The Puck Drops on the First Lake Catholic Hockey Season Since 2018-19
November 13, 2026
For the past year, a giant banner has hung in both rinks at Mentor Civic Arena, announcing Lake Catholic hockey's return.
So, now, amongst all the other things that are involved with restarting a varsity program, Lake Catholic head hockey coach Tim Okicki (’06) needs to get new banners.
“They’ve already been ordered,” he said. “Those were to promote that we’re coming back. Now that it’s here, we’re getting new ones that we’ll get up there.”
“It’s here,” marking the start of the 2026-27 hockey season and the return of Lake Catholic hockey, which hasn't been around since the program ended after the 2018-19 season because of a lack of participation.
It’ll be just over one year from the day the school officially announced the return (November 11, 2025) that the puck will drop on the newest iteration of the program.
The Cougars take on Olmsted Falls on Friday, November 13, at 745p at Mentor Civic Arena; and then they’ll make a quick turnaround and return to the ice against St. Ed’s Gold team at 4p on Saturday, November 14, also at Mentor Civic Arena.
Starting the new program
Before the announcement that the team was returning, a lot of work had to be done to make it a reality.
There was always a want, from both the school and alumni, to bring hockey back to Lake Catholic. But as Athletic Director Erik Schroeder said, wanting it isn’t enough.
After conversations with several athletic directors from schools around the area and within the North Coast Conference, Schroeder has followed what he calls the “Holy Name- and Benedictine-model.”
“It starts with absolutely having the right person to build a program,” he said. “We have other alumni who can coach, but they don’t necessarily have the network. (Okicki) is heavily involved in youth programs. He has a recognizable name in hockey. And he wanted to do it.”
“Schroeder reached out, and I told him he needed someone in the hockey community; he needed someone who kids know; and someone who has the time to build a program. I told him it has to be me,” Okicki said. “I have a lot of relationships with hockey families and kids in the area. But the biggest credit goes to the families. They had to believe this would take off.”
Since his hiring and the announcement of the program’s return, Okicki has been working nonstop to fill out a roster.
“Last winter was the first time I didn’t coach a team,” he said. “It wasn’t a question of whether or not we’d have a team this year, but it was more a question of whether we’d have 11 players, which we could do, or have 18-20 players.”
This year’s roster is set at 18 players – four juniors, two sophomores, and 12 freshmen.
“I was excited when I found out we were getting our own team,” said junior Jimmy Aliff, who played for Mentor High School last year. “It’s great to play for and represent our own school.”
Putting a roster together
The last time Lake Catholic put a team on the ice, it did so with a senior-laden team that, once the season ended, left the program with just a handful of underclassmen to continue. So the team ceased operations.
To make this time around sustainable, Okicki knew they’d have to rely heavily on incoming freshmen.
“My brother (Alex (’11)) and I would look at schedules for the weekends, and we’d split our time going to see and talk to kids in the area who were still looking at schools and let them know Lake Catholic was going to have a team,” he said.
In the one-year span since the announcement that the program was returning, 36 students have shadowed Lake Catholic because of hockey, according to the school’s admissions department records.
One such student is now a current freshman, Ben Trem, who admitted he wasn’t even considering Lake Catholic before the announcement.
“Okicki came to one of our practices at Euclid. We had high school coaches in all the time so they could tell us about their programs,” Trem said. “A big factor in my decision was that I wanted to go somewhere I could play soccer and hockey, so Lake (Catholic) wasn’t on my radar until he came and told us they were going to have a team here.
“I’ve known him since I was younger. I would go to his skills sessions and camps. He knows what he’s doing. It sounds cool to be a part of building the program back up. So I came and saw the school, and I really liked it. (Okicki) was here on my shadow day, and I know he was at others too. He talked to all of us at the end of each day and just asked how we liked it.”
But that’s just one part of the roster.
The other is the three juniors and one sophomore who have played high school hockey before – juniors Aliff, Gianna Ducsay, and Bryce Cindric, who all played for Mentor last year, and sophomore Wyatt Basham, who transferred in from NDCL.
