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Date: Mar 04, 2010

Cleveland Readying For Long Playoff Run

The Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks started the season with an 18-game winning streak and hope to end the CSHL playoffs on a similar string of victories.

Cleveland, who can finish as high as second place and as low as fourth spot, has their eyes set on the ultimate prize in the CSHL: the Hurster Cup.

"The regular season gets you ready for the post-season and I think that anything less than winning the Hurster Cup will be a disappointment," Cleveland captain Matt Berger said. "We just have to take it one game at a time and make sure we're all on the same page. It's been that way all season and I don't see it changing now."

Jr. Lumberjacks coach-GM Bob Jacobson took a philosophical approach to looking at the playoffs.

"If we play well and perform, we'll be playing for the Hurster Cup. "If we do that, but get beat by a better team, I'll be disappointed for my guys, but not disappointed in my guys."

Jacobson also said that he sees team success in two parts: winning championships and advancing players, and not necessarily in that order. He noted Cleveland has already sent one skater, Mike Peterson, to the North American Hockey League's Marquette Rangers, has two more tendered to NAHL teams for next season (forward Joe Sposit to the expansion Chicago Hitmen and forward Matt Zaremba to the Traverse City North Stars) and several others, including Berger (Marian University) and defenseman Brandon Bayer (Concordia, WI), to Division III colleges with others soon to follow.

Berger said that the regular season "went well" and once some of the new players got used to playing back-to-back games and even three games in three days, there was no looking back.

"This team has great chemistry," added Berger. "From the first day of practice when we all walked into the locker room, it was just a matter of time. Chemistry has never been a problem and everyone is friends with everyone. We all hang out and do things together and it's really just a good group of guys."

Zaremba, Sposit and Adam Chapie have combined for 88 goals this season and Vincent Buttitta has averaged a hair more than two points a game (47 points in 23 games) since returning from the Canadian junior ranks.

Berger credited the offensive output of the Jr. Lumberjacks as being a catalyst to many of the teams's 34 wins, but also gave praise to goaltenders Mike Musialowski and Kevin Figueria.

"When I got a chance to watch Chapie at camp last summer, he stuck out like a sore thumb," said Berger. "He was all over the place and showed he could really score. When he made the team, he had no trouble fitting in. Musialowski has played a lot of minutes and won some big games for us and Figueria, even though he didn't play a lot last year for us, came back this year and has also played well and won some big games."

With the playoffs ready to start next weekend, Berger said as captain, there is no added pressure, but he needs to step-up and keep reinforcing what got Cleveland to this part of the season in the first place.

"I'm just a simple player and just one guy," Berger said. "I think all the vets need to make sure we all have our heads on straight and that we all do our jobs. If we do that, we'll hopefully have the Hurster Cup."

"This time of year, it's not about one guy," Bayer added. "We were talking about this in the locker room the other day in that we've worked so hard with the same group of guys for seven months. Why not extend that another month? You play for the guy next to you and I don't think we'll have to change anything for the playoffs. We had that good start and then we hit that slump and I think that happens to every good team, but you work your way out of it. We've definitely had a very good season."

As for who they'll match up with next weekend on their home ice, Jacobson said he strays away from that situation.

"I've been around long enough to have learned that all you have to worry about is your own team," said Jacobson. "If you spend too much time figuring out who you're going to play, you're wasting your time. Whatever team we play will be very competitive and will come to play."

Before the post-season, though, Cleveland hosts Chicago for two this weekend. Both teams are among the league's top offensive teams and the series should set the tone for what the playoffs will resemble.

"You have to hit your peak at the end of the season," Bayer said. "We can't play down to any other team's level. This weekend, I think it will be interesting to see how we react and how well we're prepared for the playoffs. If we can get two wins, I think that will lead to a good week of practice next week and that will carry over to the playoffs.

"We're confident and we're ready."

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