Lakers Gear Up For Success on the Ice

It's a town that belongs to hockey.

And the team, the St. Clair Shores Unified Lakers, are the official prep hockey squad of St. Clair Shores.

The vast majority of the players were born in the city, learned to skate at , or perhaps on the ice of canals or outdoor rinks scattered throughout town.

They know the game inside-and-out, just as their fathers and grandfathers do, and they have a passion for playing that moves them towards the rink each and every day. 

As the 2011-2012 season gets underway, the Lakers believe they have the kind of team worthy of such a hockey-crazed town.

"I think we can be really good," senior captain said. "I really believe that about this team."

Teammates and fellow seniors Joe Sedrowski and Austin Buchholz agree.

"I think we've got a lot of talent on this team this year," Buchholz said. "And I think that's going to mean we're going to win a lot of games."

"We've got some injuries early on," Sedrowski said. "And we're not as deep in some spots as we were in the past, but I think that's something we're going to be able to overcome. I think this is a good team."

The enthusiasm shared by the team is something head coach Russ DiCristofaro certainly likes to see from his squad; however, the coach knows the rigors of a hockey season.

"Right now the injury bug is hurting us, it really is," the coach said. "Otherwise, the effort has been there so far this season. That's all I can really ask."

The Lakers are off to a 1-1-1 start on the campaign, with a 4-1 loss to perinneal power Clarkston; a 5-1 victory over Farmington Hills Harrison; and a very impressive 3-3 tie over fellow Macomb Area Conference Red Division foe, Eisenhower, rounds out the opening three games of the season.

The tie to Ike might be the most telling game the team has yet to play in 2011-2012.

"We were down 3-1 in that game in the third period," DiCristofaro said. "We came back and took it to overtime then ended up tied. They (the Lakers) battled the whole game, showed a lot of heart, and went out there and worked."

This ethic and character is at the core of this year's Lakers team, and the program, for that matter.

"That's out trademark—we play with a lot of heart," DiCristofaro said. "We've never really had that one or two guys that are head-and-shoulders above anybody else. We've got to play as a team and with a lot of heart. If we don't, we'll never survive."

The team's co-captains—Tommy Guzzardo, Brandon Misiak, Vitale and Buchholz—along with the other seniors on the roster—Jeff Jaszczak, Dakota Lucas, Michael DiFranco, David Metzke and Sedrowski—are undoubtedly the beat of this team's heart and a solid group of leaders, the coach says.

"We absolutely have great leaders on this team," the coach said. "And they're all doing a good job this year as leaders on the team."

It's no surprise since the role of captain is one taken seriously by players, according to co-captain Buchholz.

"I'm very serious about being a captain on this team—as all the captains are. It's something I really get into," Buchholz said. "I'm not one to shout or yell, I try to lead by example out there. I try to show the younger guys how to play for this team."

The Lakers are going to need skill, heart and leadership to make a run in the MAC Red this season, not to mention the state tournament—success in both are defined goals for the squad in 2011-2012.

"I know we're going to battle for the MAC Red title," DICristofaro said. "We're right there. Our goal also is to take another step forward in the regionals. Last year we went to the quarters and we lost. This year we want to get there and win."

A division crown is certainly within the team's grasp this season, as is a regional title. However, there's plenty of work the team needs to do in order to hoist either, or both, titles.

"We're not real deep on defense," DiCristofaro said. "We've got some young guys back there and they don't have a lot of experience. So they're going to need to improve. But, the whole team needs to improve on defense—everybody, all over the ice. We're going to have to get better."

The defensive issue is something that the coach, even this early on in the season, thinks about daily.

"It is a concern for me," the coach said. "We have a long way to go in that department. We address it everyday, though, and every one on this team knows it. It's just got to get better."

The by-product of this inexperience on the blue-line might result in a few rough patches for the squad in the early portion of the season. However, once the team settles in, the Lakers can be a real force in the division as well as in the state tourney.

"We've had some rough spots," Sedrowski said. "But once we get it, once everyone gets it, we're going to be fine. This is a good team."

The Lakers travel to Rochester on Saturday night to square off against Rochester United for a 9 p.m. game, before heading back home Dec. 16 to play host to L'Anse Creuse.