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Healthy Centerville hockey squad ready for Mayor’s Cup

The four-game round robin, which begins today, counts in the league.

Members of the Centerville Elks hockey team include, front row (from left): Zack Dillon, Greg Montour, Sam Trick, Jeremy Watson, Zack Keith, Philip Petrosino. Second row: Zack Kilbane, Garrett Slagle, Danny Koman, Adam Korchinski (captain), Cory Kwolek, Alex Schenk. Back Row: Daniele Dixon (student trainer), Adam Frank (head coach), Cole Fickert, John Gammell, Joe Bucher (assistant captain), Cooper Solin (captain), Eddie Koman (assistant captain), Justin Collins (assistant coach), Daryl Allen (assistant coach). Not pictured: Conner Sullivan, Ashley Coale (student trainer).

Contributed photo Members of the Centerville Elks hockey team include, front row (from left): Zack Dillon, Greg Montour, Sam Trick, Jeremy Watson, Zack Keith, Philip Petrosino. Second row: Zack Kilbane, Garrett Slagle, Danny Koman, Adam Korchinski (captain), Cory Kwolek, Alex Schenk. Back Row: Daniele Dixon (student trainer), Adam Frank (head coach), Cole Fickert, John Gammell, Joe Bucher (assistant captain), Cooper Solin (captain), Eddie Koman (assistant captain), Justin Collins (assistant coach), Daryl Allen (assistant coach). Not pictured: Conner Sullivan, Ashley Coale (student trainer).

ENLARGE PHOTO

By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 11:03 PM Saturday, December 25, 2010

CENTERVILLE — The slopes at the HoliMont Ski Area in Ellicottville, N.Y., gave Centerville High School senior Adam Korchinski a good run last week.

What he has to navigate the next few days, though, should prove a tougher challenge.

The Elks goalie leads Centerville into the Mayor’s Cup tournament, a round-robin event that also includes Alter, Beavercreek, Troy and defending champion Springboro.

And perhaps more important than hoisting the Mayor’s Cup is the chance at grabbing four league wins in the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League.

“Since it is league games we’ll definitely play with more intensity,” Korchinski said. “I think we still have a lot more potential than what we’re playing at, but we’re having a very good year so far.”

The Elks (6-5-2, 1-1-0) won the season-opening Frozen Creek tournament and finished second in a Cleveland tournament despite battling injuries. The Mayor’s Cup will be the first time this season the Elks field a full roster.

“One blessing in disguise is it’s allowed other players opportunities to get playing time and be impact players,” said fourth-year coach Adam Frank. “To have that earlier in the season rather than later is a good thing.”

The Elks’ offense has benefited the most from the increase in team depth, especially following the graduation of Joey Breslin, who led the team in scoring and assists the past two seasons.

“Last year we gave the puck to Joey and just watched him. He was unbelievable,” Korchinski said. “This year we don’t really have a player like that, but we have three or four really good forwards. That will definitely help us be more balanced.”

The Elks won the SWOHSHL title last season and reached the state quarterfinals for the second straight season. They hope for another run this season, starting with a Mayor’s Cup title.

“When it comes to offense, we have to work a little bit harder,” senior forward Cooper Solin said. “But the harder we work the easier the goals come.

“The most intense thing about this tournament is we’re all in the same district. The more we play each other, the more intense the games get because of the rivalries. We know a lot about each other and the competition is huge.”