By Noah Resnicow
As the snow continues to try to fall, the Pioneer men’s hockey team hits the ice for another season at the Cube. This is the second year at the helm for head coach Frank Garcia. After a rebuilding year, the team is focused on achieving their goals this season.
The team has added four new players to the roster this season, all of whom have contributed to its success.
“The newcomers to the team are senior Sam Millman and freshmen Covey Hurd, Mikey Leighton, and Tristan Wilkins,” said Garcia. “Sam has been an incredible addition to the team. He has experience playing at the highest of travel leagues. He brings a dynamic offensive component to our team, which has contributed in making the entire team offense much better than previous years. Sam is a vocal leader both on the ice and in the locker room.”
The younger newcomers have brought a new wave of talent to the team, which the coaches believe will impact the present, and future, of the team.
“Mikey has contributed in goal this season, achieving a 3-1 record with a shutout over Bedford. Covey and Tristan have both added depth to our team,” said Garcia. “They are extremely talented and certainly have a very bright future playing for Pioneer.”
While the team was young and talented last year, they underachieved to a 5-21 record (according to mihshockeyhub.com). This year in Garcia’s second season leading the team, he has raised the bar for expectations.
“Last season, we were a very talented young team.” said Garcia. “The team showed a tremendous amount of growth and maturity throughout the season. We ended the season with an overtime victory in the playoffs, which really gave the program momentum going into this current season. The team goals are 15 wins, win the Jilek tournament, and win the regional championship.”
While Garcia teaches at Skyline, he coached baseball for Pioneer two years ago, and is committed to Ann Arbor’s original high school.
“Pioneer has a very strong tradition of success in all their programs. Men’s varsity hockey is no different,” he said. “In recent years, the program has won league championships, regional tournaments, and has had players recognized for All-State honors. The tradition of success is an expectation for every team that puts on a Pioneer uniform.”
Garcia also believes that Pioneer’s unique tradition affects all of his current players. “This tradition of excellence is a driving force, which motivates our players to perform to their full potential. Our players know when they take the ice for games or practices that they are playing for something bigger than themselves,” he said. “In our locker room, we have pictures and banners of the teams that played before us. Those pictures remind our players of not only records and titles, but of those teams who built our program.”
The team is confident this season, and feels they have the tools to accomplish their goals. “To achieve these goals, the team must learn to play together. They must trust in each other and the coaching staff. Hockey is a game where a team of individuals rarely succeed,” said Garcia. “
To achieve our team goals, we must continue to grow as a team, work hard, and focus on becoming a united group.”
The team has added four new players to the roster this season, all of whom have contributed to its success.
“The newcomers to the team are senior Sam Millman and freshmen Covey Hurd, Mikey Leighton, and Tristan Wilkins,” said Garcia. “Sam has been an incredible addition to the team. He has experience playing at the highest of travel leagues. He brings a dynamic offensive component to our team, which has contributed in making the entire team offense much better than previous years. Sam is a vocal leader both on the ice and in the locker room.”
The younger newcomers have brought a new wave of talent to the team, which the coaches believe will impact the present, and future, of the team.
“Mikey has contributed in goal this season, achieving a 3-1 record with a shutout over Bedford. Covey and Tristan have both added depth to our team,” said Garcia. “They are extremely talented and certainly have a very bright future playing for Pioneer.”
While the team was young and talented last year, they underachieved to a 5-21 record (according to mihshockeyhub.com). This year in Garcia’s second season leading the team, he has raised the bar for expectations.
“Last season, we were a very talented young team.” said Garcia. “The team showed a tremendous amount of growth and maturity throughout the season. We ended the season with an overtime victory in the playoffs, which really gave the program momentum going into this current season. The team goals are 15 wins, win the Jilek tournament, and win the regional championship.”
While Garcia teaches at Skyline, he coached baseball for Pioneer two years ago, and is committed to Ann Arbor’s original high school.
“Pioneer has a very strong tradition of success in all their programs. Men’s varsity hockey is no different,” he said. “In recent years, the program has won league championships, regional tournaments, and has had players recognized for All-State honors. The tradition of success is an expectation for every team that puts on a Pioneer uniform.”
Garcia also believes that Pioneer’s unique tradition affects all of his current players. “This tradition of excellence is a driving force, which motivates our players to perform to their full potential. Our players know when they take the ice for games or practices that they are playing for something bigger than themselves,” he said. “In our locker room, we have pictures and banners of the teams that played before us. Those pictures remind our players of not only records and titles, but of those teams who built our program.”
The team is confident this season, and feels they have the tools to accomplish their goals. “To achieve these goals, the team must learn to play together. They must trust in each other and the coaching staff. Hockey is a game where a team of individuals rarely succeed,” said Garcia. “
To achieve our team goals, we must continue to grow as a team, work hard, and focus on becoming a united group.”