Detroit News Michigan High School Hockey Preview 2009
Forward takes best shot at title of Mr. Hockey
A.J. Hakim / Special To The Detroit News
While much of the praise surrounding last year's state championship-winning Trenton team circled around Mr. Hockey winner Josh Miller, Cam Wojtala quietly had himself a strong season, scoring 32 goals along with 48 assists. With Miller having graduated, Wojtala is poised to make a run of his own at Mr. Hockey, and if he can produce numbers remotely close to last year's, he'll have no problem doing so.
"Me and Josh were really good friends, we're really close and played a lot together," Wojtala said. "But, it's a new year so you've got to move on. Josh has left some big shoes to fill, so I'm still working on that and just doing the best I can."
At 6-feet-2 and 170 pounds, Wojtala is tall but not intimidating. That is, until he gets the puck. Once at the blade of his stick, Wojtala controls the puck with elegance, shimmying between defenders, finding open teammates and, more often than not, finding ways to score. And by no means is he flashy or above his team; rather, he knows to stay within the team's limits and that's what makes him such a high-caliber player.
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"He's a big kid with really good hands," Trenton coach Mike Turner said. "And he's a good student, a smart player on the ice and a really dedicated and good team player."
Much of his dedication stems from his love of the sport growing up. Since he was 2, Wojtala envisioned playing hockey at highly competitive ranks. And while growing up, Wojtala had a younger brother to help him along the way. Where most kids might have practiced techniques and scoring on an open net, Wojtala used his brother as a goalie.
"He's a goalie now, so I kind of put him in there," Wojatala said of his brother, Blake, now a freshman goalie at Trenton.
During his career, Wojtala has won at every level, and can't remember playing for a losing team, so it's no coincidence Trenton is favored to repeat as Division 2 state champions. But for that to happen, Wojtala will have to contend with added stress of teams putting extra emphasis on stopping him. To counteract that, Wojtala says he'll have to "keep moving, keep a positive attitude, and use everyone on the ice, use your skills, stay composed and play the team game."
He's out of the shadows and into the spotlight. For some, such a task could appear daunting, but for Wojtala, he welcomes it as long as it brings his teammates another championship.
Other players to watch
Brent Darnell, D, Catholic Central: The junior has already has committed to Michigan State. He earned first-team all-state honors last year, and played for the U.S. in the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament over the summer.
John Kleinhans, G, DeLaSalle : Kleinhans came on strongly in the playoffs, giving up one goal in three games before allowing three in a quarterfinal game against Trenton. With him in net, DeLaSalle once again will be a major contender for the Division 2 state championship.
Eric Rohrkemper, G, Grosse Pointe North: Of the 14 players North returns, Rohrkemper just might be the most critical to its success. He played well in last year's playoffs, and if he can carry that success over into this year, North will be a tough team to contend with.
Matt Wahl, D, Cranbrook: Coach Andy Weidenbach considers Wahl not only the team's top defenseman but also a reliable scorer in crunch time. Wahl played for the Michigan Stars of the Bantam AA Hockey League during the fall, and will carry his experience into this season in hopes of leading Cranbrook to its 14th state championship.
Teams to watch
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood: Always a contender for the Division 3 state championship, Cranbrook is out to improve upon last year's 21-7 record and quarterfinal overtime loss. With 11 players returning, Cranbrook is much quicker, stronger, older and more experienced. Defenseman Matt Wahl is its leader and igo-to guy.
Orchard Lake St. Mary: After struggling through a mediocre regular season last year, OLSM strung together five victories in its last seven games and carried that momentum into the playoffs, where it tied for the state championship with Marquette. Eight players are graduated from last year, including Billy Balent and Ryan Morley-Stockton, but players like senior defenseman Max Uhrin return.
Detroit Catholic Central: Greg Marrow (first-team all-state) graduated, but Brent Darnell, who is committed to Michigan State as a junior; Tony Thomas and Nick Gatt are among the 15 players returning. Also, 12 of 22 players are from C.C.'s successful junior varsity program,
Trenton: Expectations are high for Trenton, which returns 11 players from last year's Division 2 state championship team. Losing Mr. Hockey winner Josh Miller and Scott Henegar to graduation leaves a large void in leadership, and it's up to captains Cam Wojtala and defensemen Jon Wilson and Ben McPartlin to fill it. Given time, they will.
Warren DeLaSalle: DeLaSalle is coming off its best year as a program, winning the Michigan Metro League championship, Catholic League championship and advancing into the quarterfinals before losing 3-2 to eventual Division 2 state champion Trenton. Dexter Jacques, David Sitarski and Chris Clements graduated, but goalie John Kleinhans, Frank Sorise and Steve Vandenberghe return.
