Below are the official 2017 Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Jack Goyetch, Canton
Hockomock League All Stars
Jake Parker, Attleboro
Nick Allen, Canton
John Hagan, Canton
Jack Goyetch, Canton
Ryan Nolte, Canton
Quinn Gibbs, Canton
Aidan Sullivan, Foxboro
Brendan Tully, Foxboro
Luke Downie, Franklin
Owen Ginley, Franklin
Jack McGrath, Franklin
Jeremy Miller, Franklin
Collin Cooke, King Philip
Mike Curtin, King Philip
Cullin Anastasia, Mansfield
Tim Arnold, Mansfield
Jason McNeany, North Attleboro
Drew Wissler, North Attleboro
Matt McCormack, Oliver Ames
Michael Nikiciuk, Oliver Ames
Brett Williams, Oliver Ames
Brendan Campbell, Stoughton
Will Walsh, Taunton
North Attleboro, 4 vs. Bishop Feehan, 4 – Final – Senior Jason McNeany scored twice and had two assists as the Rocketeers tied Feehan. Drew Wissler added a pair of goals and an assist for Big Red.
Stoughton, 5 @ Norton, 8 – Final – Stoughton freshman Matt Brown paced the Black Knights’ offense with a hat trick. Brendan Campbell and Sean Doherty scored the other goals while Thomas McCoy played well in goal, making 35 saves.
Foxboro, 67 vs. Lake Mary Prep (FL), 43 – Final – Foxboro outscored Lake Mary Prep 16-6 in the second quarter to create a 37-24 lead heading into the halftime break and never looked back. Sophomore Brandon Borde scored eight of his 14 points in the opening quarter while senior Joe Morrison had all 11 of his points in the first half. Sophomore Ryan Hughes scored 10 of his career-high 16 points in the final quarter to help secure the win.
Franklin, 62 vs. Malden Catholic, 36 – Final – Franklin senior Paul Mahon poured in a game-high 20 points to lead the Panthers past Malden Catholic and into the Somerville Hoop Fest final. The Panthers will play Arlington in the championship on Thursday.
King Philip, 71 vs. Dorchester, 74 – Final (OT)
Oliver Ames, 70 vs. Brockton, 84 – Final
Taunton, 77 vs. Charlestown, 67 – Final – Taunton senior Lens Esquil scored a career-high 20 points as the Tigers helped force 30 Charlestown turnovers to advance to the Skip Karam Tournament final. Esquil led the defensive charge with six steals while sophomore Naz Kenion (eight points, three assists) had three steals. Junior Lou Vendrell added 17 points, sophomore Dante Law had 13 points and nine rebounds, and junior John Martins finished with seven points, three rebounds, and three assists. Taunton will play host Durfee in the final on Thursday at 6:30.
Boys Hockey
Canton, 0 vs. Needham, 0 – Final – In a first-round game of the Joe Donnelly Tournament, Canton and Needham finished scoreless for a tie for MIAA purposes. Needham won the game in overtime to advance to the finals while Canton will play Pembroke in the consolation round.
King Philip, 6 vs. North Quincy, 2 – Final
North Attleboro, 5 vs. Cumberland, 1 – Final
Stoughton, 7 vs. Tri-County, 1 – Final – Stoughton’s offense exploded for seven goals and the defense had its best performance of the season to get the win. Freshman Matt Brown led the offense with a hat trick while Brendan Campbell, Sean Doherty, Mike Nazzaro, and Josh Hough each scored once.
Taunton, 4 vs. Dennis-Yarmouth, 2 – Final – Taunton’s Dylan Nichols scored the game-winning goal and had an assist to lead the Tigers to a victory over visiting Dennis-Yarmouth. Mike Albert scored twice while Tanner Lopes found the back of the net once. Cam Sneyd and Will Walsh each chipped in with two assists while Jeremy Chapell and Haden Weyant each had one assist. Sean Bunker made 25 saves to earn the win in net.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Westwood, 1 – Final – Junior Maggie Malloy scored the game-winning goal inside the final five minutes to lift the Bulldogs to a win and into the championship round of the Canton Ice House tournament. Kendra Farrelly scored Canton’s first goal while senior Colleen Kelleher made 35 saves in net to earn the win. Canton will play Milton in the final on Saturday at 4:50.
