LHS Ice Hockey Team to Play Final Game of Regular Season

Editor's Note: The following was written by Andrew Gow and submitted to Lawrenceville Patch on behalf of the Lawrence High School ice hockey team, with the approval of Coach Mark Fidanza.

Today, Wednesday, Feb. 8, marks the final game of the 2011-2012 regular season for the Lawrence High School Cardinal ice hockey team. They will play close rivals Steinert at the Mercer County Ice rink at 8 p.m.

This promises to be an exciting game as the teams have played twice this season with each team winning one game. Lawrence will be looking to finish the season on a high note having lost 6-5 on Monday to Hightstown in what was a very hard-fought game and in which they were denied by some fine goaltending and some occasional lapses in their own concentration.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Cardinals as they have contended with the loss of a number of seniors from last year's team.

However, the junior leadership (Captain Ross Doerler and Assistant Captain Pat Kelly) along with one of the team's two seniors (Assistant Captain Chaz Nagy) have worked well to bring on the younger players and play to the team concept preached by Head Coach Mark Fidanza and new assistant coach John Ritchie.

It was this unity that allowed Lawrence to pull off its most dramatic win of the season in the Hamilton West Holiday Tournament. Playing in the consolation final against Steinert, and down 4-1, the Cardinals were able to work together and turn the game around into a 9-5 win. A big part of that comeback was goals from sophomore members of the team including Brian Niemirka, Mitch Brensinger, and Julian Bolton.

Throughout the year the team has been fortunate to have junior Alex Finan in goal. Alex, who entered the season with a broken glove hand, has played every minute of every game and has made many spectacular saves. Currently, Alex is 15th in state in saves made at 340 and a remarkable 0.921 save percentage.

Another junior, Pat Kelly, has led the Lawrence first line throughout the season; and, despite the loss of David Rembisz to a broken collarbone, has provided a constant scoring threat (15 goals) with line mates Julian Bolton (4 goals) and Cory Zrinko (8 goals).

Meanwhile, Logan Hamer, Mitch Brensinger, Alex Macdonald, Mike Saniewski, and Alex Vichroski have all played valuable minutes and contributed to the team's hard working forward play. Defensively Ross Doerler and Chaz Nagy have played stellar minutes as the first pair, while being backed up by sophomores John Gow and Brian Niemirka.

With Steinert having already locked up the Patriot Division crown, this game is critical to Lawrence for seeding going into next week's Mercer County Tournament; and with their mid-season victory in mind, the Cardinals look to finish the regular season on a high note.

So come out and support your Cardinals tonight at Mercer County Ice Rink at 8 p.m.