Shaker hockey can achieve a winning record in the Great Lakes Hockey League by defeating rival University School tonight.
Shaker lost 8-2 to University School Jan. 7 at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.
Shaker forward Will Brokaw said that the Raiders are remembering the disappointment that followed that loss.“If we can use that to motivate us, that’s something to look out for,” he said.
The Jan. 7 game started evenly, with a 1-1 score after the first period, but University School was able to pull away after intermission. “In the first period, we didn’t give them turnovers, we didn’t give them chances off the rush, we didn’t hand the puck back to them,” Head Coach Matt Bartley said. “They came out in the second moving their feet, and we just made a couple of defensive lapses early.”
The team is now 2-2-1 in the Great Lakes Hockey League. The Raiders defeated Holy Name 6-0 Jan. 20 and tied Padua Franciscan 3-3 Jan. 21.
Brokaw said that throughout the Jan. 21 game, his teammates’ focus on their mistakes held them back from a win. “During the Padua game, there was a lot of negativity on the bench and I feel like that caused a lot of the mistakes. I feel like it’s more about how we rebound from mistakes,” he said. “You make a mistake, move on from it. I think that’s the message going into this weekend.”
University School is yet to lose a GLHL game. They have also defeated Holy Name, Walsh Jesuit and Gilmour Academy.
Bartley said that his team can stand out from other GLHL teams with a victory due to the nature of the rivalry. “This game always can go either way,” he said. “There’s years that one team is, on paper, the better team, and that’s not the result we get in the game.”
Outside of the GLHL, University School has only three losses. They lost 2-1 to Findlay in a shootout Nov. 25 and lost to St. Edward 2-1 in overtime Dec. 9. They are now coming off a 1-0 loss to St. Ignatius Jan. 21. All three of these opponents are top-10 teams in OHSAA rankings, per MYHockey Rankings. University School is currently ranked 2nd and Shaker is ranked 12th.
Brokaw said he likes the position the Raiders are in entering this rivalry game. “We’re the underdogs. We’ve got nothing to lose. I love that about us,” he said.
Shaker last beat University School Jan. 21, 2022. The final was 4-2.
Bartley said that experience is the difference between his team now and the team two seasons ago. “Two years ago, we were more veteran,” he said. “We’re a much younger team now than we were a couple of years ago.”
Bartley said tonight’s outcome can provide momentum for his young team as the regular season concludes. “Winning it is a good feeling. It gives you something to get excited and be happy about,” he said. “To win in a game like this, it can definitely give you some confidence and energy moving forward.”
Bartley also highlighted the importance of student support for Shaker at these rivalry games. “It’s always important. It’s something you look forward to,” he said. “We’re definitely going to rely on our home crowd to come, hopefully, support us and get us moving.”
Brokaw is excited for the Raiders to make a statement in front of home supporters.
Said Brokaw, “I’m excited for the fans. I’m excited for everyone to see what we’ve got.”
