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2014 ALL-NORTH OAKLAND AREA BOYS HOCKEY: Talent was in abundance at area rinks

Dan Stickradt | April 22, 2014 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

Dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

To say that individual and team talent was in abundance in the area’s boys hockey scene this winter would be an understatement.

There was plenty to go around.

The area featured several teams that logged weeks inside the top 20 in each division, as well as teams that competed for a variety of championships. Individual-wise, 17 players from North Oakland squads earned some type of All-State recognition, while more than 35 local stars garnered status on their respective all-league teams.

For turning Troy Athens around after a sub-five hundred season a year ago, Joe Barone of Troy Athens has been selected as Coach of the Year.

Below are the profiles of each individual on the 2014 All-North Oakland Area Team, as selected by NOS staff.

FIRST TEAM

Forwards:

MAX HARPER, Rochester United: Named the League MVP of the OAA Red Division and the league’s top sniper, this junior exploded for 33 goals and 30 assists for 63 points. Honored on the Division 1 All-State First Team and All-Oakland County First Team, Harper led United to the league championship and to a final regular season ranking of No. 2 in D-1. He garnered the reputation of being one of the state’s most dangerous threats with the puck near the net, averaging 2.33 points a game.

MARSHALL BOWERY, Rochester United: The other half of Rochester’s dynamite junior duo, Bowery terrorized opposing goalies for 28 goals and 31 assists, good for 59 points and 2.19 points a game. Fast and powerful on the ice, Bowery also earned All-OAA Red Division, Division 1 All-State First Team and All-Oakland County Third Team status.

RYAN SZYDLOWSKI, Lake Orion: A third year starter for the Dragons, Szydlowski aided Lake Orion’s run to a regional crown. This season, the All-OAA Red Division and Division 1 All-State Second Team standout created all kinds of havoc with the puck, registering 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 total points and averaged 1.45 points an outing. His biggest goal was an overtime marker in a 1-0 regional finals upset of second-ranked Rochester. He also notched All-Oakland County Fourth Team honors.

Defensemen:

BRANDON GOODES, Troy Athens: Part of the Red Hawks revival this season after the program finished in the OAA White Division cellar a year ago, Goodes was a key cog in the Red Hawks’ run to the league championship thanks to his stellar defensive and offensive play. Named to the Division 1 All-State Second Team, All-Oakland County Fifth Team and All-OAA White Division, Goodes fired in 25 goals and 19 assists for 44 points for a team that won 17 games this season.

NICK MAREK, Rochester United: While Rochester’s high-powered offense rang up 125 goals this season, United’s defense and goaltending was equally outstanding considering the team’s tough schedule. Ranked amongst the state’s better defensemen, Marek still found time to score a goal and assist on 21 others for a team that finished a sterling 21-3-3 with six shutouts and gave up only 51 goals in 27 games (1.89 goals allowed per game). Amongst Marek’s postseason accolades include All-Oakland County Second Team, All-State First Team Division 1 and All-OAA Red Division.

Goaltender:

KYLER PATENAUDE, Rochester United: Recently named to the All-State Dream Team as the state’s top goalie, Patenaude shared time with two other quality goaltenders for United this season. Called upon to face the team’s toughest opponents, Patenaude played in 602 minutes, posted a goals-against-average of 1.78, stopped 303 of 324 shots and posted a .935 save percentage with three shutouts. He was named to the All-OAA Red Division squad, All-Oakland County Second Team and Division 1 All-State First Team for the second year in a row.

Coach of the Year:

JOE BARONE, Troy Athens: Despite a first-round, overtime upset exit from the Division 1 state tournament, Troy Athens had quite a turnaround this season in Barone’s seventh campaign with the Red Hawks. After winning only seven games and finishing dead last in the OAA White Division in 2012-13, Athens righted the ship and captured the OAA-White Division crown outright, completing the rare last-to-first journey. Athens finished 17-6-3 overall and 8-1-3 for 19 points in the OAA-White, two points ahead of Troy.