Franklin, 8 vs. Bishop Stang, 1 – Final
King Philip, 5 vs. Mount St. Charles, 3 – Final – King Philip’s offense got a boost from its blue line as Nicole Connor scored once and had one assist and Jess Daniels found the back of the net once and had three helpers. Olivia Donovan opened the scoring for the Warriors and Ali Wilson scored her second goal in as many games.
Stoughton, 3 vs. Scituate, 8 – Final
Wrestling
Marshfield Tournament (Mansfield, North Attleboro, Oliver Ames, Sharon, Taunton), 9:00AM
Gymnastics
Attleboro vs. Norton, 5:00
Mansfield @ Taunton, 11:00AM
Indoor Track
Boston Holiday Challenge – Mansfield girls indoor track had three top 10 finishes, two by Amanda Mangano. Mangano was fourth overall in the 55-meter dash, clocking in at 7.50 and was seventh overall in the long jump (16’1.25). Madison Haughey ran a PR in the 55M hurdles (9.38) to take ninth overall.
Boys Hockey
Stoughton, 7 @ Apponoquet/Connolly, 7 – Final – Stoughton picked up its first point of the season with a 7-7 tie on the road. Brendan Campbell led the Black Knights’ offense with four goals while Sean Doherty, Matt Brown and Ryan McSweeney each scored once.
Girls Hockey
Franklin, 2 @ Medway/Ashland, 1 – Final
Wrestling
Canton, 37 @ Mansfield, 40 – Final
King Philip, 21 @ Sharon, 54 – Final – Sharon freshmen Sam Vilk (106) and Tyler Freedman (182) both came away with big wins to help the Eagles record the victory.
Boys Swimming
Foxboro, 40 @ Oliver Ames, 121 – Final – Foxboro’s Dan Egan had both of Foxboro’s first place finishes, clocking in at 57.02 to win the 100 free and at 1:20 to win the 100 breaststroke.
Franklin, 106 @ Milford, 62 – Final
Sharon @ Taunton, 4:00
Girls Swimming
Foxboro, 62 @ Oliver Ames, 108 – Final – Foxboro’s Pam Nelson won one race and finished in second place three times. Nelson won the 500 free (5:42) while taking second in the 200 IM (2:23). She was also a member of the medley relay (along with Sarah Egan, Lindsey Nelson, and Faith Perry) that took second and the 200 free relay (with Gina Oullette, Nelson, and Perry) was finished second (2:00).
Franklin, 103 @ Milford, 67 – Final – Franklin’s Ashley Loomis and Katie Cashin each won a pair of individual races and both of the Panthers free relay teams took first in a win over Milford. Loomis finished first in both the 200 and 500 free while Cashin won the 200 IM and 100 breaststrokes. Freshman Katie Chew won her first career race, touching first in the 100 free. Both the Panthers 200 and 400 free relay teams clocked in in sectional qualifying times.
Hockey
Foxboro, 1 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Ryan Morry and Jake Parker each scored once to help the Bombardiers earn their first win of the season, a non-league victory over Foxboro. Warriors freshman Kirk Leach scored his first career goal for Foxboro in the loss.
King Philip, 3 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 0 – Final – King Philip bounced back from its season-opening loss with a strong win on the road against the Trojans. The Warriors scored once in each period while junior James Lewis made 15 saves in his first varsity start to earn the win. Mike Curtin opened the scoring in the first off of assists from Garrett Maxwell and Collin Cooke. The Warriors made it 2-0 when Luke D’Amico converted off of a feed from Curtin. In the third, Cooke buried an unassisted goal into an empty net to secure the win.
Mansfield, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro opened its season in style, scoring the opening goal just 21 seconds into the game and never looking back against the Hornets. Drew Wissler opened the scoring off of an assist from Anthony Zamiello, and then returned the favor to Zamiello later in the period to give Big Red a 2-0 lead after a period. Mansfield senior Cullin Anastasia scored a short-handed goal to bring the Hornets within one but Jeff Baker restored the two-goal lead for North within a minute to make it 3-1. Wissler scored an empty-netter in the third period to ice the game.
