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Three members of state semifinalist Dublin Jerome highlight The Dispatch’s 2025-26 All-Metro hockey team.

The Celtics advanced to their first state tournament since 2019, losing a semifinal to Cleveland St. Ignatius 2-1 in three overtimes.

The Athlete of the Year in each sport – 30 in all – will be announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 22 at Upper Arlington High School.

Dylan Bell, St. Charles

One of the top goalies in the state, the junior helped lead the Cardinals to the regional final. Bell finished 13-3-1 with six shutouts, a 1.03 goals-against average and .957 save percentage. He was first-team all-state, all-Capital Hockey Conference and all-CHC-Red.

John Michael Beuselinck, Dublin Jerome

The senior proved to be a final strong line of defense for the Celtics, leading them to the state tournament. Beuselinck went 15-7-2-1 with five shutouts, a 1.58 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. He had 17 saves in a 2-0 win over St. Charles in the regional final. Beuselinck was second-team all-CHC and honorable mention all-state.

Connor Hagkull, Upper Arlington

After leading the Golden Bears to their first state title in 2025, the senior center capped his prep career by leading UA in scoring with 43 goals and 41 assists. He was first-team all-state and second-team all-CHC. The Bears lost to Jerome 3-1 in a regional semifinal.

Eli Hall, Thomas Worthington

The senior helped anchor the Cardinals’ defense as they won the CHC-White and advanced to a regional quarterfinal before losing 8-4 to Olentangy Liberty. Hall finished with 10 goals and 31 assists and was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-White and second-team all-state.

Will Howard, St. Charles

The junior forward emerged as the leading scoring for the Cardinals, finishing with 21 goals and 32 assists to help them earn the No. 1 seed for the regional tournament. He was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and third-team all-state.

Drew Hunkins, Olentangy Liberty

The junior forward was the Patriots’ leading scorer, finishing with 29 goals and 37 assists to earn honorable mention all-state. Liberty advanced to a regional semifinal, losing 3-1 to St. Charles.

Luke Myers, Dublin Jerome

The junior forward played a key role in the Celtics’ march to the state tournament, leading the team in scoring with 25 goals and 26 assists. Myers was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and third-team all-state.

Tate Rook, Upper Arlington

The junior forward was a key contributor to the Bears’ success, finishing second to Hagkull in scoring with 38 goals and 45 assists. Rook was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and honorable mention all-state.

Henry Thackeray, Upper Arlington

The senior was a lockdown defenseman for UA and contributed nine goals and 32 assists. Thackeray was first-team all-state and all-CHC-Red and second-team all-CHC.

Tommy Scharfenberger, St. Charles

The senior recorded 14 goals and 26 assists to help the Cardinals win the CHC-Red and the Blue Jackets Cup for the Red Division. Scharfenberger was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and second-team all-state.

Brayden Scholl, Dublin Coffman

The senior defenseman helped the Shamrocks win the Blue Jackets Cup for the White Division and reach a regional quarterfinal, which they lost 5-1 to UA. Scholl collected 13 goals and 41 assists and was first-team all-CHC-White and second-team all-CHC.

Michael Wozniak, Watterson

The senior forward was a force on offense, leading the Eagles with 63 goals and 21 assists. Wozniak was first-team all-CHC-White and honorable mention all-state and all-CHC.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Pat Murphy, Dublin Jerome

Murphy, who helped form the program when the school opened in 2004, guided the Celtics to their fourth state tournament, their first state final since 2019 and a 25-11-2-1 finish.

He also moved within two wins of 500 for his career, ending the year 498-237-59-4.

Murphy coached at the junior varsity level for two seasons in the school district before taking over at Jerome.

In 2019, the Celtics became the first central Ohio team to reach the state final, losing 7-2 to St. Ignatius.

“Coach Murphy did an amazing job this season of uniting his team, battling through adversity and getting the boys playing at their peak by the time the postseason arrived,” athletic director Jay Schwanke said. “He continues to lead his program with skill, purpose and integrity.”

High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.