Dominick Mersch admits he’s not your typical first liner; he’s not as skilled as his line mates. But after Tuesday’s practice at the Ice Box, the color of Mersch’s jersey indicates he’s good enough to hang.
Mersch has been paired with Brandon Schultz and Ethen Frank for another week of practice. The trio wears light blue and has been together since Oct. 1 when Stars coach Chris Hartsburg had less than one day’s notice that Luka Maver was suspended for that night’s game. Rather than disrupt chemistry throughout the lineup, Hartsburg decided to springboard Mersch from the bottom-six and give the second-year winger, with 11 points in 60 games, a shot to skate with the first line. Four games later the experiment is working.
“(Mersch) has success because he plays a heavier, harder game and when he does that he can play with anyone,” Hartsburg said. “He can’t come in with the mindset of being a skill guy.”
Drafted in the first round of the 2015 Phase I USHL Draft, Mersch had 16 points through 25 games in his final season with the Chicago Mission (HPHL). The University of Wisconsin commit also tacked on a team-leading 54 penalty minutes, a stat he obliterated in his first USHL season (he finished with 93). The heavier style might be a result of his older brother, Michael, helping instill a pro-style work ethic. Michael played at Wisconsin before making his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings last season. In the offseason, the brothers train together.
On Mersch’s first-line debut, the Stars realized immediate success. At 10:06 of the third period, Schultz set in for an offensive zone faceoff, pushed the puck off the draw and Mersch stepped in to send a quick snap shot past Storm goalie David Tomeo. The goal was the eventual game-winner in a 3-2 game. Stars General Manager Jon Hull referred to the goal as a jolt for Mersch who’d been “fighting it” in the preseason with just one assist in five preseason games.
“I can go from fourth line all the way up to first line – wherever is needed – and provide that energy and simple game that’s going to translate to any line or any spot,” Mersch said.
Two games after scoring his first goal of the season, Mersch struck again. At 3:10 of the first period against Sioux City, Schultz floated around the right circle before finding Mersch in front of the net for a power play goal. For the second time this season, the line mates connected to give the Stars the lead. Sure, it was on the power play, but chemistry is chemistry and the shot count indicates there is no shortage of that. Through the first six games of the season, the Stars first line has the most shots of anybody on the roster: Frank (16), Schultz (15) and Mersch (13).
“Get to the middle of the ice, get to the net and work in the corners,” Mersch said. “They’ll read off me and I’ll read off them. We just try to keep things simple.”