Tyler Arrives, Gonzaga Thrives

Beyond losing 10 seniors from last year's team, Gonzaga watched two of its top returning players -- defenseman Andrew Panzarella and goalie Billy Rivolini -- leave the school before this season to play hockey elsewhere.

Departures of that magnitude threatened to knock the Eagles from their perch as an area powerhouse, but thanks in large part to the emergence of sophomore goalie Matt Tyler, Gonzaga is the No. 1 team in The Washington Post's inaugural ice hockey rankings.

Tyler did not attend Gonzaga last year but played club hockey for the Little Capitals, an elite area team for 16-and-under players. Meanwhile, the Eagles were in the process of winning their third straight Maryland Scholastic Hockey League private school championship.

Upon gaining acceptance to the all-boys school this year, Tyler decided to play for the Eagles and he has appeared in six of their seven games.

The only game he missed, when he and a few other players were with their club teams, the Eagles lost to No. 9 O'Connell, 4-3. With Tyler in net, they are 5-0-1 with four shutouts.

"We've been pretty consistent for a young team, and a lot has to do with Matt," Eagles Coach Paul Tilch said. "He's real calm in the net, doesn't get rattled and I think the rest of the team feeds off it."

Girls Against Boys

With only a few girls' teams in the MSHL, senior goalies Kelci Lanthier of Linganore and Katharyn Dembowski of Long Reach tend the net for their boys' squads -- and both are enjoying success.

Lanthier is 4-0 with a 3.25 goals against average for a Lancers squad that has an 8-3 record.

"Kelci is quick and fundamentally sound," Linganore Coach Pete Grzybinski said. "If there's a scramble in front, there's no one else I'd rather have in goal. She'll stop anything in the crease in front."

She has played in only four games with the high school team because of her commitment to her club team, the all-girls Washington Pride, which has an extensive travel schedule.

Lanthier's solid play in net propelled Linganore to the MSHL public school championship game last season, and if the Lancers beat Thomas Johnson on Feb. 1, they will clinch a playoff spot.

Dembowski has turned around Long Reach's fortunes this winter, going 7-0 with a 2.20 goals against average. Last season, the team went 3-7, but Dembowski still had a respectable 3.68 goals against average.

The undefeated Lightning is 5-0 in league play and tied with Marriotts Ridge atop the Howard A conference. Only one of those teams will earn a playoff berth.

Long Reach beat Marriotts Ridge, 7-2, on Jan. 4, as Dembowski held MSHL scoring leader James Lindsay (32 points) to one goal. Dembowski also plays club hockey for the suburban Philadelphia-based U-19 Lady Patriots.

Rough Sledding

Among the 26 teams in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League, only two are undefeated, and there might be none by the end of the season.

McLean is 5-0, but has No. 6 Stone Bridge and No. 7 Langley remaining on its schedule.

Woodbridge is 6-0 and appears unlikely to be tested until its season finale against No. 9 O'Connell.