What's Happening in Cougar Country

At one of the very first school events Erik Schroeder attended after he was hired as the Lake Catholic Athletic Director in July of 2021, he was asked when ice hockey would be back at the school. 

After four-plus years, he will finally stop being asked. 

Hockey is back at Lake Catholic.

Starting in the 2026-27 school year and winter season, ice hockey will again be a sport offered to the Cougar student-athletes. 

“It’s a long time coming,” Schroeder said. “Lake Catholic has such a proud history of hockey, and we’re thrilled to bring that tradition back. This program means a lot to our alumni, our families, and our students, and we’re excited to see Cougar Hockey return to the ice.”

Lake Catholic had a team from 1995 to 2019 when the program ceased because of a lack of participation. During that time, though, the program compiled a record of 401-349-37, including a memorable run to the State Frozen Four in 2014. 

Leading the team will be 2006 Lake Catholic graduate Tim Okicki, who was named head coach this week.

“We’re thrilled to bring one of our own back to lead this program,” Schroeder said. “Tim is a proud 2006 Lake Catholic graduate who has been deeply involved in the local hockey community his entire life. He knows what Cougar Hockey means to this school and to Northeast Ohio.”

In addition to being a Lake Catholic alum, Okicki is a longtime coach and player development specialist. Okicki brings more than 15 years of coaching experience, including time as an assistant coach with Lake Catholic from 2011 to 2015—when his brother, Ryan Okicki (’03), guided the Cougars to their first district championship in 2014. Since then, Tim has served as head of Okicki Hockey, a Cleveland-based training program known for developing youth and high school players throughout Northeast Ohio.

He's also coached at Orange High School and has been a skills coach for the past seven years with the Mentor Youth Hockey Program.

“I couldn’t be happier and prouder to be back at Lake Catholic and bring hockey back to this school,” Okicki said. “This is the perfect time and a great opportunity for the school and this once-storied program.”

Okicki will be the eighth head coach in program history, following: Georgi Feduolov (1995-2000), Dennis Giannini (2000-2002), Kirk Koennecke (2002-2003), Tony Prpic (2003-2010), Shawn Sadler (2010-2011), Ryan Okicki (2011-2015), and Justin Vance (’05) (2015-2019).

Now the work begins for Okicki as he starts to get players for the program that will start next season. Although there are some players already in the building.

Last year, AJ Trobenter (’25), Nick Biondolillo (’26), Jake Mackey (’26), and Joe Mackey (’26) all helped lead Mentor High School to the state Frozen Four as members of their team. Biondolillo and both Mackeys will again play for the Cardinals, but then graduate in the spring. 

However, James Aliff (’28), Bryce Cindric (’28), Gianna Ducsay (’28), and Waylon Slagle (’27), who will play for Mentor this year, will all have a chance to be a part of the reborn Cougar team.
Both boys and girls will be eligible to be on the team.

“We want to bring in a strong freshman class and build a quality program from there,” Okicki said.

Because of his involvement with the Mentor youth program, Okicki said he knows a lot of the 7th and 8th graders and their families from the area, and because most high schools don’t have hockey, Lake Catholic is a perfect fit.

“Pretty much any kid who doesn’t live in Mentor doesn’t have a high school to play for, so if they want to play, they have to find a club team,” he said. “So, Lake Catholic will be a natural draw, not only for hockey but for the school, too. I went here. I can attest to what a great place it is. The school itself is building momentum. So this isn’t just about hockey, but the entire school is on the rise.”

And adding hockey back into the mix comes at the perfect time.

“Hockey has always been part of what makes Lake Catholic special,” said Schroeder. “We’re proud of that legacy, and bringing the program back is a big moment for our school and our community.”