“It’s a new program with a lot of freshmen, so the leadership does just kind of fall on us, and I think we’ve accepted that responsibility,” Aliff said. “Everyone has their role on the team, and the young guys are figuring it out. But credit to them, because they do listen and follow us.”
“They are our leaders,” Okicki said. “There’s no standard, no culture here. We’re making it. And they’re doing a great job. I’m learning just as much from them as they’re learning from me.”
The final piece of the puzzle was finding a goalie.
Enter Bobby Horn, who had never played goalie before this season.
“He has put in a ton of work,” Okicki said. “We sent him to camps and goalie clinics, and he gets extra work with (Alex). He’s even wearing Alex’s mask and pads. He’s a great kid and really working hard to learn the position, and you can tell he really wants to be good at it.”
Season Preview
The Cougars will be playing in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League’s White Division, the middle of the three divisions.
“We’re in a league that we can compete with. We figured if we’re going to play, we might as well try to win a championship,” Okicki said. “These teams are at a similar level with us. So we’ll see how it goes.”
With such young players and a team that’s never played together, both the coach and the players are realistic with their expectations.
“We know we might not necessarily be the best team, but we know we can beat teams,” Aliff said. “We just need to stick to our fundamentals, stay positive, and just keep getting better each day.”
As well as breaking in a new goalie, Okicki said he still hasn’t figured out all his lines/shifts. He said they are still figuring out who plays best with whom, including putting players in positions they aren’t necessarily used to.
“We have to be flexible,” Okicki said. “We’re very forward-heavy. So, some of our defensemen were forwards last year.”
Now that the Cougars are about to play their first game, the players have an idea of what they want opponents to remember about them.
“We want to reestablish the Lake Catholic name in the hockey world,” Trem said. “When we go to games, we want people to know who we are, that we will compete, and we’re there to win.”
Cougars Put Compassion Into Action: Kicking Off a Season of Giving
November 09, 2026
As the calendar moves deeper into November, the days get shorter, and the weather continues to get colder as we approach the doorstep of winter.
This past week, the Lake Catholic community capped off two different drives that will help those in need in preparation for those cold Northeast Ohio days and nights.
Lake Catholic students, faculty, and staff put the finishing touches on the month-long Socktober drive, while also donating new and gently used winter clothing for I’m In Ministry’s Cold Weather Clothing Drive.
In the seventh year of participating in Socktober, the school once again collected the most socks it has ever collected – with a grand total of 4,600 pairs of socks, which will be donated to SubZero Mission, Project Hope for the Homeless and Forbes House.
At the same time, President John Morabeto, Director of Mission and Formation Sarah Knapp, and 12 student leaders delivered more than 50 bags of coats, sweaters, hoodies, hats, scarves, gloves, socks, pants, boots, and other cold-weather essentials to I’m In Ministry on Saturday, November 7, during its Clothing Drive Drop Off Event.
Socktober hits record highs again
For the third consecutive year, the Lake Catholic community has donated more pairs of socks and collected more money than it has in the seven-year run of this month-long event.
The 4,600 pairs surpassed last year’s total of 4,109 by 491 pairs. The school collected 3,364 in 2024 and has a seven-year total of 19,668 pairs of socks donated. That’s an average of 2,089 pairs, which isn’t bad considering in the first year (2020) only 600 pairs were collected.
“With all of the donations, we will be able to fill a critical need during the winter season,” Visual Arts Department Chair and Socktober coordinator Kelly Wolf said at the daily Morning Meeting to the entire student body, faculty, and staff. “Our socks will go to SubZero Mission, Project Hope for the Homeless, and Forbes House. These three sites will directly help those in Lake County.”
Wolf personally mentioned four individuals who “have gone above and beyond for Socktober and truly know what it means to be a part of the Lake Catholic community where a spirit of compassion and a willingness to serve are what sets us apart.”
Theology teacher Mary Ridler collected socks and money in her classes to help both the freshmen and juniors during the competition. Junior Mia Valentino donated 100 pairs of socks for her class. Senior Lily Long donated 1,000 pairs, and Mr. Jamie Simonis brought in 300 pairs each week for a total of 1,200 pairs.
