Blue Chips

Led by key returners, Salem icers aim for repeat KLAA South title

BY ED WRIGHT
Nov. 22, 2009, 12:45 a.m.

  If you bought stock in Salem's hockey program in 2007, your 401-K is probably looking pretty good right now.

  Last season, the Rocks skated to a 14-9-2 record -- registering twice as many wins as they did the previous year -- and captured the Kensington Lakes Activities Association's South Division.

  With several key performers back this season, the future is bright for third-year coach Ryan Ossenmacher's squad.

  "We worked a lot on getting faster this off-season," said Ossenmacher. "Speed will be our No. 1 quality along with being tenacious. We're not going to win on talent; we're going to win on a combination of talent and grit."

  The Rocks lost a good chunk of last year's nucleus with the graduation of captain Dave Russell and pivotal performers Sam Ott, Adam Powers, Nick Genetty and Patrick Patton.

  But the return of players like Ryan Blakey, Kurt Driscoll, Ryan Quigley, Steve Haburne, Mario Macari and Josh Jarvela will help soften the blow.

  "All three members of last year's top line -- Kurt Driscoll, Mario Macari and Josh Jarvela -- are back, so that helps," said Ossenmacher. "And Ryan Quigley, our junior center, is one of the best kids in the league. He has the ability to turn it on at any time. We need him to take more of the offensive burden, which he is more than capable of doing this year."

  Salem's blue line will be manned by Blakey, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior captain, and Michael Hochkins, a 6-foot, 205-pound junior. The Rocks' defensive corps will be bolstered by junior Garrett Berg, first-year senior Matt Hull, junior Max Coral, sophomore Jake Lieb and freshman Kyle Downey.

  "Ryan Blakey and Mike Hochkins' experience will be big this year," said Ossenmacher. "Adding Matt Hull will help, too."

  Ossenmacher said he is expecting big things from sophomore forwards Mark McGee and Austin Sartorius.

  "They should both step in right away and contribute on our first three lines," he said.

  Following in Powers' footsteps between the pipes won't be an easy chore, but Ossenmacher feels seniors Eric Fiorentino and Steven Manser will be up to the task.

  "At this point, neither one is No. 1 yet, but they're both capable of being No. 1," said Ossenmacher. "They'll both play a lot. It may not be until the end of the season before one of them emerges."

  Other key players for the Rocks this winter will be forwards Matt Downey, PJ Rogers, NIck Hayes, Connor Berlin, Wesley Carr and Michael Manser.

  Ossenmacher is assisted by Aaron Chessman and Brandon Scero.

  Salem opens the season Wednesday at Southgate Anderson. The Rocks' home opener will be against Canton Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Cultural Center.