Stoughton, 2 vs. St. John Paul II, 5 – Final – Brendan Campbell and Sean Doherty each scored a goal for Stoughton.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 @ Falmouth, 1 – Final – Canton peppered Falmouth with 41 shots but only broke through once to earn a point on the road. Andrea McNeil found the back of the net for the Bulldogs in the first period while Colleen Kelleher finished with 30 saves.
Wrestling
Marlboro Early Bird (Canton) – Canton placed fifth overall among 16 teams. Sophomore Eddie Marinilli won the 138 bracket for the Bulldogs.
Mike Melish Duals (Foxboro, Sharon), 9:00AM
St. John’s Prep Quad (Franklin) – Franklin had the best team at the meeting, sweeping all three opponents. The Panthers opened with a dominant 45-18 win over Lawrence, earned a hard-fought victory over the hosts St. John Prep (31-21) and finished the day with a 58-16 win over Salem (NH). Jordan Carlucci went 3-0 on the day with three pins.
King Philip @ Milford, 10:00AM
Brockton Tri-meet (Mansfield) – Mansfield rallied for a win over host Brockton to pick up its second win of the day. The Hornets beat Barnstable (60-18) before coming back to beat the Boxers (39-31). Sam Isaacson (126), Ethan Nirenberg (195), and Sam Hutton (220) all picked up huge wins for the Hornets to help complete the comeback against Brockton.
North Attleboro Quad (North Attleboro) – North Attleboro picked up three wins on the day, including over one of the state’s best programs in Norton. Big Red beat Hope (RI) 53-22, took down Chariho (RI) 39-22 and picked up a win over Norton, 45-30. Seniors Jake Direnzo, Brady Folan, Zack Gould, Adam Eberle, and Brad White all went 3-0 for the day.
Marshfield Quad (Oliver Ames) – Oliver Ames dominated the day, picking up four wins to move to 5-0 on the season. The Tigers beat Whitman-Hanson (53-15), Pembroke (47-24), Toll Gate (57-24) and host Marshfield (51-27). Freshman Remy Creighton (106), junior Nick McGovern (113), senior Brandon Belleton (138, three pins), junior Anthony Berksza (145, four pins) and junior Dean Pacini (195, three pins) all went 4-0 on the day for Oliver Ames.
Sandwich Early Bird (Taunton) – Taunton had a successful day at the Sandwich Early Bird tournament with seven wrestlers finishing first, second or third. Josh Grasso (132), Alex Simon (195) and Woudanly Danger (220) emerged victorious from their respective weight classes while Candido Santos (160) and Mason Frank (285) finished second and Tyler Kennedy (152) and Jordan Manning (285) each finished third.
Boys Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis)
Attleboro, 29 vs. Oliver Ames, 70 – Final
Canton, 25 vs. Sharon, 75 – Final
Foxboro, 23 vs. North Attleboro, 77 – Final
Franklin, 61 vs. King Philip, 39 – Final
Mansfield, 76 vs. Taunton, 24 – Final
Milford, 46 vs. Stoughton, 50 – Final
Girls Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis)
Attleboro, 31 vs. Oliver Ames, 69 – Final
Canton, 17.66 vs. Sharon, 82.33 – Final
Foxboro, 23 vs. North Attleboro, 68 – Final
Franklin, 77 vs. King Philip, 23 – Final
Mansfield, 43.50 vs. Taunton, 56.50 – Final
Milford, 71 vs. Stoughton, 29 – Final
Gymnastics
Taunton, 124.1 @ Attleboro, 134.65 – Final
North Attleboro, 136.15 @ Canton, 103.35 – Final – North Attleboro had four different individuals each win a single event in a victory over Canton. Kaleigh DeMarco won the vault (9.1), Caroline Szajda won the bars (8.4), Lindsay Robinson was first on the beam (8.7) and Paige Moore was victorious on the floor (8.8).
