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Seth Opladen Canfield | Hockey
Seth Opladen scored 25 goals and 14 assists to lead the Canfield High School hockey team in the program’s most successful season. But to his coach, Chris Richards, the Canfield junior has an even better number: 4.0 grade-point average.
“Great kid, plays with an edge,” Richards said of The Vindicator’s high school hockey player of the year..
Opladen moved to Canfield from Erie, Pa., when he was in first grade and first tried hockey at The Ice Zone when he was 8.
“It’s just exciting at a young age to be out there on the ice with your friends,” Opladen said of the Youngstown Phantoms’ Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs. “I fell in love when I started playing and haven’t stopped.”
As the Cardinals’ top center, Opladen played with a variety of linemates, but often with Sam Hepola and Vince Hepola.
“I’ve been playing with them for a long time, so we have real good chemistry,” Opladen said. “We know how to work well together so Coach threw us out there a lot.”
The Cardinals finished 15-5-1, playing in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League. Opladen said the team began improving last season as the players became adjusted to Richards’ style.
“I [felt] we would be good this season, but I never thought we’d [produce] the best record for the school,” Opladen said.
Opladen said he enjoys playing for Richards, who was a Youngstown SteelHound for all three seasons of the team’s existence.
“Playing for him is a great experience,” said Opladen of the second-year Canfield head coach. “He definitely knows what he’s talking about, he’s been around the game for a long time.”
Opladen’s two-way skills were evident as he anchored the power play and the penalty kill.
“Unless I was the one in the box,” Opladen said.
A junior, Opladen hasn’t decided where he will go to college but he’s likely to major in math or science.
Each player’s family contributes at least $1,000 to help pay for ice time and referees.
“Words can’t describe how appreciative I am,” Opladen said. “I can’t say thank you enough to [my parents].”