SECOND TEAM

Forwards:

EMMETT WAGNER, Auburn Hills Avondale: Despite being omitted from the Division 2 All-State list, Wagner had an incredible season for the Yellowjackets. Named the Offensive MVP of the OAA White Division, Wagner found the back of the net an area-best and school record 52 times while setting up 33 helpers for 85 points, also best in the area.

CHASE WIEDEMANN, Clarkston: With 12 goals and 24 assists, Wiedmann led the Wolves in points with 36. The speedy Wiedmann racked up All-OAA Red Division, All-Oakland County Fifth Team and All-State Second Team status this season.

HAYDEN RICHARDSON, Rochester Stoney Creek: A mainstay in the Cougars’ lineup for four seasons, this senior departed with Division 2 All-State Second Team, All-Oakland County Honorable Mention and All-OAA Red Division honors. On the attack, he provided 13 goals, a team-leading 24 assists and 37 points.

Defensemen:

ERIC MATYNOWSKI, Clarkston: The Wolves finished 16-8-2 and picked up five shutouts on the season and Matynowski was a big part of a talented back line that allowed only 2.65 goals a game. Offensively he finished with two goals and 11 assists for 13 points and earned All-OAA Red Division, All-Oakland County Honorable Mention and Division 1 All-State Honorable Mention.

JORDAN STROSS, Lake Orion: Coming out of the back, the All-OAA Red Division honoree also earned All-Oakland County Fifth Team and Division 1 All-State Second Team honors for a team that finished 19-7-3 and reached the state quarterfinals for the third time in seven seasons. He provided the Lake Orion attack with six goals and 20 assists for 26 points.

Goaltender:

LOGAN ALDRICH, Lake Orion: In his second full season as a starter, Aldrich logged 1,288 minutes between the pipes and led the Dragons to the OAA Red Division runner-up slot, a Division 1 regional title and a berth in the Elite Eight. This season, Aldrich finished 17-6-2 in goal, allowed only 2.14 goals against an outing and stopped 635 of 689 shots, good for a stellar .922 save percentage. He earned All-OAA Red Division status as well as Division All-State Second Team honors and All-Oakland County Honorable Mention. He was one of four goalies from his league to earn some type of All-State recognition.

THIRD TEAM

Forwards:

GRAHAM DAY, Rochester United: While so much attention was given to the aforementioned Harper and Bowery, Day was dangerous in his own right. This season the senior collected 43 total points, which included 15 goals and 28 assists. Day landed on the Division 1 All-State Second Team, All-OAA Red Division and All-Oakland County Honorable Mention for his efforts.

JOSH NIEDERHAUSER, Rochester Stoney Creek: The key cog in the Cougars’ offensive attack, Niderhauser’s junior campaign resulted in 22 goals, 21 assists and 43 points in 28 games on the ice. Making the Division 2 All-State Honorable Mention, All-Oakland County Honorable Mention and All-OAA Red Division lists were amongst his postseason accolades.

ANDREW URBAN, Troy: Troy showed mass improvements on the ice this season, going from 10 wins last season to a team that finished 21-4-1 and reached the Division 1 regional finals for the second straight season. Urban was a big part of that turnaround, as he finished the year with three goals and 13 assists from the backline. More importantly stabilized a young defensive unit. He was honored on the All-OAA White Division squad.

“Andrew was our leader on defense,” said coach Tim Zimmerman. “His leadership and maturity enabled our younger defensemen to learn. He provided a role model for our defense corps. Not everything Andrew did was score sheet related. He had great vision on our breakout and his point shots were deadly accurate.”

Defensemen:

SEAN REWOLD, Rochester Stoney Creek: The backbone of the Cougars’ defensive unit, Rewold was not only responsible for six goals and 16 assists for 22 points but for keeping opposing forwards from getting a clean path towards the goal. Stoney Creek recorded three shutouts in 25 games and allowed just over three goals a game. Rewold earned Division 2 All-State Second Team, All-Oakland County Honorable Mention and All-OAA Red Division status.

SHAWN COTTER, Clarkston: Another sturdy stick in the Wolves defensive unit, Cotter finished with two goals and nine assists for 11 assists on the offensive end of the ice. Helping to shut down the opposition’s top offensive threats, Cotter stayed out of the penalty box with only four penalties this season and had a plus-minus of 25.