Franklin senior forward Brendan O’Rielly will be one of the players to watch as the Hockomock League hockey season kicks off. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)By HockomockSports.com Staff
The Black Knights are a relatively young team this year, so they will be relying heavily on their experienced players to lead the way and make a difference. Senior Brendan Campbell was one of three players to go over the 20-point plateau last season, and just one of two returning this season along with junior Sean Doherty. Campbell was second on the team with 11 goals and notched a team-high 15 assists for a team-best 26 points. Campbell is one of the fastest skaters in the league, which gives him an edge on defensemen. Once he gets the puck on his stick, he’s a threat to make a big play. Whether it be setting up a teammate for a great opportunity, or putting it on goal himself. He is someone opposing teams will need to focus on this again season.
Two years removed from being selected for the HockomockSports.com Third Team and All-Underclassman Team, King Philip senior Collin Cooke remains one of the most dynamic forwards for the Warriors and someone capable of helping KP climb up the league standings. Last year, Cooke scored 10 goals and recorded seven assists and was tied for second on the team with 17 points. His speed and his ability to beat defensemen in the attacking zone opens up space for his teammates and he is capable of picking the right pass to ensure a scoring opportunity for the Warriors. Cooke will be one of the key players for KP, if the Warriors are going to book a spot in the state tournament.
Quinn Gibbs had big shoes to fill when he stepped between the pipes last season, trying to fill the void left by a three-year starter. But Gibbs held his own, and quickly made a name for himself around the league as a top goalie. During his first year in net, he made 320 saves (0.924 save percentage) while allowing just 1.31 goals against a game. As the year went on, you could see his confidence grow. He will be a vital part of the Bulldogs’ defense this year after losing a handful of starters to graduation. He already has a good amount of playoff experience as well, which will be key as Canton will likely be a contender in D2 South again this season.
Mansfield senior defenseman Tyler Oakley will be the leader of the Hornets defensive effort this season and will set the tone with his physicality and ability to pick the right pass to spring the forwards into the attack. Oakley was a HockomockSports.com Second Team performer in 2016-17 after anchoring a defense that allowed only 50 goals on the season, which was second best in the Kelley-Rex division and fourth best in the league. He also recorded 10 assists from the blue line and recorded a team-high plus-18 for the season. With Oakley back as a top-four defenseman, Mansfield will be hoping to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the division.
Franklin senior forward Brendan O’Rielly will be hoping to lead the Panthers on a run similar to his sophomore season when they won the Div. 1 state title. O’Rielly was the team’s leading scorer last year with a team-best 20 goals plus 11 assists for 31 points. He will spearhead an experience group of forwards and will use his strong skating, good stick-handling, and accurate shooting to help Franklin make another run at a Kelley-Rex division title. As a three-year varsity player, O’Rielly has continued to develop throughout his career and has the potential to be one of the league’s leading scorers again this winter.
Attleboro senior forward Jake Parker returns to lead the Bombardiers attack this winter and, as usual, will be counted on to not only create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates but also to chip in on the power play and penalty kill. An unselfish forward with a keen eye for a pass, Parker is always the first look for an Attleboro defenseman to try and break the puck out of the zone with speed. With great stick-handling ability, Parker can get Attleboro set up in the offensive zone and gives the Bombardiers much-needed patience on the puck. Parker, who was on the HockomockSports.com Second Team last year, scored 20 goals and had six assists in 2016-17, including a five-goal performance in a tie with Mansfield.
Foxboro has been able to rely on Aidan Sullivan for the past three years and will look to him for leadership both on and off of the ice this season. Sullivan enters his fourth year as a member of the Warriors’ defensive unit and has improved every single year. He was named to the 2015-2016 HockomockSports.com All Underclassman Team as a sophomore and improved his production on the offensive end of the ice last season notching a career-high eight points, scoring twice with six helpers. Foxboro has a relatively young group of forwards this season so it will be important for Sullivan to be an anchor on the defensive end as the younger players gain experience.
