Even with a 3-4-3 start, Head Coach Dan Henzie of the varsity Oxford/Avondale United hockey team expects his players to ‘compete both inside and outside? their division.
‘Our team will have more depth than last season,? Henzie said. ‘Our returning players are improved and will be more effective, and many of our new players come with exceptional skill and experience.?
Returning from Oxford this year are senior forward Brent Bouck and his younger brother Adam, who is a junior defenseman.
‘Brent is a skilled player, has’terrific hockey sense and (is) a great shot.?’As a senior, he also brings leadership to the team.? He is an assistant captain,? Henzie said. ‘Adam has improved significantly from last year and will increasingly be a valuable presence on defense for us.?
Also returning is junior Dryden Calcaterra on defense and junior goalie Gavin Fritz standing between the pipes.
Returning players from Avondale include Brenden Embrey, Brenden Henzie and Nolan Tatomir, all at the forward position.
‘Brendan (Embrey) is skating and moving the puck confidently.? He will’be a big part of our ability to compete this season.?? He is also an assistant captain,? Henzie said. ‘Brenden Henzie is committed to improving his overall game, focusing on nutrition, off-ice training,’as well as skating almost daily throughout the summer.?’He will be one of our leading forwards this year, and is an assistant captain.?
Henzie noted that Tatomir is a ‘big boy.?
‘He is working hard to’use his size’to make plays and help the team both offensively and defensively,? he noted.
Henzie has eight new players on the team this year, seven of which are from Oxford. He said senior forward Tyler Majewski, has ‘great hands, (is a) great skater and terrific hockey sense.?
‘Tyler will’be the player’opposing teams will try to contain, often without success,? Henzie added.
New forwards also include freshmen Collin Grzanka, Zach Rauh and Zack Evans.
‘Collin is a freshman, but has skills that are not typical for a ninth-grader.? He will no doubt be one of our impact forwards this season, Zach came in as a freshman defenseman. However, we needed additional help up front and determined he could be more help as a forward.? He has taken to the position with enthusiasm and is beginning to collect points in games due to his hard work.??
On the defense side are senior Ryan Kimbrough and sophomores Shane Brown and Zach Kobak.
‘Ryan is strong,’great with the puck, and has an ability to score,? Henzie said. ‘He demonstrated leadership from the first skate and was our choice to be the team captain. Although a sophomore, Shane brings experience from his time on many high-level youth teams.?
‘He is a relentless defender and will be a force to reckon with on the ice,? Henzie said. ‘Zach is’a stay-at-home defenseman who communicates well and moves the puck well.? He is very serious about his game and will be a great asset to the team this year.?
Giving more assistance keeping pucks out of the net is newcomer senior goalie R.J. Petrusev.
‘R.J. joined the team in November. Most of the boys played in the fall season and so, he came in as somewhat of an unknown,? Henzie explained. ‘However, he has played exceptionally well.? At this’point (in) the season, our goalies have rotated’evenly game-to-game.?
Henzie said this year’s league is ‘very competitive.?
‘We expect to compete regardless of who we play,? he said. ‘We know there are some very strong teams out’there, and though we may have our ups and downs, we will learn something from every competitor, win or lose, and find ways to improve the next time we play them.?