Slicers hit the ice
With sports like football, basketball, and baseball getting a great deal of attention, hockey can get looked over in the area.
LPHS has a handful of hockey players who have spent a large chunk of their lives dedicated to the sport. With no team locally, these Slicers travel to South Bend to play on either the South Bend Riley or South Bend John Adams team.
These Slicers play twice every weekend and sometimes late weekday nights. They travel on Monday and Wednesdays to the Ice Box to practice every week and can travel as far as Indianapolis.
Meet the LPHS Students who play hockey.
Riley Wildcats
Name: Grady Boardman – 11th grade
# of years playing: 7 years playing
High school team: Riley Wildcats
Hockey player you look up to: My brother
Quote you live by: “I accept failure, but I can’t exempt not trying.”
Why you play: I play hockey because I love making the friends I have made over the years as well as the chance to travel to different places.
Name: Murphy Burke – 11th grade
# of years playing: 8 years
High school team: Riley Wildcats
Hockey player you look up to: My dad
Biggest Highlight: Beating the Blades
Quote you live by: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Why you play: I play because I love the sport, and I love the people I play with.
Name: Nick Lukac – 9th grade
# of years playing: 9 years
High school team: Riley Wildcats
Hockey player you look up to: Jonathan Toews
Biggest highlight: So far this season was an assist to Sam Bull off the goal post.
Quote you live by: “Get rich or die trying.”
Why you play: I love the sport. My brother played, and I just wanted to be like him.
Adams Eagles
Name: Teddy Merkel – 12th grade
# of years playing: 11 years
High school team: John Adams Eagles
Hockey player you look up to: Patrick Kane
Biggest highlight: The biggest highlight was winning the City Championship in 2020 against St. Joe
Quote you live by: “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”- Albert Einstein
Why you play: I play hockey because I love the sport. I love the anxiety you get starting the game or scoring a goal in a close game. I also love the team aspect of the sport.
Name: Mason Neulieb – 11th grade
# of years playing: 10 years
High school team: John Adams Eagles
Hockey player you look up to: Patrick Kane
Biggest highlight: Scoring my first varsity goal freshman year
Quote you live by: “You never lose. You either win or learn.”
Why you play: I play hockey because I enjoy the sport as a whole. It’s a super fast pace and competitive game that not a lot of people can just pick up. I also like meeting and playing with kids from different schools.
Name: Kade Flores – 11th grade
# of years playing: 10 years
High school team: John Adams Eagles
Hockey player you look up to: Steven Stamkos
Biggest highlight: Winning the City Championship my freshman year
Quote you live by: “If you work, it will work.”
Why you play: Every time I’m on the ice I’m happy. I’m always in a good mood when I’m playing.