After a season away with a juniors team, Taunton senior forward Will Walsh has returned to provide a boost to the Tigers attack. Walsh is a dangerous scorer with an accurate shot and a lot of energy that is contagious. His teammates feed off the emotion and energy that he plays with. Two years ago, as part of a powerful Taunton offense, Walsh scored three goals and 11 assists. In 21 games with the South Shore Kings in 2016-17, Walsh scored two goals and seven assists and his addition will open space for his fellow forwards and add to the potent Tigers attack.
North Attleboro’s Ryan Warren has been one of the most consistent goalies in the league over the past two seasons. He was stellar during his freshman season and earned HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year honors, and last year during his sophomore campaign he helped Big Red to 14 wins by making 395 saves and a .892 save percentage. From his first year on varsity, Warren has always shown great positioning, and his ability to control rebounds makes it difficult for opponents to net second chance goals.
Oliver Ames had a handful of young talented forwards last season, and Brett Williams emerged as one of the most talented in the league. Williams helped the Tigers have a terrific season, coming within one point of the Kelley-Rex division title. As just a sophomore, he scored a team-high 12 goals while adding eight assists for 20 points. His speed is what really sets him apart from others in the league. His quick burst allows him to get get pass defenses and fly in on goal, and on top of his speed, he has the ability to finish.
King Philip junior Nicole Connor is one of the most versatile girls’ hockey players in the newly formed Hockomock league and will be a key to KP making a run at the inaugural league title. Connor will see time as both a forward and on the blue line, giving the Warriors help all over the ice. As a sophomore, Connor scored five goals and had six assists while playing primarily as in defense and she is poised to have a breakout winter for the Warriors.
Canton senior goalie Colleen Kelleher returns after a strong season in net for Canton, leading the Bulldogs from the No. 14 seed to their first state final since 2006. Kelleher came through numerous times in the playoffs to keep opponents out and give the potent Canton attack the chance to find winning goals. She will backstop Canton’s attempt at winning the inaugural Hockomock League title.
Foxboro senior forward Catherine Luciano has been one of the most dynamic scorers in the area over the last two years and led the Warriors in scoring last winter with 25 goals and 12 assists. Luciano is off to a flying start this winter with a hat trick in the season-opening win against Dover-Sherborn/Hopkinton. The partnership of Luciano with Mackenzie Fraser (19 points last year) and Isabelle Shanteller (21 points) could be the key to Mansfield/Oliver Ames making a run at the first ever league title.
Franklin junior Regan Paterson will be one of the primary attackers for Franklin, as the Panthers compete for the first ever Hockomock League title and book a return to the state tournament. Paterson score 11 goals and had five assists as a sophomore and is coming off a strong fall for the Franklin field hockey program. Her experience will be counted on to lead a young Panthers roster this winter.
Stoughton senior defenseman Julia Russell is coming off a pair of all-star seasons for the new program and will be hoping to take her form from the SEMGHL to the Black Knights opening campaign in the Hockomock League. Russell is a speedy defender who can also step into the attack and her leadership will be key for a talented group of underclassmen that have Stoughton confident in a big improvement this winter, as evidenced by a season-opening win over Framingham.
Canton and North Attleboro will once again battle for the Davenport division crown this winter, as Hockomock League hockey kicks off a new season. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2016-2017 Record: 6-12-2 2016-2017 Finish: Missed Postseason. Coach: Mark Homer
Attleboro struggled in its closing games of 2016-17 and narrowly missed out on a place in the state tournament via the Sullivan rule. This year’s Bombardiers are hoping that a mix of youth and experience will be enough to get the team over the hump and back in the playoff mix.
The main scoring threat for Attleboro this season is senior forward Jake Parker, a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection last winter who led the team with 20 goals despite facing regular double teams and playing loads of minutes. Parker will be joined up front by sophomore Ryan Morry, who is coming off a solid rookie campaign and will try to take advantage of the opportunities Parker creates near the net.
Attleboro’s experience is on the defensive side of the ice. Seniors Eddie Noel and Sam MacKenzie and junior Kyle McCabe provide size, physicality, and reading of the game to protect the Bombardiers goal. Attleboro coach Mark Homer, in his second season with the team, is expecting the defensemen to be aggressive in the zone and be more prepared to clear the puck. The Bombardiers are also experienced in goal with junior Evan Andrews and sophomore Derrik Rivet offering a solid one-two between the pipes.
