Bergey’s Inc.
SOL SHSHL Player of the Week
This recognition is sponsored by Bergey’s Inc. Athletes are chosen based on nomination of coaches, and the recipient must be a positive presence on the ice and a credit to the game. Consideration also is given to the student-athlete’s standing in the school and community.
Eric Lineman – Senior at William Tennent High School
A three-year starter, the senior captain is the second standout Tennent goalie named Lineman, following in the footsteps of his brother C.J. Lineman, who is playing ice hockey at Rider University. The senior goalie, who anchors the defense of a young and inexperienced team, has faced over 500 shots this season and boasts a save percent of close to 90 percent. Lineman plans to play club hockey at the collegiate level.
Note from the coach:
“I’ve had a Lineman goaltender in net for the last seven seasons, and boy, am I lucky,” Tennent coach Nick D’Aurizio said. “Eric led us to a AA Flyers Cup second place last year, which is an incredible run. We graduated 11 players from that team, and we knew it was going to be a tough road and we would have a young team in front of Eric, but his commitment level has stayed the same, if not risen. He understands he’s not on the same team as last year, but it doesn’t change his work ethic, his commitment to this team, his desire to win, his desire to play and help this team. You can’t say enough about him. It’s a difficult season because we’re not winning, and a lot of these guys are used to winning. Eric just goes about his business and plays well every single night, and we’re so lucky to have him.
“Certain guys have it and certain guys don’t, and starting with C.J., you saw a kid that worked at his craft and really did perfect the position. Goaltending is a mental game, and C.J. led the way there. Eric is his own goalie. I always point to Eric’s positional abilities. He doesn’t find himself out of position too often. He will make spectacular saves, but he’s mostly always in the right spot, and he’s always directing pucks into the corners. When he came in as a freshman, his rebound control was a little off, but by this time, that part of his game is pretty tight. Another thing is his endurance. The kid doesn’t seem to wear down too much. There have been two or three games where he’s made 80 saves, and that’s just unheard of. We don’t like that to happen, and thankfully, it hasn’t happened for a while because we’ve tried to tighten things up in front of him, but for a guy to go up against a CB South where they’re coming at him the entire game and to hold them to eight goals on 88 shots is pretty amazing.
“I’m old school and I don’t like having goalies with a letter, but I told Eric at the beginning of the year at probably the first practice, ‘You are a captain of this team, you are one of the leaders.’”
About Eric:
Best memory playing high school hockey: Our unbelievable Flyers Cup run my junior year, finishing in second place out of all the Varsity “AA” teams in eastern Pennsylvania.
Part of the game I enjoy most: As a goalie, I enjoy the pressure that everyone has on me to perform well. Also, this sport has allowed me to meet so many great people that I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t play.
How did you get involved in hockey? My dad originally played and then my brother, C.J., started playing, so I also wanted to play. I’ve been playing since I was five years old, and it was the best decision of my life.
My role models are: Definitely my parents because they are always there for me. They take time out of their lives to come and watch me play.
Music on mobile device: Hip-Hop, Country, Rap
Favorite food: Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak
Favorite class: Marketing Management
Future plans: I plan on attending either Rider University or Widener University majoring in marketing and finance.
Four people I’d invite to a dinner party: Kevin Hart, Carson Wentz, Joel Embiid, Adam Sandler
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