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Troy enters hockey tourney with best record

Troy enters with top record, but tournament brings out teams’ best.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 10:55 PM Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Troy Trojans enter the Mayor’s Cup hockey tournament with the best record in the field. But when it comes to the Cup, that doesn’t guarantee a title.

“It’s a competition where people rise to the occasion no matter what the records seem to be,” Troy coach Larrell Walters. “It seems like the Mayor’s Cup brings out the best in everyone.”

Still, Walters likes his team’s chances.

The Trojans (9-2-1) opened the season with a victory at the Frozen Creek — their first since 2004 — and are outscoring opponents by a 4-2 margin.

They take that momentum into next week’s Mayor’s Cup (Dec. 27-29) that also includes Beavercreek, Centerville and Springboro.

Freshman Clay Terrill leads Troy with 12 goals, junior Logan Tiderington leads with 13 assists and senior Sean Clawson has eight goals and eight assists. Senior Nick Usserman, juniors Brandon Beatty and Austin Erisman and freshman Will Schober all have scored 10 or more points this season. Junior Jake Eldridge and sophomore Eric Wright have split time in goal.

“We’re sitting in pretty good shape with the whole team involved in offense and the whole team involved in defense,” Walters said.

Beavercreek: The Beavers are young, with four seniors and a freshman goalie contributing to a 2-12-1 start.

“I’m excited about the direction the team’s headed and we have to focus on getting better every day and staying healthy,” Beavercreek coach Kevin McClure said.

Brandon Oakley leads the team with 12 goals, Alex Kruse and Jake Baldwin are top defensemen and Gordon Rupert is in goal.

Centerville: The Mayor’s Cup defending champs struggled early offensively, but enter the tournament winners of three straight (6-5-0). Team depth is a strength. Seniors John Gammell, Danny Koman, Greg Montour and juniors Jeremy Watson, Zack Keith and Tyler Edsall all have scored 10 points or more.

Springboro: The 7-2 Panthers, coming off a runner-up finish at the Hall of Fame tournament at Toledo, have won six straight behind playmakers in senior Andrew Straus and juniors Austin Reynolds and Travis Studzinski. Senior Stefan Schuetz is in goal.

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