Country Day Hockey ‘buying in’ mentality pays off in step-forward season

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Detroit Country Day hockey speaks for itself with its culture, its championships and the success it delivers each season.

The state championship banners hang for a reason in the Southfield Ice Arena, showcasing Country Day’s 1981, 2018, and 2019 title-winning seasons.

While it’s a new team and new faces, it’s still Country Day (12-6-2) hockey with the same mindset.

“I think that we can beat any team on any given night, and it’s not cockiness or arrogance; it’s just how guys are prepared,” Country Day coach Frank Novock said.

Novock, who coached both the 2018 and 2019 championship-winning teams, served as an assistant coach at Wayne State University from 2006-2008 before joining Bowling Green University as an assistant coach for the 2008-2009 season.

A forward during his playing career at Western Michigan University, Novock knows what it’s like to be an offensive-minded player on the ice, so he also knows the difficulty of what he asked of his forwards coming into this season.

Novock said his forwards-turned-defensemen have not only answered the call, but have exceeded expectations when doing it.

“I don’t have natural defensemen, but I think those guys have really bought into being a team defense,” Novock said.

Senior captain Clay Hartje, and juniors Joseph Fisher, Allan Kiriluk, Trevor Corless and Caden Daley have all stepped up when their number was called this season.

While still on the back line, Hartje has racked up 12 goals and 19 assists this season, while Corless has added seven goals and seven assists on the year. Fisher currently has four goals and eight assists this season.

Novock said Hartje, a second team all-State selection last season, has always stepped up when put into any position.

“I often say it’s not fair to him how much he plays back there,” Novock said. “What’s asked of him is a tremendous amount, and he does a great job.”

While it may be unfair to Hartje’s goal-scoring total, Country Day’s defense has been better because of it. They may not be ‘natural’ defensemen, but their 2.3 goals allowed per game doesn’t come by accident.

“Defense is really the core of this team, and that comes from our coaching staff,” Hartje said. “We know that we need to grit out low-scoring wins by playing great defense and getting great goaltending.”

Senior goaltender Talon Garn has, like Hartje said previously, provided extremely efficient goaltending this season for Country Day.

With a 10-6 record and a 0.927 save percentage, Garn’s 2.15 goals against average have been all-State-worthy stats.

While getting the job done between the pipes, Garn’s biggest impact comes from his job as a veteran leader.

“It’s been great being a senior leader and an older guy on the team,” Garn said. “It’s a big responsibility to pose as a role model for the younger guys, and it also keeps me in check and keeps me disciplined.”

While Garn and Hartje have been leaders in their respective areas, junior forward Clay Spencer has been at the forefront of the offensive attack.

Providing 22 goals and 15 assists this season, Spencer’s 37 points and three hat tricks in 20 games have him on track for an all-State-caliber season.

“We rely heavily on him, and he’s having a great season,” Novock said.

Senior forward Neal Thewes has recorded 10 goals and 14 assists this season, while junior Hunter Novock has added six goals and 14 assists.

Everyone is doing their job at every level, and that has been Country Day’s recipe for success from day one.

“I really think it’s been a huge part of our success with No. 1, our guys knowing their role, and No. 2, our guys flourishing in them,” Novock said.

Already earning a win over Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, who knocked Country Day out of the playoffs in the regional semifinals last season, Country Day is playing like it has something to prove every night.

While Country Day may not be the most balanced team in the state, Hartje said the team is playing with house money each night, and there’s nothing more dangerous than that.

“I think that our mindset coming into this season was one where we really have nothing to lose,” Hartje said. “On paper, we aren’t the most talented or skilled team, and expectations were not very high for us. Because of that, we cherished the ‘underdog mentality,’ and go into every game thinking we have something to prove and that we just need to play our game no matter the result.”