Beverly Hills

Country Day hockey team continues to roll, winners of 15 games already

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by David Schreiber Ferris Cadri, center, gets ready to take a shot on goalie Chris Cantrell while defenseman Paul Johnson looks on during a Feb. 1 practice. Country Day was 15-3 at press time. Photo by David Schreiber Ferris Cadri, center, gets ready to take a shot on goalie Chris Cantrell while defenseman Paul Johnson looks on during a Feb. 1 practice. Country Day was 15-3 at press time.

BEVERLY HILLS — Where there’s depth, there’s talent.

Where there’s speed, there’s power.

And where there’s timely scoring, there’s an impenetrable defense.

So opponents of the Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day hockey team have to, more or less, pick their poison.

And there are not a lot of desirable selections on the menu.

“These guys are confident right now, but I’ve always believed you create your own confidence,” coach Frank Novok said last week. “These guys have learned how to win.”

At press time, the Yellowjackets were 15-3-0. A year ago, there was much to celebrate after the team finished 14-11-0 and wound up in the Division 3 quarterfinals, before falling to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood.

Momentum from last year’s strong play seemed to carry into the offseason.

Senior Ryan Golenik said there was a commitment level within the team he’d never seen before, whether it was in the weight room or guys doing cardio work, attendance was booming.

“The dedication from every guy on this team was amazing,” he said.

Asked if he was surprised at all about winning 15 of the first 18 games, he said, “a little.”

“But you know what,” he added, “I think when we looked back and saw what we were capable of last year, guys knew we could do even more this year.”

That commitment, he said, has contributed to some of the team’s best play, “especially in the third period.”

“A little surprised,” Novok said with a laugh when asked the same question. “Winning 15 games so far isn’t about luck, though. These guys have really bought into the system and what we’re doing. They’ve earned this.”

While he doesn’t keep many stats, “the only one I’m worried about is 15-3,” said Novok, who estimated his guys were scoring more than four goals a game and allowing less than two.

“Our offense and defense feed each other,” he said. “We’re a puck-possession team. When we’re doing that well, we’re controlling the offensive flow of the game and not letting the other team get many chances. It’s worked well all year.”

Novok said this year’s group is capable of a long playoff run.

He and his guys also know that run will be tested right off the bat.

In a game earlier this season, the Yellowjackets fell to Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett.

While Country Day has a bye in the pre-regional opener, Liggett faces Royal Oak Shrine. A win over Shrine would then set up a second-round affair between the two.

“That was one of those games where everything that could go wrong, did,” Golenik said of a 6-1 loss to Liggett on Dec. 7. Liggett is 16-2 on the season and riding a 15-game win streak at press time. “We hope to see them again. I think our team is capable of anything, and if we get the shot, we want to prove to Liggett that that wasn’t who we really are. If we do that, anything is possible.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.