Sammy D Ready to Lead the Lancers

Last Season | 17-6-2

Lost in the Catholic Fed Championship game

There is one thing you can take away from the St. Mary’s of Lancaster varsity ice hockey team. They aren’t just happy to be playing in the Fed, they’re happy to be winning in the Fed.

This will be year three for the Lancers and since their big playoff championship win (over St. Joe’s in their first season) they’ve been playing with a bullseye on their backs. Even still they’ve been a difficult out and this year looks to be no different.

Sammy Dantonio, their returning senior defenseman and captain, will lead a sound defensive unit. Dantonio is also the head coach’s son and was a Bowman Cup player last season. Dantonio has carved out a nice name for himself on his own earning 2nd Team All-Fed and 1st Team All-Bee Team honors in 2019.

Michael Walter, a 4-year varsity player, and Connor Cwiklinski were also named captains for the upcoming season and make up a solid defensive core.

Defense is an area where the Lancers should be pretty strong. The question marks will be up front and in goal, particularly after losing guys like Daniel Pfalzer, Brendan Krawczyk, Chris Henry and Kyle Karoleski.

Krawczyk led the team with 12 goals. Karoleski finished with 342 saves and a .919 save percentage. Each played pivotal roles in winning their championship and throughout 2018-19 season. Henry and Pfalzer were good role players and will be tough to replace.

Head Coach Mark Dantonio restarted the program four years ago and will look to his senior captains for support if the Lancers want to recapture the Catholic League Championship.

“We have to work hard mentally and physically,” Dantonio said. “We want to stay disciplined in everything we do on the ice.” Caoch believes that the Lancers have the talent to compete and says that his team is ready for the challenges the new year brings.

New additions to St. Mary’s hockey this season are Cole Young and Nick Reif, two sophomores that both bring speed. Returning are forwards James Chmurzynski, Alexander Miller, Daniel Reif and Tyler Kerl, along with goaltender Devon Golovin.

Dantonio says the expectations are still the same for St. Mary’s: “Keep the foot on the pedal and win, get back to the championship game and win it back.”

boys ice hockey