GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Hempfield Spartans organization decided not to retain head coach Dennis Zeravica heading into the 2019-20 season.
His replacement, Eric Grant, will be charged to continue building on the success that was started by Zeravica in order to contend for the Penguins Cup.
Grant has been with the Hempfield organization for some time now as he has coached the middle school and junior varsity teams. While with Hempfield’s junior varsity team, Grant had the young Spartans sitting toward the top of the standings at the end of the 2017-18 (second) and 2018-19 (first) regular seasons.
Grant said he feels like they have a deep roster heading into the season, along with a solid tandem in net.
“A real strength is our focus on all levels from novice through Varsity to develop players into the future,” he said. “Coach Eberhardt at middle school and Savisky at junior varsity are all in and having solid coaching at all levels should elevate their ultimate success.”
He also mentioned that they just need to build their “team chemistry” and find their style of play.
“Everybody wants to win on the forecheck but if our guys have room to skate into the zone with the puck, then they are going to skate,” Grant said. “I have never been a big fan of the dump and chase game”.
The Spartans showed they are willing to compete, and a team to look out for, in the Class-2A Southeast Division as they opened the season in a convincing fashion with a 9-4 win over Franklin Regional Monday night at Nevin Arena.
Grant has also coached different levels for the Westmoreland Eagles based out of Kirk S. Nevin Arena in Greensburg. He now serves as the coach coordinator for the organization.
