Photo by Erin Sanchez Utica High senior defenseman Anthony Fata corrals a puck against Warren De La Salle Nov. 25 at Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser.

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

With only six players back from the 2008-09 Utica High hockey roster, first-year head coach Nick Tomczyk gets to build his team from the ground up.

Tomczyk was the associate head coach under Michael Nye last season, when the Chieftains had the top offense in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division. But with only three forwards back from that squad, he expects a different dynamic this year.

“It’s going OK,” said Tomczyk. “But obviously, replacing 13 seniors is tough. A good chunk of those guys were the core of the team, especially the offense.

“You don’t replace the skill of a guy like Nick Drenchko or the heart of a Chad Jetts, but with what we have, the future here is exceptionally bright.”

Senior forward and captain Matt Dasin, who had three goals and four assists as a junior, is Utica’s lone returning senior forward. Tomczyk is looking to him to pace the front lines.

“At our team retreat, we had some guys step up, and Matt was one of them,” Tomczyk said. “We go on a retreat every year, and you get to see guys naturally move into leadership roles, and Matt did that. So did our senior goalie, Kyle Martin. He’s an assistant captain.”

Martin returns in net after starting 10 games a year ago and posting a 4.03 goals against average, which dropped to 2.75 in four MAC Red games.

A strong blue line will help out the goaltending. Returning senior Anthony Fata and senior Rodney Wynne — who is new to the team after playing travel hockey last year — make up the top defensive unit.

“Our strong suit is going to be our goaltending and defense,” Tomczyk said. “We have a strong group of senior defensemen in Rodney Wynne, Anthony Fata and Steven Allick, and junior Brock Rowe is back from last year, too.”

While Tomczyk has upperclassmen in his top defensive pairings, Dasin and Devon Wheeler are his only senior forwards. He hopes the team’s overall depth will help the Chieftains overcome a lack of experience.

“We really don’t have a top line,” Tomczyk said. “All three lines are getting the nod in all situations. We have to develop a top line, but we have to have everyone involved, too. If you lean on just one line, you’re not going anywhere.”

The Chieftains (0-1-1) open up their M?AC Red season at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 against St. Clair Shores Unified (1-1) at home at Macomb Suburban Ice Arena.

You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.