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Can the ‘10-11 Bears hockey team top ’09-10 season?
Last year’s Bears set new standards of excellence with a 19-4-2 record. Landon was the #1 team for most of the season in the Washington Post polls and co-champions of the IAC. Eight seniors contributed to that success and have graduated. The ’10 graduates brought a lot of size and defense (2G, 3D) to the team as well as the leaders in all of the goalie records, the leaders in hits, blocks and penalty minutes–that’s a lot to lose.
Coach Gammill’s team benefits from strong returning talent— one 1st team MAPHL All Star, two 1st team All IAC players, the Bear leader in goals, the Bear leader in assists, the Bear leader in points and the Bear leader in +/-. The senior class for this year is talented and five players already known for their leadership. The coach’s cupboard is not bare, and it is full of bears.
TEAM OUTLOOK
Skill and speed will be the hallmarks of this team. Here are some observations about the players (captains, senior/junior/sophomore/freshman returning players; within class by their last year’s #):
Sam Anas, one of the captains, had a monster summer season (leading scorer in the NAPHL), has put on a few pounds and his skill & speed have grown.
Captain Teddy Wellington, last year’s leader in +/-, has added to his physical stature and his skating has improved markedly.
Captain Greg Russell has also evidently spent time in the Freeman Center, but has been limited by a groin injury. His smart play will assure that the team is balanced in its O and D sets.
Mac Coster, a senior D, has been hampered by an injury, but once well should play a major role on the blueline.
Pearce Minshall, a senior, has shown increased speed during the early morning captains’ practices, exhibited a nice touch and brings some physicality to the Bears.
Matt Potollicchio, a junior winger and last year’s leading scorer, has shown great vision and hands in the practices and will be counted on to “put the puck in the back of the net”.
Connor Meike, a junior D, is one of the key players to settling the younger D and set up the Bear defense in big games.
Matt Opsahl, a junior F, will inherit the old #21 role of establishing a presence in the offensive end of the ice and will grow in his ability to see/make a play unfold.
Johnny Cobb, a junior D, has worked hard in the off-season and the effort has translated into better speed, passing and shooting. Probably will get chances to unleash his slapshot on power plays.
Max Greenwald, a junior D/F, has put on some added muscle, but still has the exceptional speed that marked his play last year.
Michael Anderson, a junior D, will be another key to this year’s defense, counted on to initiate the rush from the backline.
Nick Malone, a sophomore D/F, shows a lot of hustle in the captains’ practice and should get more playing time.
David Lackner, a sophomore F, has shown in the pre season practices, that he has all the tools to contribute to this team.
Graham Shue, a sophomore F, played a lot last year; an upper body injury will keep him out for a while, but once back he should add to his ’10-11 success.
The unknown factor will be in the nets. Two sophomores and a freshman are competing for time. Their work during the captains’ workouts has shown promise.
Promise is an apt word for the players from last year’s JV and MS teams. There are a number of D who may be able to make the transition to the Varsity and a couple of wingers/centers who show some offensive talent.
It is VERY clear that Landon hockey benefits from the draw created from the Bears Den (including one lower school player whose father contacted me largely because of the ARC facilities). It is also evident the value of the training that many of these boys chose to get from Team Maryland, the Little Caps, the Frederick Fury, Montgomery/Reston/Ashburn Youth hockey and the CCC program.
This is a team that has already demonstrated a good chemistry. Hockey is an unusual sport in that teamwork, depending on one another and confidence in all of the players REALLY matter. These players seem to have these attributes and exceptional senior leadership.
SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
The IAC decided to change its league play to one game head-to-head and the championship determined based on the tournament. That allows the Bears to add some games against local teams like Walt Whitman, Langley, Wooten and Churchill. In addition to the MIAA teams that play in MAPHL, St. Paul’s will be one of the Bears’ opponents. The season includes some Keystone State elements– the Westchester, PA tournament and ARC games against the Academy of New Church and the Hun School.
OPPONENT OUTLOOK
Gonzaga and DeMatha look to be strong as they were last year. The team from Rockville Pike benefits from an exceptional coach and the contest with the Bears will always be tough. St. Albans lost little from last year’s team; so the Bulldogs v. Bears will be a battle. The public high schools on this schedule will all want to prove themselves against Landon.
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