By Carson Carrell
The Nordonia Ice Hockey Team is looking great for the upcoming season. This year’s team motto is: “Desire, Dedication, Determination, Detail.” This is the attitude each player embraces every time they touch the ice before a game or practice. This year’s team will be led by first liner Carson Carrell who was voted in as Captain by his fellow teammates. Sharing in the responsibilities will be Assistant Captains Kenton Carrell, junior defensemen, and senior winger Vinnie Costello. The team camaraderie is evident this season as the Knights only graduated one senior, Andrew Mckinley, who was last year’s team captain.
The Knights finished last year with a 12-15 season which included a 9-5 standing in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League’s Blue South Division which landed them in fourth place.
“It’s time to hone-in and showcase our skills as a team,” Head Coach Cinalli said to the players after practice last Thursday. Assistant Coaches Tommy Majkrzak and Ben Soltis will be returning to help direct the Knights for the 2019-20 season. There has also been an addition to the coaching staff this year with Mike Rudin joining the staff.
There has been a noticeable increase in talent this year with all of the players and with that, there have been some changes to the lines. This season’s starting line will be center Brian Sebastian, right winger Carson Carrell, and moving up from second line will be Nate Juchnik at left wing. Kenton Carrell and Joshua Krysinski will both be returning as starting defensemen. Matt Monaco was strategically moved to offense in order to be center for the second line. With him will be right wing Vinnie Costello and left wing Anthony Stutler. There has also been an addition to the team with incoming freshmen Daniel Kimpton, who will be partnered with Nate Owen on the second rotation of defense. Lastly, on offense, rotating through the third line will be Anthony Rock, Max Zuschin, Ashley Zelina, Xavior Tedor, and Josh Lockshine who is new to the team. In net will be returning goalie Tommy Lippincott, who has had a year to gain knowledge and grow both physically and mentally since starting as a sophomore last season.
Overall the team is looking for a great season and expecting a lot of good things to come out of this year’s league matchups. Hoping for a division championship, everyone has been putting in 100% during practice and will continue to do so throughout the year. Nothing is deserved, but everything is earned. Go Knights!
