Timon Hockey Rapidly Improving Under New Coach

Things are a bit different this season for the Bishop Timon/St. Jude High School hockey team with a new coach looking to lead the Tigers to the top.

The Matt English Era is underway at Timon and although there have been some early hiccups, the improvement on the ice is already evident. And the new coach and his players feel the best is yet to come.

“We’re getting better,” English said after a 5-0 Section VI Federation Division II win over Kenmore East on Sunday. “The kids are learning. New coach, new systems, but they’re getting them down.”

After a sluggish start to the season, the Tigers were rolling from the opening faceoff on Sunday evening at Harborcenter against Kenmore East, the defending Division II state champion. Ryan Miller and Pat Faliero each scored in the game’s first two minutes and Timon never looked back. The Tigers led 4-0 after a first period that saw Timon outshoot the reloading Bulldogs by an 11-2 count.

“We came out flying with two goals on the first shift,” said Miller, who scored three times in the win. “I got one on Patty’s assist and then he got one from me. We had some good tape-to-tape passes.”

It was fitting that it was that line that got things going for the Tigers. Miller and Faliero join Jake Blidy on the top line, which has produced eight goals in five games this season. “Those are go-to guys for us,” English said. “We need that line to go. That’s our top line.” And there are more players that can find the net for Timon. The Shanley boys – Joe and Evan – are on the talented second line along with Luke Maciejewski.

“We’ve got two good lines and the third and fourth lines are coming along,” English said. Defensively, the Tigers feature veteran goaltender Tom Parshall, who “is a brick wall in net for us.”

The win over Kenmore East boosted Timon’s record to 2-3 and snapped a three-game losing skid that followed a season-opening win over Hamburg.

Despite the so-so start, English expects the wins to keep coming sooner rather than later. You’re never happy when you’re losing,” he said. “But as long as the kids are working hard, I’m happy. We have a long way to go. Every game, we’ve gotten better and that’s what I want to see.”

English a Timon graduate and accomplished youth coach replaces Gene Overdorf, who was relieved of his duties after last season, his sixth with the Tigers.

“He’s a real good coach,” Miller said. “His systems work well. He’s real hard on tape-to-tape passes and good forechecks and setting the systems up.”