Change in direction: One-time pushover Oxford hockey off to best start

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

TROY — Any program can create a solid team, having a good or great season every now and then. But not all solid teams can morph into a quality program over a period of time.

That’s the long time goal for Dave Hague and Rick Ignani about Oxford’s hockey program. Hague, the Wildcats’ head coach and Ignani, a veteran assistant coach,  have slowly but surely watched Oxford add the building blocks for success.

“We decided to build a program, not a team,” said Dave Hague, Oxford’s ninth-year head coach who inherited a team in 2003-2004 that was coming off a three-win season. “We knew that it would not happen overnight. But if you believe in what you are doing and the kids buy into it, eventually it will happen. We have been pretty competitive the past couple of years now and we won the league last season.”

Oxford finished in the runner-up slot in the Flint Metro League in 2009-10 and set a school record for wins at 20-6-0. Last season the Wildcats played a more rigorous schedule and finished 13-8-3.

LEADER ON ICE: Oxford's Nick Hocker is in his fourth season of varsity play and one of the reasons why the wildcats have emerged as a quality program in recent years. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Oxford competed in the Oakland Activities Association White Division for the first time in 2010-11 and ended with a 9-1-2 record, winning the school’s first-ever league championship. The Wildcats began their boys hockey program in 2000-01.

Currently, Oxford is in third place in its first season in the OAA Red Division, entering Wednesday’s league game with co-league-leader Clarkston with a 1-1-1 ledger. The Wildcats are 9-2-1 overall, percentage-wise the best start in program history.

“I think we have very good leadership, guys that have bought into the program. We didn’t always have that,” said Hague, whose Wildcats finished 1-24-1 during the 2003-04 season, Hague’s first season. “We have a lot of kids that have been here three or four seasons. That’s a lot of experience. The guys know each other, trust each other out on the ice. They are very close. And they understand out system, what is expected of them.”

Oxford only graduated six total players and has seven seniors on this season’s roster. There is talent in four grades, meaning the Wildcats should remain competitive for the foreseeable future.

Seniors Nick Hocker, Nolan Chapman, Chad Wicker and Dean Couwlier are team’s cornerstones on a roster that also has 10 juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen. Juniors Stephan Fritz, Connor Novak and Brennen Orr and sophomores Alex Schlueter and Cody Wright are also among the top performers.

“It’s a lot different than it used to be,” recalled Hague. “When I first came here, we had a couple of good players, but not enough to make us really competitive. There were a lot of good players at Oxford who didn’t play high school hockey. Now our bench is full. We have (23 players) and the guys get along great. They want to play for this team. We have a lot more depth than we did during my first couple of years.”

While the Wildcats have a chance of a top three finish in the OAA Red Division, where Lake Orion and Clarkston hold the co-lead, the Wildcats hope to enjoy some success in the postseason, which begins Feb. 27. Oxford will also compete in the OAA league tournament, which begins Feb. 17, and the OAA-MAC Crossover Showcase on Feb. 5.

There are still some question marks and much improvement to be made. The Wildcats are unproven in goal, as Oxford had the top-ranked goalie in its league each of the past two seasons (Corey Hrishuk, 2009-10, now playing at Oakland) and Oscar Alexanderson (2010-11, returned to Sweeden). Having six sophomores and freshmen in the rotation is promising for the future, but still leaves some inexperience in the lineup.

“We have some god younger guys on our team, and they will get better. They need to get tougher and I think that will happen over time,” said Hague. “Playing in the top division of the OAA will help us. It’s such a great league for high school hockey. There aren’t any weak teams and you can’t take a night off. But that will prepare you for the state playoffs.”

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