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Hockey Team Shows Will To Win Title

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY

nmurray@tampatrib.com

Published: April 1, 2009

ELLENTON - Since the high school hockey season began, Gaither-Sickles coach Dan Bubley preached the same message to his team.

"Our coach always preached will beats skill, and it was definitely a major factor when we were playing," defenseman Evan Spriggs said. "Anyone can have skill, but it takes will to play hockey."

With a defense that blocked numerous shots and harried its opponents into turnovers, and a set of forwards that buzzed around the ice to control possession in the offensive zone, the will of Gaither-Sickles' team resulted in the program's third state title March 22 at the Florida State Combined Division Championships, a 4-1 win against Manatee sealing the title.

Nick Howell, Preston Guillot, Stephen Demarco and Logan Garst each scored in the final, but it was the defensive play of defensemen like Spriggs, Pat O'Neil and Jack Boardmann that keyed the victory. Gaither-Sickles outshot Manatee 38-25 in the final, and held a Mustangs squad that had scored 38 goals in four previous games to just one, that coming with 1:25 to play in the game.

"I think all season our defenseman have been pretty strong," Bubley said. "The thought process today was they're older, they're upperclassmen, they're big boys, big bodies, so if you're an offensive man coming down on them, those are some big bodies to take a look at. I also thought what we tried to do was be aggressive, if we're going to make a mistake, I'd rather have the mistake be made by being aggressive."

While the defenseman snuffed out chances with their physicality and quick stick-work, the Gaither-Sickles' forwards played a big role too, holding the puck in the offensive zone, which led to numerous chances.

"In the beginning, we thought that if we dumped it in and left it in their end that we could work it and get some goals, and that's what we did," Spriggs said. "We just capitalized on that."

Howell scored the opening goal late in the first period, before Guillot scored on a rebound after Daniel Fritz's shot was only parried by Manatee goalie Thayer Alley.

Then Demarco put the game away with a stunning solo effort. After knifing through the Manatee defense on the left, Demarco had his first shot saved, but he immediately regained control of the puck, darted around the net to tuck it inside the right post. Bubley said Demarco's speed makes him a handful for any opponent.

"The kid's a fun player to watch," Bubley said. "When he's on the ice I like watching him up and down, and I don't know how you would defend him, he's so darn quick. He reminds us of a Marty St. Louis-type player."
Garst added a fourth midway through the third period before Manatee broke Axel Andrup's shutout bid, but the late goal couldn't diminish the celebrations on the ice after the game.

"They deserve it," Bubley said. "We wouldn't be here without good players, and good players have to play good when we need them to play."

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243.

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