The Gateway JV hockey team defies expectations

Factor: Michael Love

Sunday, December 18, 2022 | 11:01 AM

Gateway’s junior hockey team recorded eight points in 15 regular season games last year.

The Gators own that many points from their first eight games this year, and coach Shawn Jesih said his experienced squad will continue to improve at the end of 2022.

“The development of the boys has exceeded expectations,” Jesih said. “They’re buying different systems and things like that that we’re working on. We preach to be aggressive and believe in each other and work together. These common principles seem to be paying off for us. Above all, they believe they have a chance to win many of the games they play.

Gateway went 2-1-1 in a recent four-game stretch and was hoping to add two points to its tally Dec. 16 when it was scheduled to host JV Tier 3, Division 3 leader Deer Lakes.

The game at Delmont’s Palmer Imaging Arena was scheduled to be contested after this week’s publication deadline.

Deer Lakes shut out the Gators 2-0 in the second game of the season, but Gateway has scored at least three goals in every game since, tying a season-high six in a tough 7-6 loss to Moon. November 4th.

After the setback to the Tigers, Gateway posted two straight comeback wins against Norwin and West Allegheny.

The Gators spotted Norwin a 1-0 lead in the first period of their Nov. 22 game at Palmer Imaging Arena before tying the game in the second on a Blake Marsh goal and going ahead with two in the third, one by Reed Davis. and Hayden Hines.

CJ Evans, Hines and Gavin Grant each added assists while Seth Hunkele made 18 saves to help his team secure the win.

“We had been beaten so many times by that team over the years,” Jesih said. “It’s always been a bar to meet their level of play, especially the way they move the puck. Norwin doesn’t often give you a chance to get back into the game.

Norwin outscored Gateway 17-11 through the first two periods, but the Gators turned the tables on the Knights with a 13-2 run in the third.

“We just had an aggressive attack like I had said and we didn’t give Norwin a lot of time and space,” Jesih said. – We played the puck and also the body. We were able to break up Norwin as the game progressed.

Gateway trailed West Allegheny 3-1 in the second period on Dec. 9 before winning 4-3.

Brendan Luptak scored early for the Gators, and Hines started the comeback with two goals, one in each of the second and third periods.

Evans lays down the game-winner at 9:53 of the third off an assist from Marsh.

Hunkele saved 13 goals.

“We never lost focus despite the deficit,” Jesih said. “We just made sure the guys knew they were doing things right and that good things were coming. They had the confidence that they could come back by staying out of the box and creating chances. There were a lot of little things that added us back to the game and to the win.

Evans led the team with nine goals and 13 points in eight games, while Davis had a team-best five assists and three goals.

Luptak also scored five goals, as seven players had at least four points.

Gateway ends the December portion of its schedule on the 23rd. December against Carrick ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Michael by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

Tags: Gateway