Akron.com

‘Gritty’ Walsh hockey team targets strong postseason run



CUYAHOGA FALLS — Walsh Jesuit High School hockey coach Pete Calleri said he has been happy with the team’s chemistry this season.
“We’ve got a team where we don’t have any real superstars, but we have players who work very, very hard, work very well together and never quit working,” he said. “It’s really a great group of kids to be associated with. It starts with our eight seniors, who are very good leaders and very good role models. It’s kind of a lead-by-example group and it helps that the younger players follow in their footsteps. They all know that if we don’t work together, we won’t be successful.”
Leading the way this season, Calleri said, are captain Charlie Huscroft and assistant captains Bill Holtzer, Hunter Nalepka and Jake Ambach.
“For them, it’s all about good work ethic, positive attitudes, commitment and buying into the type of hockey we want to play,” the coach said. “They also score for us, they kill penalties — they play in all the key kinds of situations you would want. It’s a very solid group of players that you can count on to get the job done.”
Calleri said the team’s other key seniors are Colin Cook, Jackson Holzapfel, Garrett Pazey and Jackson Kerscher.
“Those are players that have really improved both last year and this year,” the coach said. “They fill very important roles on the team.”
Juniors Zach Firment and Brodie Lerch share the goaltending duties, Calleri noted.
“We are very lucky to have two goalies that are both trustworthy,” he stated. “It’s a huge advantage for us to have two guys we can rely on. And they literally just rotate games. Whoever plays tonight, the next guy plays tomorrow.”
Calleri said depth is a strength this year for Walsh.
“We dress 20 players, including the eight seniors,” he said. “Last year, we only had one senior, and I can tell you with certainty that having eight seniors is better than having one. But we also have players like Noah Colasanti, Aiden Cook and Colton Ziehm. Those are juniors who have really started to assert themselves in the lineup.”
In addition, Calleri said the team has gotten a nice contribution from Olivia O’Toole.
“She’s a sophomore who has gotten the chance in some varsity games,” he said. “She has taken some big hits and I would say that she has proven that she’s every bit as tough as the boys are.”
According to Calleri, the entire team can be best described as “gritty.”
“I think that’s the way they have to play in order to win, so that’s what they do,” he said. “It’s all about getting your hands dirty and doing the tough things, such as being willing to both take and give the big hit.”
Looking ahead, Calleri said this year’s team has the potential to put together a very memorable season.
“Like anything, the most important thing you can do is believe,” he stated. “In any season, I believe your goal should be to make it to the state [tournament], and that’s definitely our goal this year.”