Gilmour hockey celebrates continuity amid state final charge – News-Herald

When it comes to continuity in Greater Cleveland hockey circles, the full six degrees of separation aren’t necessary.

More times than not, it only requires a few.

Such is the case for Gilmour, which will play for its first state boys hockey championship in school history at 7 pm March 12 against Toledo St. Francis, following a 2-0 semifinal triumph on March 10 over St. Edward.

Gilmour headed back to state hockey final for the first time since 2008 with a 2-0 win over St. Edward

It’s a fun time to be a Lancer – on the ice and beyond.

Following that 2-0 win over the Eagles, Veteran Gilmour Coach John Malloy was not part of the postgame news conference at the Nationwide Arena, in typical Malloy fashion preferring the Spotlight be cast on his players amid one of the biggest moments in program history.

That didn’t stop Malloy from being brought up as a topic of conversation, though. Former longtime Sun Newspapers high school sportswriter Norm Weber, who now works for St. Edward, asked Lancers forward Matt Bauman if by chance he was any relation to Baumans who played at Cleveland Heights for Malloy, Ohio’s all-time winningest hockey Coach, in the 1980s.

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Sure enough …

“Yeah, so actually, Coach Malloy coached my dad and my two uncles,” Bauman said with a smile. “They all went to Heights over a span of, I’d say seven or eight years. It’s definitely something pretty unique that I enjoy.

“My dad actually coached with Malloy for a little bit, which was cool. I remember my Grandma saying that Coach Malloy talked to me on the bench just like he used to talk to my dad.”

That continuity has long been a strong suit at Gilmour under Malloy, even with personnel changes perennially via graduation and callups to the Lancers’ Prep team.

In the week leading up to the trip to Columbus and the frozen four, Malloy had former players visit practice and record video messages of encouragement, extolling the virtues of advancing the program’s cause and nailing down an elusive first boys state hockey championship for the school.

Prior to this season, Gilmour had three frozen four berths – technically two because the most recent in 2020 was canceled before the frozen four was played due to the novel coronavirus Pandemic. But a state title has not come – not in 2008, when the Lancers lost in the final, and not in 2011, when they were knocked out in a semifinal, in both instances at the hands of St. Edward.

“This past week, he’s had people out every day, practicing with us and just telling us it’s a big opportunity to win and to be where we are.” Gilmour senior defenseman Shea Hofstrom said. “No boys hockey team (at Gilmour) has won a state championship before. So I think bringing it home would be really special for all of us, especially for all the alumni.

“I think it’s big, just to know that there’s so many people before us that haven’t got this far and haven’t brought it home yet. So I think it’s really special to be in this kind of situation right now.”

Gilmour hockey Returns to state frozen four with 2-0 win over Mentor

That message has carried off the ice as well.

“In the past two weeks, Coach Malloy has been sending us emails of people, alumni who have sent their messages to us,” senior blueliner Harry Rogers said. “We’ve just been getting overwhelmed with all these messages of support from the alumni.”

As Hofstrom alluded, the alumni who have come out to practice have been a boost for the team.

Senior goaltender Ian Anderson, who was outstanding against St. Edward in a 32-save shutout, noted the presence of having multiple alumni out that boast NCAA Division I experience, including former Lancers standout forward Brandon Smith, who later went on to play at Malloy’s alma mater, Miami (Ohio).

“Whether some of our players go that far or not is left to be seen, but to have people with that experience, to have played at that high level, correcting our mistakes and helping us with things, it’s great,” Anderson said. “It picks up the speed and pace of play and it helps us learn a different speed and find a different gear.

“It’s a ton of fun. Having this opportunity is great. It’s a blast. We get to watch the Blue Jackets play (March 11 against the Wild). We’re really looking forward to having that to do. And I think having that opportunity to stay down here, in the midst of all the great sports teams at our school, is Fantastic. I love it. “

As the hockey players were concluding their postgame news conference, Gilmour’s boys basketball team was tipping off a Division II regional semifinal win over Toledo Central Catholic.

March 12, Lancers fans might have a tough logistic choice to make with the boys basketball tipping off their D-II regional final against the St. Marys Memorial at 4 pm out at Bowling Green and the aforementioned 7 pm Puck drop in Columbus.

While boys basketball and hockey made their runs in the OHSAA postseason, Gilmour’s girls track and field team also won the D-II / III indoor state team title last week.

Indeed, this is a fun time to be a Lancer, with which continuity all the way around helps.

“All of our winter sports have been on fire in the past couple of weeks,” Rogers said. “We obviously got here, and the boys basketball won on the same day we did. Obviously to set the tone early is good, and we hope the rest of the school carries it out.”

Gilmour vs. Toledo St. Francis

What: State hockey final

When: 7 pm, March 12

Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus

Records: Gilmour 26-13-1, Toledo St. Francis 27-9-1

Streaming: NFHS Network (requires subscription)