In just two years time, the Lake Orion hockey program has grown to be one of the area’s, and the state’s, most respected, as evident by their trip to the state quarterfinals a year ago.
The team has added a junior varsity squad this season, and coach Pat Cherry said a trip to final four is next on the program’s wish list.
‘What we lost is some size on defense and a scorer in Kevin Kranker,? Cherry said, adding that the quantity of returning talent will help offset those loses.
The Dragons return All-OAA II first-team selection Jason Stross, along with third-line selection Dave Johnson and fourth-liner John Costigan.
Johnson, a junior, is the team’s top defenseman, while Costigan teams with Brad Berschbach and captain Cody Wendell on the squad’s top line this year. All three forwards are seniors.
But Cherry said the strength of his team might be their speedy second line, which includes junior Adam Chapie, sophomore Tom Persha and promising freshman Corbin Rainey.
‘I can play either of those lines against another team’s top line,? Cherry said.
Having Stross, a junior back in the fold is a big plus for the team, especially given the team’s relative inexperience on the blue line.
‘He always gives us a chance to win,? Cherry said. ‘But we can’t hang him out to dry.?
After winning a pair of scrimmages, the team opened the regular slate last Thursday with a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame Prep, getting goals from Berschbach and Costigan and a shutout effort from Stross in net.
The Dragons then opened their OAA I season, their first in the top division, with a 3-2 loss at Farmington on Saturday night.
‘They were disappointed they didn’t win, but we were happy with what we saw,? Cherry said, noting that he expects Farmington to be among the best in the league.
‘We made a few mistakes and it cost us,? he said, ‘but we have seven seniors to their 14. I knew they would get stronger as the game went on.?
The Dragons got a late first period goal from Johnson and took the lead midway through the second thanks to a power play tally from Rainey. But Farmington struck late in the period and scored the game winner in the third, despite registering just three shots in the entire period.
‘We’re still finding out a lot about our team,? Cherry noted. ‘I think we’ll be up at the top in the league. We can be in that top three. I still think we have some of the most skilled players in the league.?
In terms of the tightness of the OAA I, the coach said his team’s days of lopsided wins in the second division are long gone.
‘There are going to be a lot of one goal games,? Cherry said. ‘There aren’t going to be any blowouts.?
The Dragons are used to tight contests, as all of their losses a year ago came by just one goal.
Outside of league action, Lake Orion has what Cherry said is ‘by far? their toughest schedule in his three-year tenure. This comes on the heels of the team’s strong fall schedule.
‘The reason why we did that is because it doesn’t do you any good to play a soft schedule and not be prepared come playoff time,? he said.
Their pre-regional will include division rival Clarkston, Port Huron Northern and an improved Rochester United.