After down year, classification change, North Hills hockey ready to win again
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Saturday, November 16, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Jeremy Swegman admits that his team went through a bit of a culture shock in the 2023-24 season.
A year after posting the most regular season points in the PIHL’s Class A with an 18-1 record, North Hills got bumped up to Class 2A. The team went on to, essentially, have a polar opposite season, finishing 1-19.
“Last year was a byproduct of years of success in growing this program,” said third-year head coach Jeremy Swegman. “If you’re going to have some of the on-ice success that we had, with double-digit win seasons, you have to expect that you’re going to get moved up in classifications.
“We talked for years about how we believe North Hills is a 2A organization. We should strive to play at that level, just based on the size of the school and the competition that we want to compete against.
“You get to it, but you don’t quite understand all that you have to do to win at that next level. We had turnover of some really good talent, but had strong leaders and talented players. It just didn’t work.”
Primarily, North Hills struggled defensively. A year after giving up 43 goals in the regular season, the Indians surrendered 138 goals.
“We talked to them about not losing their frustrations and trying to build this community,” said Swegman. “We had a winnable effort, but sometimes the game just didn’t go our way. We were disappointed with how the season went. The kids deserved to have more than one win.
“As we move past it, we think, ‘What is it that we can control?’ It’s our energy, effort and emotions.”
Swegman’s message has seemingly hit home.
North Hills, now back in Class A, did get off to an 0-3 start to the 2024-25 season. But that run was quickly thwarted with a pair of wins over Hampton and Butler.
The Indians were led last season — and so far this year — by junior forward Jonathan Trosky, who had scored six goals and assisted four more through the first five games of the season, including four in the 7-5 win over Butler.
“Jonathan’s a guy who’s been bought in,” said Swegman. “He understands what we’re trying to do and what that commitment and philosophy is that we’re trying to instill. And he’s so strong. I don’t think sometimes he realizes how strong he is. He can shoot the puck really, really well.”
The team is captained by defenseman Chris Muschar.
“He’s one of the best defenseman in the PIHL,” said Swegman of the junior who had registered four points in the first five games. “He’s a really good skater, strong, knows the game and is really good positionally.”
If North Hills is going to get back to where it was two years ago, the team’s goaltending will need to continue to improve.
Parker Talerico, who split time in net a year ago and learned some tough lessons in Class 2A, has taken over as the team’s primary goaltender.
“He learned mental toughness,” said Swegman of Talerico’s 2023-24 season. “I tell the players that they should buy him lunch every day at school. He’s acrobatic. He’s flashy. Sometimes I think we get stuck watching him make saves instead of helping him keep the puck out of the net. But he’s so mentally strong and focused.”
Swegman has seen how the fluidity of movement through classifications can benefit and hurt teams. But, despite the down year, North Hills’ participation is stronger than ever, with over 90 players involved in the program.
That depth has helped the varsity team field what should be a far more competitive roster this season — one that has shown up with a drive to prove that last season was nothing more than a blip on the radar.
“We’ve got strong leaders that are really well respected in the locker room and we have that good camaraderie with one another,” said Swegman. “So they’re in it for each other and they enjoy battling for each other. The kids are trying their best and our practices have pace and purpose.
“We understand that to have success, we have to do it together.”
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