“As a team, we are working on becoming more competitive in our games at all phases of the game, said Homer. “We will strive to be better today than we were yesterday but not as good as we will be tomorrow. Our success will be measured by how hard we work and not by our wins and losses.”
2016-2017 Record: 16-5-3 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal. Coach: Brian Shuman
After another league title in 2016-17 and a run to the Div. 2 South semifinal, Canton has started this season with a win and a draw (that turned into an overtime win in the final of the Gormley Cup) and the expectations remain as high as ever for one of the teams to beat in D2.
Last season, Canton was by far the league’s best defensive team, allowing only 32 goals in 24 games. The next best defense allowed 48 goals. But, the Bulldogs will need to rebuild the blue line this season after the graduation of HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Jackson Maffeo and Third Team selection C.J. Martin. Defensemen Brad Murphy and Nick Allen have experience and will be counted on to step up to bigger roles this year.
The key for the Canton defense, which has allowed only one goal in two games so far this season, will be junior goalie Quinn Gibbs. He was a HockomockSports.com First Team choice last year with a league-best 0.924 save percentage and there is hope he can get even better with a year of experience. Offensively, the Bulldogs bring back most of the goals from last year with Ryan Nolte, Johnny Hagan, Bubba McNeice, and Jack Goyetch all returning this season and all having scored big goals in big moments for Canton during last season’s tournament run.
“I think the most important determinant of our success will be whether we can find some depth at forward and defense,” said Canton coach Brian Shuman. “Teams need more than two lines and four ‘D’ to make a deep run, so we need some guys to compete for those remaining spots.”
2016-2017 Record: 6-12-2 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 3 First Round. Coach: Mark Cedorchuk
Foxboro saw improvement last year, increasing its win total, goals for, and allowed fewer goals than the season before. Head coach Mark Cedarchuk is hoping that trend continues this season as the Warriors look to try and compete for the spot in the postseason.
The Warriors will be relying on a mix of experience as well as youth to try and compete in the Hockomock League this year. Senior captain Aidan Sullivan (two goals, six assists) has been an anchor of the team’s blue line unit over the past couple of seasons and will be relied upon to lead the way again this year. Senior captain Taylor Sharfman is another defenseman that gives the Warriors two capable and reliable options in the back. Junior Tanner Kennedy is also back after a solid sophomore year and Warriors added junior Brendan Tully to the defensive unit.
On offense, Foxboro graduated its top three goal scorers but sophomore Ronnie MacLellan (four goals, seven assists) is back after a strong sophomore year. He will be joined up front by senior Sam Garrabrant and sophomore Sebastian Ricketts, who had four goals and two assists last year.
Foxboro will have to find a replacement for goalie John Cronin, a multi-year starter in between the pipes for the Warriors. Foxboro has three goalies – freshman Jack Spinney, sophomore Espen Reager, and freshman Connor Callahan – listed on the roster.
“With a combination of experienced upperclassman and talented underclassman, we’re looking forward to an exciting and competitive season,” Cedarchuk said.
2016-2017 Record: 14-9-1 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal. Coach: Chris Spillane
Although last winter was atypical for the Panthers, losing two games in the league for the first time in several years, Franklin won another league title and with 20 players back for this season the expectation is that a seventh straight league crown is a distinct possibility – not to mention making a run in the state tournament.
Experience will be the key for the Panthers. Most of the forwards were members of the team that won the state championship two years ago and know what it takes to get goals against top competition. Leading scorer Brendan O’Rielly is back after scoring 20 goals and recording 11 assists last season. He should have plenty of help up front with classmates Luke Downie, Jeremy Miller, T.J. Durkin, and Ken Demerchant, who are all three-year varsity players for the Panthers.
