With the personnel who adorn the University sweaters every winter, change is inevitable, of course. But this winter, that change is a little more prevalent than usual in the defensive zone. A new look on the blue line. New goaltending. Through the first month, though, US has been encouraged with the results it is seeing as that pivot occurs in real time. The Preppers are a competitive 6-7 following a 3-2 loss Dec. 15 against Upper Arlington, concluding a Columbus-area Greater Ohio Hockey League weekend that also featured a gutsy 3-2 overtime win over Olentangy Liberty the prior day. University vs. Olentangy Liberty hockey: Preppers get penalty shot in overtime to prevail, 3-2 US needed to show some mental fortitude against Liberty after conceding a 2-0 lead and having to go to OT thereafter. Shot disparity has ticked higher than recent years to date. But against Liberty, it was handled well through goaltender Hayden Halverson and the aforementioned new look as far as defensemen. "Across the board, we had a lot of guys in similar positions," US coach Andy Gerow said. "So a lot of guys stepped into new roles. I think Mitch (Langal) and (Zach) Cimoroni have done a nice job jelling. Finn (Bryan) and Carson (Barlow) have played with each other now for a couple years in youth hockey. And we've entered a couple new guys. Kai Jenkins was tonight's, Sebastian Perko. And they fill right in. So it's kind of next man up. They've been looking good. "That D-to-D, that's where it all starts. When you can break the puck out, give nice, crisp passes, then you can get a lot of offensive chances." From their 2023-24 state finalist squad, the Preppers graduated steady senior Michael Matthews. Ryder Beegun, a 2024 News-Herald first-team all-star defenseman, is playing his senior campaign for CATS Boston, a prep program. 2024 News-Herald hockey all-stars That meant the rest of that blueline group for US had to grow into a bit more prominent roles. Langal (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points; plus-4), a senior, and junior Cimoroni (0-4-4; plus-9) are the first pair on defense, with juniors Barlow (1-2-3; plus-4) and Bryan (3-3-6; plus-5) as the second pair and freshman Jenkins cycling into the mix. So much is made of line chemistry, but it's a concept usually more applied to forwards. Yet it's also true on defense, with positional understanding of the other blueliner, D-to-D puck movement and bringing a physicality to the backcheck against a schedule as demanding as US'. That schedule is why, while those plus-minus ratios aren't as gaudy as past years, it's evidence the group is contributing to the cause. "I think those guys, Finn and Carson up there and Z and Mitch and Kai as a freshman rotating in, but I think they know each other so well," US senior captain Ethan Roberts said. "They're best friends off the ice. They have as much chemistry as anybody. I feel like they know exactly where each other is going to be on the ice and make those D-to-D passes pretty easily. "They played together last year. Those were the same pairs we had last year. Kai, he's a freshman, but he's a really smart player. Extremely patient. And it's easy to kind of put him into those positions, especially in these long games. Kids need a break. Kai, he's a really easy kid to rely on because he's always going to have his head up and make a smart play." Added Gerow: "We have been emphasizing to the guys, because we haven't been breaking the puck out as well as we should. So when we don't break the puck out, they get chances. Their second goal came off two kind of failed breakouts. Sometimes, you've just got to find a way to block shots and do the gritty things because they've got snipers. "We were able to score one more than (Liberty). They definitely had chances, but it's just doing your part in the D-zone. Guys staying disciplined. And we were able to do that and find a way to win." In goal, the Preppers graduated staples Noah Caballero and Cooper Pettipiece. Last season, Caballero had a 94.9 save percentage and 0.95 goals-against average for the 36-4 Preppers and was a first-team News-Herald all-star. Halverson, a junior, is 5-5 with 280 saves, a 94.6 save percentage and 1.48 GAA. Sophomore Declan Cavanaugh has spelled Halverson in three games, with 77 saves and a 2.39 GAA. Following the win over Liberty, Gerow, Roberts and Gavin Jones, who netted the game-winner on a penalty shot in OT, were all effusive of Halverson's work between the pipes. 🏒 US senior forward Gavin Jones discusses a 3-2 OT win over Olentangy Liberty, including his winning penalty shot in the extra session pic.twitter.com/jMoWMh1x4v — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) December 15, 2024 This is all not to imply change wasn't prevalent in other zones. At forward, US had two-time News-Herald player of the year Sam Wade graduate, along with Luke Palmer, Luca Garofalo and Anthony Messina, who combined for a whopping 242 points of production last season. It's just that there's a need to be consistently experienced and capable in the D-zone as well when you're tackling the type of schedule US plays night after night. As far as those who would know are concerned, change may be inevitable, but it's going OK. "I think our defensive end is where we start," Roberts said. "We never really give up too many goals. I think we've given up four once this year, and it was the first game of the season. But it really hasn't been that bad since. One- or two-goal games. So that's a strong suit for us. I think our issues have just been with the forwards. I think I'm starting to see little sparks of life."