GILMOUR ACADEMY – Gilmour Academy has endured a sluggish start to the season, but the Lancers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Carmel (IN) in their most recent game. That game was played December 10 at the Cornfield Cup tournament hosted by Culver Academy in Indiana…Following an early-season 5-3 win over Padua Franciscan on November 19, Gilmour managed just eight goals over its next nine games and did not score more than two goals in a game during that streak. They were also shut out four times. Finding a way to generate more offense will be key for GA over the balance of their schedule, but they will also rely heavily on a pair of young goaltenders: sophomore Bryce Kitching and freshman Colton Piercy.

HOLY NAME – It was expected that the Green Wave of Holy Name would take their lumps in their first year back on the ice after a one-year hiatus. After losing their first four games, the Namers picked up some momentum with wins against St. Ignatius Blue (5-1), Elyria Catholic (9-4) and St. Edward Green (3-2)…Head coach Ian Skacan will lead the Green Wave back into GLHL competition when they visit Walsh Jesuit Friday night looking for their first league win.

PADUA FRANCISCAN – Padua hosted top teams from around the state in their 26th annual Holiday Hockey Tournament last weekend. Jack Olbrys scored a hat trick as the Bruins opened their tournament slate with a 4-2 win over St. Charles Prep of the Capital Hockey Conference, but dropped their next two games to defending tournament winner Upper Arlington (5-1) and last year’s OHSAA state champ Olentangy Liberty (5-3)…Despite some high-profile departures, the Bruins have a lot of returning players from last year’s 20-win team…Max Urban-Matejcik scored six points (4-2-6) in the first three games of the season and was named the GLHL Player of the Week.

SHAKER HEIGHTS – The Red Raiders put in a strong showing at the Padua Tournament. The Raiders won two of their three games while their only loss, to Olentangy Berlin, was by a single goal (4-3). Shaker sandwiched that setback with a pair of wins against Top 10 teams from the Toledo area as they defeated #8 Sylvania Northview (4-0) and #6 Findlay (4-1). Senior goaltender Niko Deneris turned aside all 24 shots he faced to shut out Northview…Shaker will jump right back into league play on Boxing Day when they visit Walsh Jesuit.

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL – The University School Preppers added another significant piece of hardware to their 2023 collection by winning the Padua Holiday Hockey Tournament with a 2-1 win over defending champion Upper Arlington. The Preppers’ last Padua Tournament title was in 2009…The Preppers are now 16-2-0 overall on the season with both of their losses by a single goal as they dropped 2-1 decisions to #3 St. Edward (Dec. 9) and #6 Findlay (Nov. 25)…One reason US is off to such a strong start is the dominant season being turned in by senior forward Sam Wade who has scored 25 goals and 34 points in the 14 recorded games. The goaltending duo of Noah Caballero and Cooper Pettipiece, meanwhile, has yet to allow more than two goals in any game all season...US head coach Andy Gerow and his wife Melissa made a big addition to the Preppers' roster on Tuesday with the birth of their first child. Kai Elliot Gerow checked in at 19 inches and 6 pounds, 12 ounces. Congratulations!

WALSH JESUIT – Despite a 1-2-0 showing at the Padua Tournament and registering only four wins so far this season, Walsh Jesuit remains in the Top 20 in the state rankings and is still poised to be a player in the GLHL points race thanks to their stingy defense. The Warriors have not allowed more than three goals in a game since a 6-0 loss to University School in their second game of the season. They have held their opponent to two goals or fewer in seven of 11 games since and junior goaltender Josh Ellenberger is sporting a 1.88 goals-against average and .931 save percentage for the season. In two recent starts he turned aside 33 of 35 shots in a 4-2 win over #6 Findlay at the Padua Tournament and made 20 saves to shut out Hudson at the Thornton Park Tournament a week earlier.

University School forward Luke Palmer & Shaker Heights forward Sammy Gerber

Luke Palmer scored the game-winning goal in the third period of the championship game of the Padua Holiday Hockey Tournament. He had a point in each game of the tournament, including a hat trick, and has produced 17 points (7-10-17) in 14 games this season.

“Luke proved last year that he can put the puck in the back of the net,” said University School head coach Andy Gerow. “So far this year he has been playing well but one of those starts where he was doing the right things, but the puck just wasn’t going in the back of the net. We have joked that he just needs to get the monkey off his back and that is exactly what he did at the Padua holiday tournament. We will continue to look for clutch goals from Luke throughout the season.”

Palmer shares Player of the Week honors with Sammy Gerber of Shaker Heights. Gerber had three goals and two assists while blocking 12 shots at the Padua Tournament. He missed the early game Saturday due to a Naval Academy interview (good luck Sammy!).

"Sammy has been one of our most consistent players all season," said Shaker Heights head coach Matt Bartley. "He has been a huge piece of our success in all areas of the game. He has a lot of heart and courage, and it shows on the ice every day."

Gerber leads Shaker in assists (15) and points (24) this season after leading the team with 15 goals a year ago.

PREVIOUS WINNERS:

Shane Triscari, Holy Name

Sam Wade, University School

Max Urban-Matejcik, Padua Franciscan

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest