Jim Jost | Pete Wildhaber | Michael Davies | Shawn Gawrys
Joe Vitale

The return of Joe Vitale has given the Jr. Blues more grit and led to a 7 game winning streak.

When the Jr. Blues started the season, the team had a lot of skill, not much experience, and not much size.  With the return of Joey Vitale to the Jr. Blues lineup, the team gained an experienced junior player with size (6', 200 lbs.) and speed.  The team has been vaulted on a 7 game winning streak.  Much of the success of the Jr. Blues has been their ability to win tough, grinding games.  This past weekend in Cincinnati was a great example of the Jr. Blues grinding out a win.  Vitale scored one goal and assisted on four others in the tough, physical weekend.  The Jr. Blues star forward has been skating with his old buddies and line mates from last season.  The Vitale, Jim Jost, and Larry Kopecky line was the top line for the Jr. Blues at the National Championships in 2003.  Vitale is the catalyst of the line.  His relentless skating, tough checking, creative playmaking and timely scoring have been the difference for the Jr. Blues the past several weekends.  Vitale has been exceptional in all aspects of the game.  He has been the Jr. Blues top face-off man, great penalty killer with great offensive skills and is invaluable in his own end.  Last season Vitale recorded 22 goals and 34 assists for the National Runners-Up.  This season he has already scored 6 goals and 10 assists in just 12 games.  His teammates were excited to see their buddy, who they call the "Moose"  return to the team just six weeks ago.  But the rest of the CSHL certainly was not as excited as the Moose is on the loose once again and looking for a return trip to the National Championships!  

Shawn Gawrys is on pace to surpass his point total from last season.

Shawn Gawrys' Magic Hands Keep Producing

The 1987 birth year player has continued to mystify opponents with his amazing hands.  Last season Gawrys put up lofty stats with 20 goals and 24 assists.  With last year's line mates Travis Turnbull (Sioux City USHL) and T. J.  Toal (Lindenwood University) gone, Gawrys has found success with two new line mates.  The Jr. Blues "87" line also includes rookies; center Kyle O'Kane and winger Zach Barron.  All three played on the 1987 St. Louis AAA team for years. 

This past weekend against the Motor City Chiefs, Gawrys recorded two goals and two assists to help keep the Jr. Blues on top of the CSHL standings.  The "87" line combined for 12 points on the weekend.  Gawrys has been considered a goal scorer throughout his career however his 13 assists is second on the team and fourth overall in the CSHL.  His overall play has improved greatly, however his trademark magical hands have continued to stun defenders.  His 18 points has him in the top 10 in the CSHL Scoring Leaders.  The slick left winger was also selected on the CSHL All-Star Team that competed in the Compuware NAHL Showcase.  Gawrys was the youngest player selected on the CSHL All-Star team that competed in the all NAHL Jr. A Tournament. 

Gawrys hopes to continue his career at Junior A and College.  With his amazing hands and great creativity, it certainly looks like his career is moving in the right direction. 

Michael Davies is leading all players in the CSHL in goals.

Michael Davies Leads Jr. Blues and Entire CSHL in Goals!

One of the questions about the Jr. Blues at the season's beginning was how this young team would respond to Junior hockey.  The Jr. Blues are 13-1-2 after 16 games and currently in first place.  One of the largest contributors to the great start is the 1986 born Michael Davies.  Davies has 19 goals and leads the entire CSHL in goals.  The diminutive Davies has the hands of a surgeon and a unique ability to be at the right place at the right time. 

Davies abilities shined their brightest this past Sunday's game against the Toledo Cherokee.  With the Jr. Blues down 4-1 in the third period, Davies showed his magic.  Davies first struck on a one on one play when he turned a Cherokee defenseman inside out and then calmly sniped the goaltender.  Then Davies tied the game on a power play goal with line mates Cory Spradling and Tony Jost assisting.  Not being satisfied with a tie, Davies completed his hat trick on a play that electrified the Affton Ice Arena as he circled around the net and the Cherokee defenders and showed the patience of a thief as he waited the Toledo goaltender out and deposited the game winner. 

The Davies, Jost, Spradling line are currently second, third, and fourth in the CSHL scoring list.  The all rookie line was the focal point of last season's Affton Midget Major CSDHL AA team that advanced to the Tier II Midget National Quarterfinals.  The three have continued their magic for the Jr. Blues as the team fights for CSHL bragging rights and another trip to the Jr. B National Championships.  Davies, a Junior at Marquette High School in St. Louis, is hoping to advance his career to the Junior A and collegiate levels.   But a trip to Syracuse is the first order of business this sniper is focusing on. 

Pete Wildhaber is charged with leading a young defensive corps.

Pete Wildhaber Leads From The
Blue Line!

This season, Wildhaber has been named an Assistant Captain.  His leadership will be valuable for the young Jr. Blues squad, especially on the blue line where the Jr. Blues are very inexperienced.  Pete will see plenty of ice time this season as he will be counted on to log ice time on the power play and penalty kill.    He would best be described as a "heady" defenseman that has great patience with the puck, creative offensive skills and very good one-on-one skills.  Pete is tough in the corners and will come to the aid of a team mate without hesitation.  The coaching staff  will be looking for his tremendous desire to win to rub off on his team mates.  As he enters his senior year in high school, Pete will be looking forward to playing at the Jr. A or collegiate level next season.  But for this season, the Jr. Blues will be enjoying the tremendous play of "Heebs," who will anchor the St. Louis defense.

Jim Jost returns to lead another young Jr. Blues team!

Jimmy Jost Returns to Captain
Young Jr. Blues!

Losing the National Championship Game was not the way Jimmy Jost wanted to end his Junior career.  Moments after the disappointing 1-0 loss, Jim announced to the team his intentions of returning for a final season.  This brought a big smile to the Jr. Blues coaching staff, knowing they would once again have a great leader for their next season. 

This season will be another challenge as the young Jr. Blues certainly have much to learn.  Captain Jost already has been an influence on the young squad.  Learning the importance of competing every shift by watching their captain has been a great positive for the young team.  Jimmy adds much more than leadership to the Jr. Blues.  Last season he recorded 22 goals and 21 assists while also being the team's most reliable penalty killer. 

The first weekend of the season, Jimmy scored a hat trick in one game and was a relentless worker in the other Jr. Blues victory.  Out scoring their two opponents 21-0 in the first weekend is an indication of the skill of the young squad.  But the leadership of Jimmy Jost  and the handful of returning veterans will be needed to propel the team to levels this organization has achieved in recent seasons.   A special incentive for Jimmy is his younger brother Tony will be playing this season with the Jr. Blues.  One gets the feeling Jimmy Jost will make this a season to remember.