Forward takes best shot at title of Mr. Hockey
A.J. Hakim / Special To The Detroit News
While much of the praise surrounding last year's state championship-winning Trenton team circled around Mr. Hockey winner Josh Miller, Cam Wojtala quietly had himself a strong season, scoring 32 goals along with 48 assists. With Miller having graduated, Wojtala is poised to make a run of his own at Mr. Hockey, and if he can produce numbers remotely close to last year's, he'll have no problem doing so.
"Me and Josh were really good friends, we're really close and played a lot together," Wojtala said. "But, it's a new year so you've got to move on. Josh has left some big shoes to fill, so I'm still working on that and just doing the best I can."
At 6-feet-2 and 170 pounds, Wojtala is tall but not intimidating. That is, until he gets the puck. Once at the blade of his stick, Wojtala controls the puck with elegance, shimmying between defenders, finding open teammates and, more often than not, finding ways to score. And by no means is he flashy or above his team; rather, he knows to stay within the team's limits and that's what makes him such a high-caliber player.
Advertisement
Quantcast
"He's a big kid with really good hands," Trenton coach Mike Turner said. "And he's a good student, a smart player on the ice and a really dedicated and good team player."
Much of his dedication stems from his love of the sport growing up. Since he was 2, Wojtala envisioned playing hockey at highly competitive ranks. And while growing up, Wojtala had a younger brother to help him along the way. Where most kids might have practiced techniques and scoring on an open net, Wojtala used his brother as a goalie.
"He's a goalie now, so I kind of put him in there," Wojatala said of his brother, Blake, now a freshman goalie at Trenton.
During his career, Wojtala has won at every level, and can't remember playing for a losing team, so it's no coincidence Trenton is favored to repeat as Division 2 state champions. But for that to happen, Wojtala will have to contend with added stress of teams putting extra emphasis on stopping him. To counteract that, Wojtala says he'll have to "keep moving, keep a positive attitude, and use everyone on the ice, use your skills, stay composed and play the team game."
He's out of the shadows and into the spotlight. For some, such a task could appear daunting, but for Wojtala, he welcomes it as long as it brings his teammates another championship.
Other players to watch
Brent Darnell, D, Catholic Central: The junior has already has committed to Michigan State. He earned first-team all-state honors last year, and played for the U.S. in the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament over the summer.
John Kleinhans, G, DeLaSalle : Kleinhans came on strongly in the playoffs, giving up one goal in three games before allowing three in a quarterfinal game against Trenton. With him in net, DeLaSalle once again will be a major contender for the Division 2 state championship.
Eric Rohrkemper, G, Grosse Pointe North: Of the 14 players North returns, Rohrkemper just might be the most critical to its success. He played well in last year's playoffs, and if he can carry that success over into this year, North will be a tough team to contend with.
Matt Wahl, D, Cranbrook: Coach Andy Weidenbach considers Wahl not only the team's top defenseman but also a reliable scorer in crunch time. Wahl played for the Michigan Stars of the Bantam AA Hockey League during the fall, and will carry his experience into this season in hopes of leading Cranbrook to its 14th state championship.
Teams to watch
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood: Always a contender for the Division 3 state championship, Cranbrook is out to improve upon last year's 21-7 record and quarterfinal overtime loss. With 11 players returning, Cranbrook is much quicker, stronger, older and more experienced. Defenseman Matt Wahl is its leader and igo-to guy.
Orchard Lake St. Mary: After struggling through a mediocre regular season last year, OLSM strung together five victories in its last seven games and carried that momentum into the playoffs, where it tied for the state championship with Marquette. Eight players are graduated from last year, including Billy Balent and Ryan Morley-Stockton, but players like senior defenseman Max Uhrin return.
Detroit Catholic Central: Greg Marrow (first-team all-state) graduated, but Brent Darnell, who is committed to Michigan State as a junior; Tony Thomas and Nick Gatt are among the 15 players returning. Also, 12 of 22 players are from C.C.'s successful junior varsity program,
Trenton: Expectations are high for Trenton, which returns 11 players from last year's Division 2 state championship team. Losing Mr. Hockey winner Josh Miller and Scott Henegar to graduation leaves a large void in leadership, and it's up to captains Cam Wojtala and defensemen Jon Wilson and Ben McPartlin to fill it. Given time, they will.
Warren DeLaSalle: DeLaSalle is coming off its best year as a program, winning the Michigan Metro League championship, Catholic League championship and advancing into the quarterfinals before losing 3-2 to eventual Division 2 state champion Trenton. Dexter Jacques, David Sitarski and Chris Clements graduated, but goalie John Kleinhans, Frank Sorise and Steve Vandenberghe return.
