The Anthony Wayne hockey program continues to enjoy steady growth, solidifying the Generals as one of the upper-tier teams in the area.
With 33 players in the program, Anthony Wayne possesses depth and talent. The Generals, who had just 12 players in 2015, are picked to repeat as champions of the Northwest Hockey Conference White Division in a preseason coaches’ poll.
Coach Stephen Boehme’s team is off to a 5-0 start in the White Division, and has outscored its foes 38-3.
“This year’s team is loaded with juniors, and all of these players have been with the program the past few seasons,” Boehme said. “Experience is a huge strength. We have a great deal of skilled players, and have added some key pieces that will give us the depth we’ve lacked the past few seasons.”
Perrysburg is expected to give AW its biggest challenge. The Yellow Jackets are predicted to finish second followed by Clay, Southview, Maumee, and Whitmer.
“We’re honored to be thought of as the tops of the White Division, but preseason rankings don’t mean very much,” Boehme said. “I’d love to prove that we belong with the top teams in the state. I want to show that a school that’s never been a hockey powerhouse can compete with all those considered powerhouses in the state.”
Boehme said credit for the growth of the program can be spread around.
“The stability of our program can be entirely attributed to our players and their parents. We’ve seen a surge in participation over the past few seasons,” he said. “The players are buying into our systems and concepts. Ultimately, the Anthony Wayne community and school support have been amazing.”
Perrysburg coach Kevin Fisher has 20 players, including five seniors, on a team that will feature good goaltending, solid defense, and depth at center.
Clay has solid front-line scoring and steady goaltending under coach Randy Menchaca, who has four seniors among 16 players.
Southview is led by the dean of area coaches, Wayne Collins, who has 11 total players, but it’s a very gritty group that plays with emotion.
Maumee’s first-year coach Devin Crosser has 12 players on a team that has strong leadership and is a disciplined, hard-working group.
Whitmer first-year coach Roy Edwards has inherited 14 players, including five seniors with several individual standouts.
“Perrysburg and Clay are tremendous opponents,” Boehme said. “Both teams are well coached with good depth. Southview lost a few pieces from last season, but they will still be strong. Maumee is a gritty team with great goaltending. Whitmer has a new coach who will have some success this season.”
This year, the teams from the middle echelon White Division will play against the teams in the upper-tier Red Division in crossover games.
“Overall, the White division has some good teams at the top end that will give some Red squads a run for their money,” Boehme said.
Here is a look at the NHC White Division with teams listed in order of predicted finish based on a preseason coaches’ poll.
Anthony Wayne went 22-10 overall last season and reached the sectional final. The Generals had an 11-1 regular season record in the White, and then went 3-0 in the divisional playoffs.
Anthony Wayne (6-3, 5-0 NHC) is once again fielding a junior varsity program. Boehme, who has a career record of 60-26, will be counting on six seniors and 18 overall on the varsity.
His top players are junior defenseman Zach Knapp, senior goalie Sam Thomas, sophomore defenseman Ben Thomas, junior forward Drew Seals, junior forward Jesse Rose, junior forward Joel Semancik, and junior defenseman Logan Schuster.
“The key to our success is centered around our preparation,” Boehme said. “Mentally, we have made sure we study our opponents. Our success is based on how serious we work at and away from the rink.”
Boehme said the team should benefit from playing tougher opponents.
“This year, we’ve assembled a fairly difficult schedule,” he said. “As a team, we’ve learned to never overlook opponents. Our big picture goals are centered around what our players can learn from the game of hockey as it translates to life after high school.”
Perrysburg (7-2, 4-1) has five seniors among 13 returnees.
Fisher’s Yellow Jackets went 16-17-2 in his first year last season when they placed third in the league.
Junior defenseman Caden Togrul (30 G, 16 A last season) and sophomore defenseman Chase Nitschke (14 G, 14 A), sophomore center Tay Schneider (30 G), and sophomore center Patrick Hanley (21 points) are the top returning scorers.
Senior goaltender Will Keune, who had a 2.45 goals-against average in league play last year, has a 2.80 overall average this season. Senior forward Sullivan Carlson is off to a solid start with 12 goals and three assists.
