent of returning players – 17 in all – including four-year starting goaltender Aidan Knox who posted a 23-save shutout over Walsh Jesuit in the league opener.
In addition to plenty of experience, Padua has a lot of team speed and is strong defensively and in goal.
Head coach Perry Cohagan says his team will need goal scoring from our senior forwards Shane Helman and Liam Conway.
Shane Helman is an established scorer with great speed and quickness and a deadly shot. He potted four goals in Padua 6-3 win over Walsh Jesuit to capture the Walsh Thanksgiving Tournament.
"Conway has an incredible ability to keep the puck and find the open man,” said Cohagan. “He is strong and smart and has a high hockey IQ.”
Yuri Bellina is a two-way junior defenseman who is big and strong and has great skating and playmaking ability.
“Yuri has become an elite defensive presence in the state,” said Cohagan. “I also expect to see growth from underclassmen Colin Matier at center, Mark Aponte at wing, and all of our young defensemen.”
Helman will be the captain while Conway, Knox and Adam Mindzora serve as alternates.
The red holds the puck forever to create some extra tension and then Liam Conway’s one-timer off the draw to send us to overtime. Jarecki with the clean win. @PaduaAthletics 3, @RRHSHockey 3. Rose 32 saves Knox 23. pic.twitter.com/qRwvensUBR
— Ohio Hockey Digest (@hockey_ohio) February 24, 2022
4:17 into OT Yuri Bellina tries to play the puck across and it banks in off a @RRHSHockey player’s shin pad. He’ll take it. @PaduaAthletics defeats River 4-3 and advances. pic.twitter.com/IkpejMFXQE
— Ohio Hockey Digest (@hockey_ohio) February 24, 2022
Cohagan expects Gilmour Academy and University School to continue their strong traditions, but doesn’t expect a two-team race in the GLHL. “”Every team is a tough out in this league.”
Padua will be in Columbus this weekend for the Allgeyer Tournament where their slate will include three Red Division teams from the Capital Hockey Conference.
The Padua Holiday Hockey Tournament, the ultimate “measuring stick” tournament for the top teams around the state, comes up the week before Christmas.
“We are looking forward to that test,” said Cohagan.
SHAKER HEIGHTS RED RAIDERS
Head Coach: Matt Bartley
2021-22: 16-13-5 (5-4-1, 4th place GLHL)
CLEVELAND CUP
L, 4-5 (OT), Padua Franciscan
KENT REGIONAL
W, 9-0, Cleveland Heights
L, 1-4, Mentor
Shaker Heights left the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League and entered the Great Lakes Hockey League with a 5-5-0 mark in league play in 2018-19. Except for a COVID-impacted 1-2-0 mark in 2020-21, the Red Raiders have been at or above .500 every season in the GLHL.
As Shaker and head coach Matt Bartley embark on their fifth season in the league, they look to take that next step and play for the Cleveland Cup in February.
Last year, another competitive Shaker team put up an impressive regular season showing, but the post-season ended abruptly with an overtime loss to Padua in the Cleveland Cup quarterfinals and a quarterfinal exit in a competitive Kent Region tournament at the hands of old GCHSHL rival Mentor.
The @SFSAthletics Knights are having trouble putting away @shaker_hockey. 2-1 St. Francis with the Raiders pressing. Tyler Lencewicz with a couple nice keep-ins on this sequence. pic.twitter.com/W5kKSzUZjy
— Ohio Hockey Digest (@hockey_ohio) December 18, 2021
Bartley will have to replace last season’s GLHL Player of the Year Tyler Lencewicz (and his 39 goals) but the early returns have been encouraging.
Isaac Miller scored the lone Raiders goal and Cooper Mears made 20 saves in a 3-1 loss to University School in the GLHL opener, but the Red Raiders nounced back and picked up a pair of wins over the host Bobcats at Bowling Green’s Jamie Ruffner Memorial Tournament last week.
Shaker hosts Toledo St. John’s and Gilmour Academy, then visits Rocky River, this weekend before hosting the annual Thornton Park Tournament December 8-11.
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL PREPPERS
Head Coach: Andy Gerow
2021-22: 18-12-4 (6-4-0, 3rd place GLHL)
CLEVELAND CUP
L, 1-2 (OT), Walsh Jesuit
KENT REGIONAL
W, 8-1, CVCA
W, 7-1, Stow-Monroe Falls
L, 1-2 (OT), Mentor
The University School Preppers played one of the most competitive schedules in the state of Ohio last season and, while the stiff competition prepared them for the post-season, US could not get the bounces when they needed them at crunch time.
