Anticipation builds as the players line up on each side of center red for the puck drop. Once that puck drops, the season begins, full of ups, downs, challenges, setbacks, and triumphs. This season, the Cardinals will take the ice after losing six exceptional seniors, with five taking up leadership roles. These Cards are looking to improve from their 18-15-0 record last season. After losing Rowan Jakupa who had 29 points last season, the boys intend to step up in their offensive play. Dominic Trem aspires to continue after his strong season last year with 14 goals and 11 assists. After an outstanding season last year with an impressive 39 points in 33 games, AJ Trobenter is hoping to keep up this point streak in his senior year. The starting goaltender and current senior, Ryan Wilkinson, is looking to keep up his .922 save percentage as well.
I was given the opportunity to talk to some of this year’s seniors. Each of them have grown up playing hockey and loving the sport. Billy Becay says, “I started when I was 4 and it’s ‘cause my dad used to play and he threw me into skates and I just stuck to it.” Matthew Friel also spoke of his young start in hockey; “I started skating when I was like 3 and just went with that. I started playing, and my dad thought that the little kids in the gear, they all seemed cute, so they had me try to play and I’ve been with it since.” Each of the players has their own goals for their senior year, but all seem to see the Baron cup as the ultimate achievement. Ryan Wilkinson’s goals are, “Work as hard as possible and win the Baron Cup.” AJ Trobenter has his eyes on a memorable senior year with goals such as “ definitely to win the Baron cup. Hopefully to go undefeated in the regular season and our league play definitely, and hopefully make it to the final four, I would say.”
Several of the players also see a former Mentor player, Brad Backston, as a role model from their earlier high school seasons. Trobenter says, “When I was a sophomore, he was a senior and I definitely looked up to him. He definitely took me under his wing and showed me the ropes of Mentor hockey, for sure.” Becay also commented, “He was a great captain and I think the whole team looked up to him.” However, Dominic Trem has looked up to an NHL player since he began his career. The role model he chose was, “Probably Patrick Kane. That’s been my go to ever since I was a kid.” Despite this difference in role models, each of them has grown in their favorite positions.
Two of the seniors have both had success, but both have varied backgrounds to get them to their current position. Friel’s current position is defense, which also happens to be his favorite. He says, “I’ve played defense all my life so defense is my favorite. It’s just what I’ve always done.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, Becay says, “I’ve played a little bit of goalie in youth. I also played defense and then right and left wing and I like right wing. It’s where I’m at now.” It took a bit more of trial and error, but Becay was able to find his stride on the ice. Every player on the team is given the opportunity to pick their number. Wilkinson says, “I didn’t really pick it; my dad picked it; I never really got to change.” On the other hand, AJ commented, “I was 26 for a little bit for baseball, and it’s my mom’s softball number so I want to represent my mom.” Two of the seniors, Matthew and Dominic, are looking to play in college. Trem says, “I do want to. I’d probably go play club somewhere but we’ll see though.” Similarly, Friel says, “I would like to continue playing in college; I’m not sure where yet.”
Some more fun questions were asked of our seniors as well to get a feel for the players’ personalities. From all the interviews, Dominic Trem was said to be the fastest skater on the team. His response was, “We have some guys that can fly, so it’s probably a toss up between me and a couple other guys, but, I mean, I’m glad they think that, I guess.” Likewise, AJ Trobenter was said to have the hardest shot on the team. His response, “I definitely would agree with that.” The seniors also had a consensus on the funniest player on the team, CJ LoBue. Matthew Friel commented, “CJ always has something funny to say at the most random times.” Trem was also voted the most superstitious. When asked about his pregame traditions, he says, “I drink the same flavor of an energy drink every single game for probably the last three years; it’s orange dreamsicle rain; I can’t have anything else… I feel like I do the same stretches. It’s got to be in the same order… I have to pick up one puck while we’re putting the pucks away.” Turning to a slightly more personal question, the seniors were asked
who is their biggest fan. Becay says, “Probably my mom and dad.” Similarly, Wilkinson responded, “Probably my mom.” Lastly, the boys were asked what NHL team they would play for if they could pick any one. Trobenter says, “I would definitely say the Columbus Blue Jackets because I would love to represent my state.” Whereas Friel responded, “The Colorado Avalanche, they’re my favorite team.” The seniors seem to bring some character along with a drive for success to this year’s team.
I was also given the opportunity to speak with the head coach, Paul McKito, who is entering his 14th year coaching at Mentor. He has had a huge impact on the high school organization. He is proud of, “resurrecting the program from being in a really bad state when I got there and turning it around to be one of the most well respected public school programs in the state.” McKito’s work to build the program has led to some amazing achievements such as the Baron Cup from 2019. However, Coach McKito sees potential in this year’s group to be just as successful. He said, “I like the group we have this year. There is no reason we can’t be successful. We have a lot of great returning players, a senior goaltender who has had a pretty stellar career. It just depends on the group and how hard they want to work and how far they want to go. But, I mean, we are always confident every year that our teams are gonna go a long way, as far as we can, and there is no reason why this group can’t do the same.” This confidence in his players speaks to why McKito has had such success as a head coach.
Since his start at Mentor, he and his assistant coach, Mentor Alumni Jeff Floyd, have built up the reputation and success of the high school hockey program. McKito also has two more Mentor Alumni, Brady DeMell and Kyle Karchefsky, who help out as assistant coaches. This will be DeMell’s second season as a volunteer coach; he is also the director of the Mentor Youth Hockey program and coaches the Mentor Youth Hockey Bantam team with Floyd. Karchefsky is in his fourth year with the high school team. All together, these coaches help to guide the high school team to their success.
It looks like this year’s high school team has lots of potential. With seniors Dominic Trem, AJ Trobenter, Billy Becay, Matthew Friel, and Ryan Wilkinson leading the way, the Fighting Cardinals are sure to have an exciting season ahead of them.
