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by Sarah Oberlin

On Friday, Nov. 2nd.  The Upper Arlington High School Golden Bears held their annual Black and Gold game to kick off the Ice Hockey season.  The Black and Gold game showcased this year’s UAHS hockey players and gave Head Coach Jay Graham a final look at the talent before announcing the Varsity and JV squads for 2007. 

This year’s Golden Bear varsity roster has 12 returning players including senior Captains Zach Tulley, Spence Linard, and Nick Paraskos.  With last year’s graduation of several key players and on the heels of their second trip to the Frozen Four (state tournament), the Bears have their work cut out for them.  “Our biggest challenge for the upcoming season is to try to fill the shoes of some of the best players to ever play in the CHC”, says Graham.  “It won't be easy, but if our players work hard, execute the game plan, and learn from mistakes, we will be a successful team. Defensively, we will be sound, but our largest challenge will be for someone to emerge as a consistent goal scorer. If we can make that happen, we have no limit to what we can achieve.”

JV coach Pete McIlroy also finds himself rebuilding; 5 of his former players moved up to Varsity and 3 graduated.  “With 9 talented freshman shoring up the roster, I am cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. Starting off with a very close and energetic Black & Gold traditional match-up, we sense a real opportunity to step up our performance this year, with more seamless and progressive practice routines, intuitive leadership on and off the ice and an expected camaraderie that naturally helps individual players set their own high expectations.”

Both teams will participate in the Midwest Thanksgiving Classic Tournament at the Chiller rinks this weekend.  More information on the Golden Bear schedule can be found at www.uahockey.com.

Tags: upper arlington