For the second year in a row, the class totals will count toward the Cougar Games competition, which will take place fully in the spring.
The winners of the competition, thanks in large part to Simonis’ donations, were the Faculty and Staff with 1,722 pairs. But since they don’t compete in Cougar Games, the first-place points for the competition went to the Seniors with 1,174 total pairs. Second place was the freshmen with 876 pairs, followed by the juniors (544 pairs) and the sophomores (284 pairs).
Cougars continue to support I’m In Ministry
Lake Catholic has a friend in Deacon Lou Primozic, the founder, President, and CEO of I’m In Ministry. And when a friend needs help, Lake Catholic helps.
This past weekend, Morabeto, Knapp, and students loaded a school bus with bags and bags of donations and headed to the Ministry’s Drop Off Event.
“There’s such a need at this time of the year,” Knapp said. “Deacon Lou has an overabundant amount of requests from various centers and locations. So, we offer anything we can do to help.”
Members of the school’s Service Club spread the word around the surrounding neighborhood by distributing door hangers, encouraging families to contribute anything they could. A week later, the club members returned to the neighborhoods to pick up all the donations.
“A huge shout-out to the community,” Knapp said. “We were able to collect several bags just from people in the area.”
I’m In Ministry is a local faith-based charity dedicated to serving and meeting the needs of the underprivileged and less-fortunate community members of Northeast Ohio, according to its website. I’m In Ministry collects, refurbishes, and distributes much-needed items such as bedding, furniture, clothing, and food items donated by the public.
During the Drop Off Event, the students felt the impact of their donations, seeing how what they’re doing affects other people, Knapp said.
“They saw firsthand and heard Deacon Lou’s stories, and I could tell it was starting to hit them,” she said. “They saw the need people have. They began to realize that they’re not just donating clothes but making a difference for people. It was really impactful.”
This past weekend was the third time Lake Catholic has been to I’m In Ministry. Students were there last May, while faculty and staff were there on a service trip in August. Members of this year’s senior class will head there again on the annual Turkey Day (Tuesday, November 24).
**********
The Lake Catholic Parent Association will be putting on one last drive for the holidays, as the Giving Tree will be up in the Atrium again. The 200 tags, with various donations, will be on the tree by the week of Thanksgiving. All donations will benefit DJ’s Hope 4 Hearts.
Commissioned to Serve
November 06, 2026
Distributing Holy Communion to fellow worshipers.
Carrying someone’s loved one to their final resting place.
Over the past few months, Lake Catholic students have taken on these responsibilities through two ministries rooted in faith and care for others.
“So often we hear people say that our teens are the future of the Church, but they are part of the Church now, so it is wonderful to see our students stepping up to begin what I hope is a call to lifelong service in and for the Church,” said Lake Catholic Chaplain Fr. Ian Kelly.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
During the annual Red and Blue Mass on September 11, six seniors and four juniors were commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
An Extraordinary Minister is any layperson in the Church who is authorized to assist with the distribution of the Eucharist. Each minister must have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. They also must go through training before they can be commissioned.
“The training is more than just what to do, although that is important – what to do if the host drops, or you spill the wine,” said Lake Catholic Director of Mission and Formation Sarah Knapp. “But one of the biggest things for our students to understand is why it’s important what they’re doing.”
The students completed diocesan training in May and now help distribute Holy Communion during all school Masses.
Those commissioned were seniors Olivia Daher, Mady Little, Ava Passerell, Ella Raddell, Matthew Ridler, and Jasmenja Urh, and juniors Olivia Gresko, Ava Iannini, Haven Kinsley, and Ashlyn Travers.
“I wanted to be more involved in our school Masses and more present at my parish,” said Raddell, who attends both St. Mary of the Assumption and Ss. Robert & William.
Nine of the ten Extraordinary Ministers had already been involved in the all-school Masses, either as Liturgical Ministers (planning the Masses, doing the readings, etc.) or as Music Ministers (part of the choir). But now their experience at Mass has expanded even further.
