Cleveland Tourney Preview

BARONS SOAR TO FIRST DIVISION TITLE

The Cleveland Barons’ 2005-06 season was one of many changes and team firsts.

In the summer, the Barons hired John Fritsche to be head coach and general manager from Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss Professional League.

A native of Parma, Ohio, Fritsche brought his pro style of play and his blue collar work ethic to the Barons, which was just what the team needed. The Barons finished with a 35-19-4 record, their best record in the 12 years of the club and Fritsche was a deserving finalist for NAHL Coach of the Year.

The Barons are led by their top line of Carter Camper, Tomas Petruska (pictured at left) and Josh Leonard.

Camper, a finalist for NAHL Most Valuable Player, was second in scoring in the NAHL with 82 points (31 goals, 51 assists). Petruska joined the team in December and posted 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in just 34 games, while Leonard was 11th in league scoring with 69 points (27 goals, 42 assists).

The Barons were fortunate to have two solid goalies for the whole season. Bobby Jarosz posted a 19-10-0 mark in 31 games with a franchise record six shutouts and a .917 save percentage, while Kenny Reiter posted 16-9-4 record with three shutouts and a .923 save percentage.

In the mid 1980’s, the Cleveland Browns had a team known as the “Cardiac Kids;” well, the Barons are the hockey version of that team. In the playoffs, the Barons have gone the maximum amount of games in each series.

It took all five games for the Barons to down the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in a hotly contested Division Semi-Final Series that featured four consecutive one-goal games, including one overtime contest. In one game, the Barons scored the deciding goal in the last minute of regulation. In another they had to come from behind with two third period goals.

In the NAHL Division Finals against the U.S. National Under-17 Team, all but one game in the best-of-seven round featured a one-goal differential, and the Barons came back from a 3-1 deficit to earn their first trip to the Robertson Cup Championship. In two of their four victories, Cleveland had to come from behind to win.

As in all great playoff runs, the Barons have had some unsung heroes – different players who have contributed to their victories. On some nights, it has been forwards Jeremy Tejchma , Eric Rex, Brett Jendra or Clark MacLean. On others, it has been defensemen Sean Perkins, Chris Reed , Pat Goebel and Trent Bonnett.

Jarosz has played in nine of the Barons’ 12 playoff games, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.01 goals against average and.923 save percentage.

When asked about the playoff run, Fritsche summed up the experience by saying, “The kids have worked hard. It’s been a real team effort with a different guy coming through every night and we are real excited to be going to the Robertson Cup.”

They’ve done it the hard way.