Centerville's goal to return to state hockey tourney

The schedule says the Centerville Elks’ high school hockey season started on Nov. 27.

For the Elks, though, everything leading up to now has been practice for one thing — a return trip to the state semifinals.

Centerville plays Thomas Worthington in the opening round of the Columbus District at 8:30 p.m. today, Feb. 19, at the Dublin Chiller. The Elks need to win five games to win district and match last year’s team.

“We play for big things. We don’t play for record,” Centerville coach Adam Frank said. “We have our eyes set on that second state appearance in the final four in back-to-back years.”

The Elks, 17-11-1, don’t have as many wins as other teams. But they do have momentum.

Centerville won the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League title last Sunday after beating favored Sycamore — Frank also calls them the district favorite — 6-3 in the final. Centerville also beat three-time defending champ Oxford Talawanda 4-3 in overtime in the first round despite being down a goal with less than a minute left in regulation.

“This season has been very up and down in terms of the record, but our team has kept perspective of why you go through the ups and downs,” Frank said. “No matter what any other team thinks, for us to win the league tournament is a real testimony to what we’ve been working on all year.”

Team defense has been a staple for the Elks, highlighted by senior defensemen John Dowd, Marc Middleton and Francesco Cergna. Senior forwards Joe Breslin and Tyler Bottermuller pace the offense.

A Centerville win today sets up a fifth meeting with Springboro at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ice Haus at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Elks are 3-1 against the Panthers, including a 5-2 win in the SWOHSHL semis.

The district final is March 6. The winner advances to the state semifinals March 13.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.