Front line leading Cool Cats to success

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By Aaron Smith

The Cool Cats front line is on fire.

The trio of senior Tony Valerino, junior Taylor Vit and sophomore Billy Glass comprise a powerhouse unit that has helped lift UK to a 15-2 record.  Together, the three have combined for 59 goals through 17 games, and all reside in the top 11 in total points in the nation.

Forward Tony Valerino handles the puck in the game against Kennesaw State at Lexington Ice Center on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Photo by Scott Hannigan | Staff

“(The front line) has been clicking all season long,” Valerino said.  “We’ve played together for a while, we’ve been finding each other and good things are happening.”

The UK starting lineup is expected to provide the bulk of the scoring, and Valerino, Vit and Glass have scored 42 percent of Kentucky’s goals.  UK’s front line is the spark to the offense with all three members bringing their own separate style to add to the mix.

There’s Valerino, the fan favorite who gets the signs that document the number of goals he has scored (31, which leads the nation) and who has his own signature announcement whenever he adds to that total.

“He’s the face of the organization right now,” Glass said.  “All the fans love watching him.  Every game he can get a hat trick and it seems like it’s just another game for him because he’s such a natural goal scorer.”

Valerino, who was named to the Southeast Regional third team as a junior, is an assistant captain who provides not only leadership, but also productivity on the ice.

Vit has shown he’s as capable of scoring a goal (17 on the year) as he is setting up a teammate with an assist (30, tied for second in the nation).

Glass is the distributor of the line, dishing out 30 assists on the year. An adept puck handler with great vision, he’s the hockey equivalent of a point guard.

“It’s gotten to the point where we can predict what the other person is going to do,” Vit said.  “We all have a great sense of where the other is going to be on the ice, and that comes from playing together for so long.”

Even with one puck, the Cool Cats have found a way to satisfy everyone.

“They are a powerhouse line that can adapt quickly,” UK head coach Rob Docherty said.  “They know more than one style of play, and that allows them to match up against any other first line from any other team.  This line is one of the best, if not the best, I’ve seen come through UK.”