AJ YUCHASZ, Flint Kearsley-Ortonville Brandon-Holly Unified (KBH): Yuchasz remarkably only missed one game during his four-year career for KBH. This season, the All-Flint Metro League Second Team selection picked up eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points and plenty lengthy shifts out on the ice do to a small bench for defensemen.

“AJ was a critical player in all situations for us,” said coach Steve Yuchasz. “He played the penalty kill, power play and took face offs. He’s a very tough player to play against and he will be missed.”

Goaltender:

JEFF MEROLA, Troy Athens: The backbone to the OAA White Division Red Hawks’ success, this senior reaped the benefits of multiple postseason honors. Named to the All-OAA White Division, Division 1 All-State Second Team and All-Oakland County Honorable Mention, Merola logged virtually every minute in goal for the Red Hawks, some 1,329 minutes in all. He finished with a 1.80 goals-against average over 26 games, posting five shutouts, allowing 47 goals while stopping 623-of-670 shots for a .930 save percentage.

2014 ALL-NORTH OAKLAND AREA

BOYS HOCKEY TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Forwards:

Max Harper         Rochester United   Junior

Marshall Bowery    Rochester United   Junior

Ryan Szydlowski    Lake Orion         Junior

Defensemen:

Brandon Goodes     Troy Athens        Senior

Nick Marek         Rochester United   Senior

Goatender:

Kyler Patenaude    Rochester United   Senior

COACH OF THE YEAR

Joe Barone         Troy Athens        7^th season

SECOND TEAM

Forwards: Emmett Wagner, Auburn Hills Avondale sr.; Chase 
Wiedemann, Clarkston sr.

Hayden Richardson, Rochester Stoney Creek sr.

Defensemen: Eric Matynowski, Clarkston sr.; Jordan Stross, 
Lake Orion sr.

Goaltender: Logan Aldrich, Lake Orion sr.

THIRD TEAM

Forwards: Graham Day, Rochester United sr.; Josh Nidelhauser, 
Rochester Stoney Creek jr.; Andrew Urban, Troy sr.

Defensemen: Sean Rewold, Rochester Stoney Creek sr.; Shawn Cotter,
Clarkston sr.; AJ Yuchasz, Flint Kearsley-Ortonville Brandon-
Holly Unified sr.

Goaltender: Jeff Merola, Troy Athens sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Auburn Hills Avondale: Nick Poplars, sr.; Max Spurlin, sr.; 
Clarkston: Garrett Polish, sr.; Jack Viazanko, sr. G; Jacob 
LaPorte, sr. F; Carter Rea, jr. F; Drake Gentile, jr. F; Roman
Reiner, jr. F; Flint Kearsley-Holly-Ortonville Brandon Unified:
Tristan Younes, jr. G; Brendan Guziak, soph. C; Shawn Larsen, 
jr. C; Kross Kenny, soph. F; Lake Orion: Alex Giwa, sr. D; Drew
Casey, sr. F; Connor Moesta, jr. F.; Zach Line, jr. F; Pontiac 
Notre Dame Prep: Zachary Huth, sr. F; Dallas Inmgraham, sr. F; 
Rochester United: Luke Brunson, sr. F; Matt Potoniec, sr. D; 
Rochester Stoney Creek: Cam Scharret, sr.; Noal Arbour, jr. F; 
Finley O’Shea, sr. F; Ryan Matusik, sr. F; Troy: John Hunter, 
sr. D; Nik Bester, sr. D; Ramone Kammo, jr. F; Jacob Smith, 
soph. F; Andrew Urban, sr. D; Ethan Howard, jr. G; Troy Athens:
Jon Carandang, soph. D; Brad Merola, jr. F; Griffin Rocheleau, 
sr. F; Trevor Hensen, jr. F; Kosta Karabetsos, jr. F; 
Royal Oak Shrine-Waterford Our Lady-Clarkston Everest 
Collegiate Unified: Chris Bradley, sr. F; Steve Erwin, jr. G.