November 30, 2009

11/30/2009 9:03:00 AM Email this article • Print this article Trojans pick up first win Staff Reports The Troy High School hockey team got back to the basics with a 6-0 win over Maumee in the final game of the Frozen Creek Tournament Sunday. Ty Hoglund led the way offensively with four goals and Kyle Toy had a goal and two assists. Brandon Beaty scored a goal and Nick Usserman had two assists. Sean Clawson had an assist as well. "I really thought we executed much better Sunday than we had the rest of the weekend," Troy coach Larrell Walters said. "We didn't have too many penalties, it was a pretty clean game. "We were able to get the puck out of our zone very well and we really played to our potential." Troy outshot Maumee 34-16. Wiley Collett started the game in goal and Michael Walter came in to finish of the shutout. Troy is now 1-3 and will play in the Kilbourne tournament this coming weekend. Troy faces Columbus St. Francis DeSales Friday at 6 p.m. at the Chiller North. The Trojans play Kilbourne at 7 p.m. Saturday and Thomas Worthington at Noon Sunday.

November 26, 2009

Hard-working Trojans
Experienced Troy team looks to benefit from offseason

By Josh Brown
Associate Sports Editor

The Troy Trojans entered the 2008-09 season with a lot of questions, mainly how new coach Larrell Walters would cope with the loss of 10 graduating seniors and only five returning players.

Things are a bit different this year.

The Trojans return many players from last season's 9-18-2 team, and with only two of them being seniors -as well as a six-member strong freshman class - Troy looks to have a good amount of experience on the ice this year and beyond.

And Troy has put the work in to bring it all together.

"We've got a group of kids that's been in conditioning since July to make sure they're in shape, and we had a great preseason program," Walters, who is entering his second year as coach of the Trojans, said. "We brought in former Dayton Bomber (and Tipp City resident) Kelly Perrault to help us work on our skating strides. And it has all paid off greatly.

"I think we have a team that's going to be very spunky and that's going to be in all the games it plays."

Seniors Ty Hoglund - who played last season under Walters - and Wiley Collett - who played as a freshman and sophomore but skipped last season - will lead the team.

"We're very blessed. They're both true leaders and have tremendous work ethic," Walters said. "Everyone looks up to the seniors, and they set high expectations for the rest of the team by example. You just can't coach something like that into kids. They have to bring it on their own."

Also returning for the Trojans is a core group of juniors. Kyle Toy and Doug Birchfield will lend strength on the defensive end, while Nick Usserman and Erik Trudeau will provide some much-needed offense.

"Kyle and Doug are great examples of people working hard," Walters said. "Kyle was honorable mention all-league last year, and he earned it. And he's picked up right where he left off last year. he's a strong anchor on defense. And for Doug, this will be his first year as a starter. He's worked his way into the role, and he deserves it.

"Nick and Erik bring back quite a bit of experience, a renewed work ethic and lots of excitement."

Also back is junior John Hartzell, who was Troy's goalkeeper last year but will be making the move to defenseman this season.

"He's an excellent skater, and he has a good understanding of what a defenseman needs to do," Walters said. "He knows what would have helped him, and he's good at communicating those things."

Sophomores Sean Clawson and Chase Wilson will help add depth at the forwards position.

Freshmen Austin Erisman and Bryce Sullivan will help bolster the defensive ranks, while Brandon Beaty, Nik Schultz and Logan Tiderington will help on the offensive side and Michael Walter will provide depth at goaltender.

Walters knows the road through the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League is a tough one - particularly this year - but thinks that the Trojans have what it takes to hold their own.

"The SWOHSHL is going to be tough. Centerville made it to the state's final four last year, and teams like Beavercreek and Springboro have a lot back," Walters said. "And then on the other side of the league, you have tough teams like Talawanda and Moeller.

"I think that with the goaltending and defense we have, as well as the ability to put the puck in the net, we're going to be competitive."

But as long as the Trojans give their best effort, Walters said the rest will take care of itself.

"I want to see the players all perform at the top of their abilities," he said. "I know that's different for each player. But if, in each of their own way, be the best they can be and work as hard as they can ... if they can do that, we're going to win a lot of hockey games."