Structured Bulldogs look to produce more offense this season
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HANCOCK -- After a couple of seasons in which they have struggled to compete with the Houghton Gremlins and Calumet Copper Kings, the Hancock Bulldogs are looking to make a statement this season.
In order for that to happen, according to coach Scott Mikesch, the Bulldogs will need to remain strong in their own end, and find a way to produce offense.
"I think we play with real good structure," he said. "I think that we're strong defensively, as far as understanding our rules and our different duties within our system.
"I think the biggest question is are we going to produce offensively. That's where we struggled last year mightily, in big games, creating offense. It's something that we talk about every day in practice."
Mikesch has been working with his group to push the pace of the game offensively.
"We've tried to do some things within our offensive system to maybe be a little more aggressive offensively," he said. "But, to do that, everybody's got to be on the same page. We have to be, first and foremost, to have a chance against Houghton, you have to be intelligent. That's something that I preach every single day."
Hancock opens the season on the road, facing Alpena and Manistique, before taking on the Calumet Copper Kings in the Copper Island Classic, and Houghton in early December.
"I think I think that the only way that we're going to have any success against them is that we have to be really strong defensively, avoid the odd man rushes, do a good job in front of our net, cleaning up front of the net, and let our goalie see the puck," he said. "We're going to have to score goals, because you're not going to hold Houghton to one or two goals. We're going to have to figure out a way to get some offense against them.
"They're always a good defensive team. So we've got our hands full, but it's something that I know, all of our guys talk about in the locker room."
Those early games will be a measuring stick for what the Bulldogs will need to do to be successful.
"They're (Houghton) kind of the standard for what we want to do this year," Mikesch said. "If we can play with them, we feel like we can play with anybody. So, we're going to get tested in early December. We have to go to Dee Stadium and play them, and we're going to learn a lot about our team."
The Bulldogs head into the season with a pair of tall, athletic goaltenders in juniors Dan Wroblewski and Saku Cunard.
Wroblewski has been with the varsity team since his freshman year, and started the game against Houghton in the regional tournament.
"He's actually in his third year, so he's got some experience, and has played in some big games," said Mikesch. "He's played against Houghton in the regionals, and then he's played in the Copper Island Classic. So he's had that experience. We're expecting big things out of him."
Cunard was on the junior varsity team last year. Mikesch likes how he moves, and is hoping that he pushes for playing time throughout the season.
On the blue line, much will fall on the shoulders of co-captain Dominick Pizzi. A senior, Pizzi has grown into a leader over the past three seasons.
"He's a guy that can play big minutes," Mikesch said. "He can play on both special teams. He's a good defenseman to match up against another team's best lines, skates really well, and I think his play with the puck is improved this year. I think he just looks much more comfortable with the puck, and we're going to need him to be the backbone of our defensive core."
Mikesch is encouraging the rest of his defensive core, including junior Luke Mikkola, junior Zach Geborkoff, senior Paul Olson, and freshman Todd Kilpela, to push the puck up ice and help drive the offense this season. He is very excited about the progress already being made by Kilpela, especially.
"He's really gifted in that department," said Mikesch. "He's really good on our power play. He's running the top on our power play."
Up front, much of the Bulldogs' offense will run through co-captain Calvin Heinonen, who will be playing more center this year than in years past.
"There's a little more responsibility defensively, as a centerman, in your defensive zone and Calvin's done a really nice job of becoming that third defenseman down low, and being in a good defensive position before our breakout begins," Mikesch said. "Then, obviously, if he's in position, that's going to help to lead our breakout. So, he's going to be the guy that we look to in all critical situations and to lead our offensive charges."
Alongside Heinonen will be some players who can mix things up with opponents in assistant captain Brady Galetto and junior forward Bryce Hanner. Mikesch likes Galetto's style of play.
"Brady plays a blue collar-style game, gets in on the forecheck, does a good job on a wall getting pucks out and stuff like that, and getting to the front of the net," said Mikesch. "That's how we're going to have to score. It's not going to always be so pretty, but we have to be real hungry around the front of the net. That's what Brady does."
Hanner also has good vision on the ice, which is something that Mikesch is looking forward to seeing grow this season.
"He has tremendous vision of the rink, and makes his linemates better," said Mikesch. "He's a guy that is going to be playing on our first power play unit. We're going to need him to produce and create offense if we're gonna have success this year."
The Bulldogs have an exchange student who has stepped in and impressed the coaches so far in senior Micele Cora. Mikesch is impressed with how he protects the puck with his body, and also likes that he works hard to find his teammates with smart passes, which should help drive offense.
Another player who could chip in for the Bulldogs this season is sophomore Ian Nordstrom. Nordstrom is taller than his older brother, Chad, and plays a game similar to his older brother, Alex, who is with the Michigan Tech Huskies. The only issue at this point for Ian is the fact that he is coming off a pair of knee surgeries over the past three years, so it might take him a little longer to adjust to the high school game.
"He hasn't played a lot of hockey, but Ian has the ability to relax with the puck and make a play, and he's creative," Mikesch said. "Even though as a sophomore, he's 6-foot tall, and he's not afraid to go to the hard areas. So, we're hoping that you know that he is ready to go full blow here."
With the challenges that lay before them early, Mikesch believes that his group will be battle-tested as they hit the second half of the season, and if they can find some consistent offensive threats, they will be a tough team to face down the stretch and in the regional tournament.