As Danny Greiner toured St. Charles’ recently opened Frank E. Murphy Convocation Center on March 22, he took special interest in the area that features historic moments in school athletics.
Greiner’s hockey team made some history of its own this winter for St. Charles, earning the program’s first state tournament berth since 2014 and second overall. The Cardinals saw their hopes of winning their first state title end with a 6-0 loss to Hunting Valley University School in a semifinal March 8 at Nationwide Arena.
It was Greiner’s first season leading the program. For his efforts and those of his team, he has been named The Dispatch’s All-Metro Coach of the Year.
“Now that we’re having player meetings, it’s sunk in that we had a great year, but there’s still a sour taste in my mouth with how it ended,” Greiner said.
The Cardinals, who finished 24-12-3-1, won the regional title by beating Olentangy Liberty 4-2 on March 2 at OhioHealth Ice Haus, which is St. Charles’ home rink. Liberty edged the Cardinals for the CHC-Red Division title by one point to earn the No. 1 seed in the regional tournament, while St. Charles was seeded second.
“The target is on our back now for next year,” said Greiner, who will lose seven players to graduation. “We’re not going to be taken lightly. Teams aren’t going to overlook us. We’re the reigning regional champs, so every team is going to come ready to play us every single game.”
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Senior forward Nicholas Scharfenberger, who led the Cardinals in scoring with 28 goals and 40 assists for 68 points, called the team’s achievements “pretty amazing,” especially considering they happened in Greiner’s first season.
Scharfenberger’s brother, sophomore Tommy Scharfenberger, helped anchor the defense in front of goalies Bren Gronbach and Dylan Fansler. Gronbach is a junior and Fansler is a sophomore.
Senior forward Sean Moore contributed 33 goals and 25 assists.
The team’s season also was special for Greiner, 35, because he played for St. Charles in his first two years in high school. He transferred to Watterson for his junior year and graduated in 2007.
“It’s awesome to be able to come back to the team I played for now as a coach to win the second regional title in program history,” Greiner said. “That’s a big honor.”
While at Watterson, Greiner played for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets for two seasons. He went on to compete in Canada for two seasons, playing for the Brockville Braves in the Canadian Junior Hockey League in 2007-08 and the Port Hope Predators in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League in 2008-09.
While at Watterson, Greiner played for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets for two seasons. He went on to compete in Canada for two seasons, playing for the Brockville Braves in the Canadian Junior Hockey League in 2007-08 and the Port Hope Predators in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League in 2008-09.
Greiner, a forward, played collegiately for four years at Division III Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts, graduating in 2013.
“The first time meeting him, he seemed very educated in the game and his prior experience definitely seemed promising for the season,” Nicholas Scharfenberger said. “It definitely made it extra special since he went to school there. He said his biggest mistake was not staying there all four years.
“He made us better. We focused on a lot of skill development and a lot on chemistry between the lines. I got to know all the guys better. We improved as a team throughout the season.”
The Dispatch’s Athlete of the Year in hockey will be among the honors announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium.