Fisher said his team’s strength will be senior leadership, but seven new players are learning the team’s system.
“This team could potentially shock a lot of people,” Fisher said. “We have a great mix of experience and leadership along with fresh faces. The level of work they’re willing to put in will coincide directly with the level of success we have.”
Clay (6-1, 3-1) is coming off a second-place finish in the division last regular season.
Menchaca led the team to a 21-10 record and 10-2 league finish. He has four seniors and three starters back.
Senior forward Cameron Menchaca returns after scoring 26 goals. Senior Jarod VanHersett had 18 goals, while senior forward Ryan Juhasz scored 10.
Senior goaltender J.J. Utter had 18 wins a season ago, and has looked strong again in the early going, according to his coach.
“We have strong front line scoring with Cam Menchaca and Jarod VanHersett, with a key addition to blue line from Duncan Odneal,” Menchaca said. “We will need a complete roster contributing.”
Clay is a young team, however, with eight new players, including freshmen Max Belli, Cory Krieger, and Tanner Truman.
“We have a solid group of young defensemen,” he said. “Goaltender J.J. Utter will be called upon deeply to carry the team.”
Maumee (1-5-2, 1-3), which had been without a team in 2016-17 before returning last season, has a solid defensive core along with multiple offensive weapons.
Crosser has just one senior but five returning starters.
Junior forward/defenseman Zach Marvin has 11 points (6 G, 5 A) so far, while sophomore defenseman Brett Birt (1 G, 3 A), junior forward/defenseman Kenlyn Foster (3 A), freshman forward/defenseman Derrick Marvin (5 G, 5 A), and senior forward Colin Grimes (1 G, 1 A) also have been key contributors.
Junior goalie Roby Fairchild has made 320 saves and owns a .912 save percentage.
Crosser said he has a young team with a few first-year players who are still adjusting but making great improvements.
“We are feeding off of last season’s energy and making major strides towards improving,” Crosser said. “This is a young group of players but, with their team commitment and hard work, they are starting to find their groove. At the pace the team is on, the goals we have set for the season will soon be reached. The sky is the limit.”
Southview (4-4, 2-2) has just 10 skaters and a goalie.
“We work hard,” Collins said. “We’re running out two lines and two defensemen pairings.”
Collins, who has been a coach for 34 years including 17 at Southview, lost eight players from last year’s team. But the Cougars had just 15 players last year, and still reached the divisional playoff title game where they fell 2-1 to AW.
Junior captain center Nick Rogenski, who earned All-NHC honorable mention last season, has 15 goals.
Senior defenseman Cam Peffier is an assistant captain and is joined by veteran senior defenseman Daniel Pattinson. Junior forward Spencer Pocekaj also is an assistant captain.
Junior goaltender Clay Damron, who is in his first year in the program, is a converted baseball catcher. “He keeps improving,” Collins said.
Junior defenseman/forward Dominic Shadler and sophomore forward Matt Schulte also are top players for Collins.
“We are a very gritty bench, even though we have a short bench,” he said. “I like their emotion. They are go, go, go. They are fun to watch. I see the maturity growing each week. We are improving. We will surprise some people.”
Whitmer (2-3, 2-2) has 14 total players with five seniors and seven returning starters.
Edwards said the Panthers have two talented leaders on each end of the ice.
“On offense, we have senior center Noah Zimmerman, who is a fourth-year starter who can carry and shoot the puck well and is also a conscious heads-up player,” Edwards said. “On defense, we have senior Brendan Bernath with his booming shot from the blue line who will also be taking some shifts on offense this year.”
Seniors Joseph Wester (D/F), a speedy and creative captain, and Dylan Trzcinski (D/F), a smart, two-way player, will provide leadership for freshmen forwards Jake Gignac and Mitch Relford.
“We’re having fun playing hockey,” Edwards said. “It will also be an exciting breakthrough season for our new guys and not long enough for our seniors. Every game is going to be a grind, but I’m looking forward to that first playoff game.”
First Published December 15, 2018, 12:33 a.m.