The Preppers were eliminated from both the Cleveland Cup and Kent Regional tournaments in 2-1 overtime losses to Walsh Jesuit and Mentor, respectively. It was the first time US failed to win at least one game in the Cleveland Cup tournament.
Head coach Andy Gerow will attempt to guide the team back to the league’s championship game and win the trophy for the first time. The Preppers have been runners-up in the league tournament five times (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).
“We bring back a core group of guys with varsity experience,” said Gerow. “But also have youth that will be seeing their first action at the varsity level.”
After posting a 3-1 win over Shaker in the league opener, US went 3-1-0 at the Ruffner Memorial Tournament at Bowling Green, defeating the host Bobcats, St. Thomas-Villanova (CA) and Meadville (PA) while suffering only a one-goal loss to Findlay – the only blemish on their early-season record.
Kellen McGarry, a speedy forward that plays with great energy and tenacity, will be the Preppers’ captain this season.
Samonte Martin, a big and long forward that is tough to handle in the offensive zone, and Sam Wade, a fast and skilled forward that can score goals and be a playmaker, will be important pieces up front.
Will Genovese, who will anchor the defensive unit, will be an alternate captain along with Martin.
The scoring looks balanced, with 11 players picking up multiple points through the first five games of the seasons. Luke Palmer leads the team with three goals while McGarry’s four-assist performance against Meadville pulled him into a tie for the team scoring lead with Luke Garofalo.
Newcomer Noah Caballero has been sharp between the pipes, winning his first three starts with a 1.22 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.
In addition to league games against St. Edward and Gilmour Academy, last year’s schedule included games against Toledo St. Francis (2x), Sylvania Northview (3x) and Saint Ignatius as well as top-flight competition outside Ohio. This year will be no different with the Preppers in update upstate New York for the National Scholastic Invitational this weekend and again competing in the Padua Holiday Hockey Tournament two weeks later.
WALSH JESUIT WARRIORS
Head Coach: Pete Calleri
2021-22: 17-14-3 (3-7-0, 6th place GLHL)
CLEVELAND CUP
W, 2-1 (OT), University School
L, 1-2, Gilmour Academy
KENT REGIONAL
W, 11-0, NDCL
W, 4-3, Hudson
L, 2-3 (OT), Gilmour Academy
Walsh Jesuit’s 3-7-0 mark in league play last year only goes to highlight the competitiveness of the Great Lakes Hockey League. That deceiving record included close losses to state title contenders and, when the post-season came around, Walsh came through with an overtime win over University School in the Cleveland Cup and a clutch win over a competitive Hudson team in a regional playoff game.
Ultimately, the Warriors had both their league and regional tournament runs ended with one-goal losses to eventual state champion Gilmour Academy, with the Kent Regional semifinal game going to sudden-death overtime.
While the Warriors lost eight players to graduation, the experience gained last season by their returning players positions Walsh well to compete within the GLHL this season.
Big goal for @TheWJBretheren off the stick of Joe Holtzer midway through the 2nd period. I think that was Weiner with the setup. Warriors going on the power play trailing 3-2. @GLHL1 pic.twitter.com/EHJYVdchyT
— Ohio Hockey Digest (@hockey_ohio) November 28, 2021
“All of our returning players will have to step up,” said head coach Pete Calleri.
Captain Ryan Kerscher will be supported by alternates Ryan Holcomb, Joe Holtzer and Cleveland.com All-Star Josh Weiner.
“Josh Weiner will be one of our top skill players,” said Calleri. “He has great work ethic and scoring touch.”
Kerscher, who Calleri says will be a force with both offensive and defensive capabilities, leads the team in scoring (4-6-10) through the first five games, followed by fellow senior forwards Weiner (1-6-7) and Patrick McCarthy (4-3-7).
Despite the graduation of both halves of the long-time goalie tandem of Brodie Lerch (Utica Comets, USPHL) and Zach Firment, Calleri sees goaltending as a strength of this year’s team with Tavian Parks returning.
Calleri says Parks will be a key part to the team’s success this season, pointing to his solid fundamentals with great competitiveness. He has played every game in the early going (3 wins, 3.00 GAA, .907 SV%).
Calleri knows all of the league games will be hotly contested, but points to contests against defending state champion Gilmour Academy as games to circle on the calendar.
The Warriors have a tremendous in-season tournament slate put together. In addition to hosting their own Thanksgiving, Christmas and MLK tournaments at OBM Arena, they will compete in the prestigious Padua Holiday and Thornton Park tournaments. It will be their first time at the Padua Tournament.
The Warriors head to Northwest Ohio this weekend for a pair of non-league road games against Findlay and Bowling Green.
--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest
