GILMOUR ACADEMY – Break up the Lancers! Gilmour Academy has just one loss in regulation over its last 10 games (8-1-1). The team booked some miles last weekend, playing five games in three days in Ontario – taking third place at the St. Andrews Tournament – then booking it back home to host Upper Arlington Sunday afternoon. GA fell in overtime, 2-1, to UA but they are playing some of their best hockey heading into some stiff competition this weekend. Gilmour will compete in the Greater Ohio Hockey League Tournament and will play three games in three days – starting with the top-ranked team in the state, Saint Ignatius, in the quarterfinal. Gilmour’s 10 points still has them at the top of the GLHL standings by points, but they need to finish strong in GLHL play to fend off rival University School – including a head-to-head match-up on the final day of the regular season.

HOLY NAME – Holy Name was in Chicago for a tournament over the MLK Weekend and split four games. The Green Wave posted a pair of wins over SHAW Timberwolves…If the Namers are going to make a move in the GLHL standings they need to start by picking up some points this weekend when they host Padua and Shaker Heights.

PADUA FRANCISCAN – Padua Franciscan enjoyed a rare holiday weekend without any games, giving them a chance to recharge the batteries for the stretch drive of the GLHL schedule and the ensuing post-season tournaments…A week ago Wednesday (Jan. 10) a goal from Tegan Brown with 4:09 left in the third period tied up the game at Gilmour Academy, 3-3. It went to overtime, where the Lancers came out on top, but playing the league’s first-place team (and a Top 10 team in the state) even for 45 minutes should give Padua some confidence going into some big league games over the next few weeks…Goaltender Josh Kustra stopped 21 of 23 Gilmour shots over the last two periods of regulation and had 26 saves in all…The Bruins have both of their league matchups with University School remaining. If they can pick up some points on the road this weekend at Holy Name and Shaker, they will keep their fate in their own hands when they host US next Saturday.

SHAKER HEIGHTS – The Red Raiders of Shaker Heights headed to the Keystone State for the Meadville MLK Tournament last weekend and allowed a single goal in three of their four games. Some sharp goaltending played a big part in that (see below) and senior forward Will Brokaw produced seven points (4-3-7) in four games – including two-goal efforts against both Meadville (PA) and McDowell (PA)…Shaker returns to the ice this weekend for a big three-in-three in league play, going head-to-head with the three teams tied (Padua) or behind them (Walsh Jesuit and Holy Name) in the GLHL standings. Claiming all six points would put them in the driver’s seat and almost assure them a finish in the top half of the league standings.

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL – University School played a single game last week – heading to Columbus and defeating #9 St. Charles Prep, 3-1, on Friday – then took the rest of the weekend off…Looking at the upcoming schedule for the Preppers, it was probably a good idea to get some rest when you consider what the next five weeks look like. US will compete in the Greater Ohio Hockey League tournament – with a three-game guarantee – follow that up with six GLHL league games over consecutive weekends, then go into post-season play with the Cleveland Cup and the start of play in the Kent District Tournament.

WALSH JESUIT – The Walsh Jesuit Warriors had a rough go of it at their MLK Tournament, losing three games and scoring only two goals in the process, and have now dropped six games in a row. A great remedy for the recent woes would be picking up two points in the league standings when they visit Shaker Heights on Friday night…Walsh is 5-2-1 when leading goal-sorer Dominick Calleri (14) dents the twine and just 1-13-1 when he is held off the board…Joshua Ellenberger owns an impressive 2.35 goals-against average and .913 save percentage for the season but has faced 30+ shots in each of his last three starts – all losses. The Warriors are just 2-5-0 when allowing 30+ shots.

Shaker Heights Goaltender Niko Deneris

Shaker Heights goaltender Niko Deneris turned in a pair of sterling performances in the Red Raiders net at the Meadville (MKL) tournament and has been named the Great Lakes Hockey League Player of the Week for his efforts.

Deneris stopped 50 of 52 shots, good for a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage to backstop the Raiders to a 3-1 win over Medina and a 1-1 tie against Bethel Park (PA). For the season, the senior netminder has a 2.53 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.

“Niko has played very well the past few weeks while being calm and collected in the net,” said Red Raiders head coach Matt Bartley. “Playing in goal can be tough, but he has done a great job keeping things on track even when the team makes mistakes in front of him.”

Deneris hopes to keep his hot hand going as Shaker Heights plays three crucial GLHL games in three days this weekend.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Shane Triscari, Holy Name

Sam Wade, University School

Max Urban-Matejcik, Padua Franciscan

Luke Palmer, University School & Sammy Gerber, Shaker Heights

Emily Sefchick, Holy Name

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest