If there is such a thing as the clutch gene, then Clayton’s Blake Feinstein has it.
The senior forward established himself as one of the area’s most dangerous offensive threats by scoring 33 goals as a junior to lead all of the Mid States Club Hockey Association last year. He followed that up with an impressive senior campaign, scoring 20 goals and 14 assists in 15 regular-season games.
Feinstein has found another level in the playoffs with 10 goals and two assists in just five postseason games. He has three hat tricks during the Greyhounds’ postseason run after having two in the regular season.
“It definitely is a sense of urgency,” Feinstein said. “You kind of get to a point where you realize, like, you know, this is it. No matter what, I only have one game left of my playing hockey career. So, when you get to the playoffs that's it, so I've really been bearing down, preparing for each game like it's my last and I think that's kind of been the mindset for me.”
People are also reading…
Feinstein has led Clayton (18-4-2) to the Wickenheiser Cup championship against archrival Ladue (22-2-2) at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Centene Community Ice Center.
It is Clayton’s first appearance in a hockey state championship game. Feinstein said there was a buzz at school Monday after the team eliminated Lafayette in the semifinals Saturday.
“Tons of people telling me, you know, congrats, I’ll be coming to the game,” Feinstein said. “Just everyone's kind of rallying around the hockey team.”
Feinstein was at his best in Game 2 against Lafayette. Lancers top scorer Grayson Eble scored twice, but each time Feinstein answered with a goal of his own. Feinstein’s third goal in the third period tied it, and while not the technical game-winner in the 4-3 triumph, it changed the game because Clayton needed just a tie or a win to advance after beating Lafayette in Game 1 a day earlier.
“He would tell you that he doesn't do it alone,” Clayton coach Cory Cannon said. “He might be the guy that gets the glory. But his teammates, his linemates, help put them in those positions and to his credit, a star player takes those opportunities and goes with them.”
Feinstein’s line consists of his younger brother, Ethan, a freshman; and Jack Zimmerman. Ethan is a playmaker who knows where Blake is going to be on the ice, while Zimmerman brings energy and the willingness to do the dirty work that doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet but is vital to success.
“There's times where we don't even have to communicate, and we still like find each other on the ice,” Blake said of Ethan. “And Jack and I have played together for the past two seasons. And really, Jack has a really strong forecheck. He's able to break up plays and he's really good at disrupting the other team and getting the puck.”
Cannon said Feinstein’s overall numbers were slightly down in the regular season, because the team’s overall talent is greater.
Feinstein hasn’t been counted on to shoulder the offensive load himself. The balance has helped him overall and has paved the way for the playoff run.
“I played for Clayton and we've never had the group of guys that we have, and that's something I tell people a lot, is not only do we have a talented group, but we have a great group of guys,” said Cannon, who is in his fourth year as coach. “As a coach, you want to build a program. You want to build a culture. You want to build a way of doing things that turns over year to year and group to group.”
While Feinstein has the gaudy numbers and is the team captain, he is quick to point out he can’t do anything without his teammates. In particular, he said goaltender Branden Turpin has been huge during Clayton’s playoff run.
“We believe that all 18 of our skaters can play at this level anytime," Cannon said. "And we truly believe that's something that has given us an edge at times, you know, especially in playoffs. Some guys get tired, it's a faster game. It's a heavier game.”
Facing Ladue with a championship on the line makes the challenge even sweeter for the Greyhounds.
While the schools are rivals across the board in all sports, hockey is different. Ladue players, fresh off their semifinal win Saturday, were fist bumping the Clayton players and wishing them luck as they took the ice against Lafayette. Many of the players on these rosters have played with or against each other their whole lives.
“It makes an already exciting game 10 times more exciting,” Cannon said. “But you play who you play, right? It's five guys versus five guys and the goalies. Sometimes you get a little too caught up in the matchup or the moment and it can bite you. We want them to have fun. We want them to be excited. We want them to feel that rivalry. But you don't want it to become too much.”
Ladue won both regular-season games against Clayton, while the Greyhounds won both games last season.
“It's the old cliché, it's tough to beat a team three times in one year and I truly believe that,” Cannon said. “It's going to take our best game, you know, and I believe it's going to take their best game to beat us, and that's what we want. We want to bring our best to beat their best.”
Feinstein is looking forward to the challenge.
“I don't think they've seen our best hockey,” Feinstein said. "And I think with the way that we've been playing, we’re on a hot streak, so we're going to look to keep that going into Friday.”
