FHS hockey counting on depth and experience as season begins

Findlay High's hockey team will be without its two big guns from a year ago, but Ben Patey appears to have the kind of depth, balance and experience to cover that loss as he heads into his fourth season as the Trojans head coach. With the graduation of Michael Armstrong and Ryker Featheringham, Findlay lost 50 percent of its firepower. Armstrong, a two-time all-state selection and the 2021-22 Northwest Hockey Conference Player of the Year, scored 24 goals and had 18 assists for 42 total points. Featheringham (21 goals, 21 assists) also had 42 points. Patey also must find replacements for forwards Jaden Halliday (5 goals, 8 assists), Tyler Wolke (2 goals, 1 assist) and Roen Cheney, defensemen Jason Yammine (3 goals, 6 assists) and Zach Gremling and goalies Cody Mlsna (5-4-4, 391 saves) and Tim Whitehead (4-3-0, 87 saves). The cupboard is far from bare at Findlay High, though, and Patey, a two-time NHC Coach of the Year who has guided the Trojans to increasingly better records – 13-16-4, then 15-11-2 and 20-9-4 last season – will be counting on a solid group of letter winners heading into Friday's 7 p.m. season opener at the Cube against the Newark Generals. Patey does not have a 15-, 20- or 25-goal scorer back this season. But he does have a number of players who have shown they can find the back of the net, including senior forwards Ross Trenkamp (11 goals, 5 assists), Ethan Lammers (6 goals, 6 assists), Kellen Wetz (5 goals, 8 assists) and Mason Greenawalt (2 goals, 4 assists), along with sophomore Sam Swisher (3 goals, 3 assists). Several defensemen who also were key players a year ago also return, including senior Matt Pinski (7 assists) and juniors Nate Riegle (4 goals, 12 assists), Colt Phillips (3 assists), AJ Savage (1 goal, 8 assists) and Kaleb Haubert (1 goal, 2 assists). Seth Russell will likely take over full time in goal. The 6-3 junior posted a 7-1-0 record in eight matches last season with 173 saves and a team-leading .930 save percentage. Senior Garrett Ambrose also saw some time between the pipes in 2021-22. Always known for its speed and quickness on the ice, Findlay has a bigger, stronger team as well as the Trojans prepare for a grueling 32-game season that will include four tournaments featuring some of the top teams in the state. Trenkamp and Lammers check in at 215 and 211 pounds respectively. Riegle goes 6-foot, 200 and heads a big lineup of defensemen that includes Savage (6-4, 195), Haubert (6-1, 206) and sophomore Gage Ambrose (6-2, 220). Findlay will host Bullis Academy from Potomac, Md. on Wednesday during that schools swing through Northwest Ohio, then will take part in the Bowling Green Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 25-27. Findlay will once again host its Holly Daze Tournament Dec, 27-29