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Comets soar to Baron Cup hockey crown
(by Steve Novak - February 18, 2009)
Comets soar to Baron Cup hockey crown
By STEVE NOVAK
Shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday, the Solon hockey team took possession of a trophy which had previously eluded it. This year, the Comets are the winners of the 2009 Division III Baron Cup.
Coach Mike Licata's team put the finishing touches on winning the cup with a 4-2 victory over Chagrin Falls in the Division III championship game at Brooklyn's ice arena.
The Comets advanced to the finale with wins over West Geauga and Aurora.
Up to this point, the Baron Cup title game had been unchartered territory for Licata and his team. During the past few seasons, the Comets had only been able to advance as far as the semifinal round of the cup playoffs.
But this year's team, according to Licata, was unique. After losing six players to graduation, there were a lot of new roles for players to try to get accustomed to, with as much speed as possible.
Licata stresses the fact that the team seems to have assembled itself as equal parts of the whole, with no player having more importance than anyone else.
"It sounds like a cliche, but we don't have any heroes," Licata said. "It's been a team effort. There is no one single star on this team."
Solon lost four of its first nine games and tied another to start the season. Licata said the team chemistry took more than a few games before it started to fall into place.
"In the beginning, we struggled. It took that first (few) games for the players to find their personality," he said. "But then their skills tightened up and they found their personality."
In recounting the Baron Cup championship game, Licata revels in the fact that the four goals were scored by four different players because this emphasizes the unselfish nature of the team.
In the finale, Solon grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period when Jordan Manias scored with only about two minutes gone. Shortly before the midpoint of the first period, David DeRoia made the score 2-0 with his wrap-around goal.
Just a couple of minutes later, the Comets' John Hannah skated to the top of the point and slapped home a goal to make it 3-0. Chagrin answered with a power-play goal before the period ended, putting the score at 3-1.
Near the midpoint of the second period, Austin LeClair finished off the scoring for Solon when he scored on a power play. LeClair made his way close to the net and dropped a shot over the goalie's shoulder. Chagrin Falls didn't score its second goal until late in the third period.
In the 4-0 semifinal contest against Aurora, the Solon goals came from Colin Hammond, Matt Hudzinski, Cory Jeziorski and DeRoia.
Jeremy Myeroff has made his presence known during the season as well.
In addition to his praise of the way his team shares the scoring duties, Licata also singled out the work of goalie Jesse Denick, who had 25 saves against Aurora and 28 saves against Chagrin Falls.
"It's his first year as a starter," Licata said. "Jesse Denick made some nice saves (in the championship game). He's only given up three goals in the last six games."
In the tradition of Greater Cleveland high school hockey, Solon now takes ownership of the cup for the next year, until it is passed on to the 2010 champs.
But at least as important as the cup, the Comets' defeat of Chagrin Falls gives the team the right to advance in postseason competition. This Friday, the Comets will play Twinsburg in the district at Kent State University.
Solon's record stands at 19-9-1, as well as a 9-3 season mark in the Blue North division. Last year, the Comets were undefeated in league contests, but they were eliminated from Baron Cup competition in the second round of play.
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