Steelers look to learn from last year
High School hockey team off to impressive 5-0 startBy CRAIG HARVEY
"I will take character over talent any day."
Those were the sentiments of Fredonia-Dunkirk hockey coach Dr. Jay Bishop describing his team that is off to an impressive 5-0 start.
After losing 13 seniors from last year's team including leading scorer Phil DiFrancisco, it would only seem natural to look at this year's Steeler team and say it would be a rebuilding year.
"That's a huge loss," Bishop said. "The leadership is the responsibility of the seniors now. Kids are stepping up, Zach Sliwa in particular. He is the leader of the team. Kids have really stepped up their game."
After taking third in the Western New York hockey league last year, the Steelers have come out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they are making a case to be one of the top teams in the league that consists of Olean, City Honors, Jamestown, Kenmore East and Kenmore West.
"Our team goal is to win the Western New York championship," Bishop said.
The team also finished second in the Lake Shore league - a league they are not participating in this year. Although Bishop's team is not in the Lake Shore League, it was a loss in that league that keeps the fire in the eye's of Bishop and the rest of the team burning.
"It was the most disappointing loss in my entire coaching career," Bishop said reflecting on the loss to Fairview at Steele Hall. "We had kids with talent. We had seniors that wanted to play for themselves and not the team. It just killed us. They remember it. They remember the dynamics. I emphasize the difference between playing for yourself and playing for the team and achieving team goals rather than individual goals. The team bought into that."
The Steelers' fast start starts with the strong goaltending they have received from juniors Nike Caccamise and Tom Hart.
"They work with each other and back each other up," Bishop said. "We are not going with the starting-goalie, backup-goalie system. That's how strong they are. They are doing good."
Bishop has been able to use four lines with confidence due in part to the depth of his team and the improvements of returning players such as Jeff Carlson, Tyler Gustafson, Zach Mleczko, Devin Carlson, Byron Van Zile and Nicholas Stott. at forward along with key additions such as Marcus Deas and Kevin Schwertfager. Rounding out the forwards are Nate Mages, Nate Novelli and Ben Henry.
"Jeff Carlson and Tyler Gustafson are two kids that last year, the difference they have made is incredible," Bishop said.
Defensively, the core is led by Chris Messina and Bo Westling, Greg Wilson, Matt Ludwig Nate Ahlstrom and Alex Ross all contribute on the blue line.
"The locker room atmosphere, team atmosphere is great," Bishop said. "Last year was my first year taking over the high school team. It was a transition year for me. I had to feel my way around and deal with some of these kids. We set some boundaries this year and I think that is paying off this year. The kids are buying into my coaching philosophy, my coaching strategies. They are not questioning anything. They are just doing it."
Along with Bishop, are assistant coaches Dave Caccamise and Keith Mages.
"I love coaching," Bishop said. "I really love the kids. You want to pass on something."
The Steelers return to Steele Hall on Dec. 13 when they host Jamestown at 11:30 a.m.
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