Cap City Summer Elite League plays on
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com
High Bank’s Carson Meyer moves in under pressure to shoot against Battery Academy goalie Kris Eberly during action at the OhioHealth Chiller North July 16th. A native of Powell, Oh., Meyer was just signed by the Anaheim Ducks. Photo: Alex Rouch
In its second season, the Cap City Summer Elite League moved into its second week Tuesday at the OhioHealth Chiller North in Lewis Center.
The four teams in the Cap City’s Pro level are sponsored by 614 Hockey, Battery Academy, Bladetech, and High Bank Distillery. The League features NHL players with local roots, namely Sean Kuraly and Jack Johnson from the Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay’s Cam Atkinson, Anaheim’s Carson Meyer, Carolina’s Jack Roslovic, and Vancouver’s Kiefer Sherwood.
The rest of the rosters are filled by others with a good deal of professional experience, like Cole Cassels and J.C. Campagna, as well as talent from upper tier junior leagues and Division I/III colleges. A good number of Ohio State Buckeyes skate each week, including some highly-ranked recruits, like James Hong and Noah Powell.
A native of Northbrook, Ill., Powell played this past season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL, a Tier 1 junior team. The Philadelpha Flyers took notice of his talent and invited him to their development camp earlier this month.
J.C. Campagna, who is entering his eight professional season and is a member of the Cap City management team, bounces the puck off his stick as he approaches the net at the OhioHealth Chiller North July 16th. Photo: Alex Rouch
Columbus native Ayo Adeniye, who played at Adrian College last season, also found himself in a development camp in July as he skated with the Washington Capitals’ prospects. At 6’5, Adeniye finds himself hovering over most of the other players.
The rules are tailored for summer league play. It’s four on four and no checking. The emphasis is on offense. There are two 25-minute halves, with a running clock until the final two minutes of each half.
When the rare penalty is called, there is no time to be served in the penalty box. Instead, a “jail break’ shot is awarded. The player who was fouled takes the puck at center ice and gets what looks like any other penalty shot except that all of the other players follow behind and play continues after the shot.
If a team needs to make up a deficit, it can call for a “money puck” (sponsored by Roosters). Whichever squad scores during the next two minutes gets two points for any goal. The team calls for the money puck by placing a squad car-like flashing light on the edge of their bench’s board.
Admission to the games at noon and 1:30pm on Tuesdays is free to the public. At the end of the afternoon, it will be difficult for fans to remember the scores or the winning teams, but they will know that they had a close-up view of some fun hockey played by some incredible talent.