A quick glance around the Lake Orion Hockey team’s locker room is all it takes to notice the commitment the team has put into this season.
Coach Pat Cherry hopes that commitment will translate into more victories on the ice.
‘It seems like we are a little more disciplined this year,? Cherry said. ‘We just have our players so much more focused.?
The team finished second in OAA II league action a year ago, but has high hopes for the 2006-07 season.
‘We played 14 games in the fall and we were 14 and 0,? Cherry said.
Count their two pre-season scrimmages the past two weekends and the team has won its past 16 games as it heads into the regular season opener at home against Rochester United this Saturday.
The Dragons will play their home games at the Detroit Skating Club, located at 888 Denison Court in Bloomfield Hills.
Last Saturday, they topped Swartz Creek 11-1 at home in their final tune-up. The team beat Grandville, 5-2, the weekend prior at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo.
The coach said his team is more balanced than in season’s past.
‘We can roll three lines, no problem,? Cherry said.
‘There’s not one or two stand-out players,? he added. ‘We’re a pretty deep team.?
But the depth of this year’s squad came at a price.
‘It’s tough because we had to cut a couple of kids that played on our varsity last year,? Cherry noted.
The team is also balanced in terms of age, with eight seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores and a freshman making up the roster.
Seniors Caleb Fallon, Scott Johnson, and Kevin Krager were serve as captains.
Cherry has also added two assistant coaches in Don Finn (who will work with the defense) and Craig Pemberton (who will work with the goalies).
‘They’re top quality guys,? Cherry said of the new coaches.
The coach said his staff had a lot of demands on the players as they went through training in the summer and fall.
‘I don’t know if we have a particular style,? Cherry said of his team. ‘We don’t have a gimmicky system.?
‘We coach passing, shooting and skating,? he added. ‘We’ve really focused on our skating.?
Cherry said the new rules standards and the big ice surface at the DSC make it extremely beneficial to have a quick-skating team.
Their quickness will be put to the test early and often, as the team has assembled as full a schedule as possible.
‘We have 16 league games and we’re only allowed to play 24 games in total,? Cherry said.
He said the team’s slate this year includes some of the state’s elite teams like Notre Dame Prep and Birmingham United.
‘When we play those teams, we’ll find out how good we are,? he said.
In terms of the OAA II league play, Cherry said it’s difficult to pick a favorite this early.
‘It’s hard to tell until you see who shows up,? he said. ‘From what I learned last year, there’s so much emotion in high school hockey.?
The league has expanded to nine teams and includes Auburn Hills Avondale, Berkley, Bloomfield United, Rochester United, Troy, Troy Athens, Waterford Kettering and West Bloomfield.
‘I don’t think one team is just going to run away with it,? Cherry said, adding that the season opener against Rochester should be a good one.
‘They’re going to be a good team,? he said. ‘They’ve picked up a couple of travel team kids.?
Puck drop is set for 6 p.m.