“As with any call to service, being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion takes us out of ourselves and calls us to live for others,” Fr. Kelly said. “It also makes us focus on what we are doing within the Mass.”
Frassati Society
At the most recent all-school Mass on November 2, six seniors and one junior were commissioned into the newly formed Frassati Society.
The Frassati Society allows students to offer compassion and dignity to those who have died and support to the families who mourn them. Through their service as pallbearers at funerals, members carry out the Corporal Work of Mercy of burying the dead. Their presence offers a quiet expression of faith and care by accompanying others during a difficult moment and honoring the life of someone they may never have known.
This past summer, a few parishes reached out to Service Coordinator and Theology Teacher Beth Paskey looking for students who could serve as pallbearers. With the help of Principal Tom McKrill (’07), the school was able to provide students to help.
And now, just a few months later, the Frassati Society was formed and has students who are ready when called upon.
“The commissioning of this Society was a celebration of what these students are doing,” Knapp said. “We, as a community, are sending out these students to represent our school.”
Those who were commissioned are seniors Mary Thacker, Connor Brugh, Peter DiCello, Dylan Knapp, Carter Matejka, and Xander Sederholm, and junior Sarah Thacker.
“To me, service means recognizing when someone needs you and being willing to step up,” DiCello said. “You don’t always have to do something big to make a difference in someone’s life.”
The Society is named after St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, the patron saint of youth, young adults, and students. He devoted much of his life to helping people living in poverty. He visited families and cared for the sick. He died when he was just 24 years old. He was canonized in 2025.
This Society revives the work of Lake Catholic’s former Nicodemus Pallbearer Ministry.
“One of our Corporal Works of Mercy is to bury the dead, and our students are actively engaging in that call,” Fr. Kelly said.
“Like all service, it is a call out of oneself and an opportunity to show others that we don’t just read the ‘Exit to Serve’ sign, but that we live by it.”
Seniors Claim Powder Puff Bragging Rights with 26-6 Victory
October 22, 2026
The senior girls used an explosive offense and a last-play defensive touchdown to claim a 26-6 victory over the juniors Thursday afternoon in Lake Catholic's annual Powder Puff football game at Osborne Family Field.
With beautiful fall weather providing the backdrop, a nice crowd of students, faculty, and staff gathered following an early dismissal to watch the return of the junior-senior showdown after a one-year absence.
The seniors relied on big plays to build their lead, with each of their three offensive touchdowns coming on plays of more than 50 yards.
Sydney Hill opened the scoring with a long touchdown to give the seniors a 6-0 advantage after the two-point conversion attempt failed.
Maddie Cox followed with another long touchdown, and Hill added the two-point conversion to extend the senior lead to 14-0.
The juniors, meanwhile, took a different approach to finding the end zone. Rather than relying on a big play, the Class of 2028 methodically marched down the field on a sustained scoring drive, capped by a touchdown from Macayla Costa. The two-point conversion attempt failed, cutting the senior advantage to 14-6.
Cox answered with her second touchdown of the afternoon, another play covering more than 50 yards, to push the senior lead to 20-6 following an unsuccessful conversion attempt.
But the seniors weren't quite finished.
On the final play of the game, Mary Thacker intercepted a junior pass and returned it for a touchdown, providing a fitting exclamation point on the Class of 2027's victory.
The game featured two 20-minute halves with a running clock, but there was no shortage of action or Cougar spirit.
Members of the Lake Catholic football team took on coaching responsibilities for both squads, while math teachers Vince Urankar and Steve Eppich traded their classrooms for the playing field to serve as officials.
The seniors also had to overcome the loss of Claire Gibbons, who exited with an injury midway through the first half. Both teams were without many of their varsity volleyball players, who sat out the contest ahead of Thursday's sectional final match.
More than just a football game, the afternoon marked the welcome return of a Lake Catholic tradition, bringing students together for some friendly competition and a little class rivalry.
And after 40 minutes of football, the Class of 2027 walked away with the win — and the Powder Puff bragging rights.
Discover Lake Catholic
Discover yourself, your faith, your future, your purpose. Become a member of the Lake Catholic Family.