Defensively, Franklin has lost several talented young defensemen to other programs in recent seasons, but still boasts a strong defensive corps heading into this winter. Jack McGrath, Matt Crane, Connor Norton, Cam Cassella, and sophomore Tom Tasker will all contribute to the defensive pairings this season and that depth will be important over a long season. The goalie position is a battle between three seniors, including returning netminders Owen Ginley and Dan Sheehan, who both saw time last year.
“I will be looking to our leading goal scorer from last year Brendan O’Rielly to once again lead the offensive charge,” said Franklin coach Chris Spillane. “From a small practice sample (one skate) I was impressed with our team speed.”
2016-2017 Record: 4-16-0 2016-2017 Finish: Missed Postseason. Coach: Paul Carlow
King Philip finished just below .500 in the league last season, and just five points out of second place in the Kelley-Rex division, but struggled in the non-league schedule, losing all 11 games outside of the Hock. The Warriors will look to improve that considerably this year with an experienced roster that wants to challenge for a league title.
KP returns 13 players from last year’s squad and that experience will be vital to allow the Warriors to compete not only in the league but against a schedule that has been bolstered because of the program’s move up to Div. 1 several seasons ago. Offensively, the attention will be on senior forward Collin Cooke, who chipped in with 10 goals and seven assists and has been drawing the focus of opposing defenses for several years. Senior Gavin Maxwell had nine goals and eight assists last season and will again be a solid counterpoint to take some of the pressure off Cooke in the attacking zone.
On the defensive side of the ice, KP continues to be a physical team that likes to be aggressive attacking the puck. Senior defensemen Will Connor will get some help at the back with the return of senior Mike Curtin from juniors, who head coach Paul Carlow said could be an “anchor” on defense. Senior Shane Frommer, fresh off a stellar football season and another Super Bowl title, will quickly transition from the gridiron to be the team’s starting goalie, after posting a 2.66 goals against average in 2016-17.
“Our strength is that we have a total of 13 returning players from last years team,” said Carlow. “We have experience up front and on the back end. We should see some team chemistry with this many returning players.”
2016-2017 Record: 12-8-2 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round. Coach: Mike Balazarini
In last year’s state tournament, Mansfield held its own against perennial power Xaverian before losing 2-1 in the opening round and that defeat is spurring the Hornets on this season, as the team has built a deep roster that believes it can challenge for the Kelley-Rex crown.
Team speed is going to be a strength for the Hornets this season, even without several key pieces from last winter, including breakout freshman Chris Jenkins, lost to graduation or to juniors. Senior forward Dylan Tivnan and Cullin Anastasia will be back to man the top scoring line along with freshman Coleman Jenkins. The second line will feature a lot of youth with sophomore Jake Lund and freshman Matt Copponi alongside junior Chris Copponi.
Seniors Tyler Oakley and Tim Arnold will be the leaders on the defensive side this year, while senior Ryan O’Hara and juniors Nick Levine and Austin Ricker will give the Hornets depth in the defensive unit. That depth should make things easier for sophomore Sean McCafferty, who will be stepping between the pipes for Mansfield this season.
“I think everyone wants to pick up where he left off last year,” said Mansfield coach Mike Balzarini. “We’ve had a good mindset early on this season. We have some new faces and everyone has gelled so far. We can’t take everyone lightly, we have to play every shift as its out last.”
2016-2017 Record: 14-4-4 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal. Coach: Ben McManama
North Attleboro is coming off its most successful season in program history, and will be starting a new chapter with new head coach Ben McManama.
The Rocketeers will be tasked with finding replacements for some of the top players in the league from a season ago. Someone will need to step up in order to fill the void left by Zach McGowan (19 goals, 13 assists for 32 points – third most in the Hockomock) as well as Hunter Sarro’s 22 points and Erik Clements’ 20 points.
Senior Jason McNeany is a key piece back for the Rocketeers, fresh off a terrific football season. He scored 13 goals last season and added 13 assists, and has been a big piece of the offense for many years now. He will be counted on to be a leader this season, both in the locker room and on the ice.
2016-2017 Record: 14-7-1 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal. Coach: Sean Bertoni
Under first-year head coach Sean Bertoni, Oliver Ames proved to be a strong skating team that could cause a number of problems with its dangerous attack. That speed up front will be put to the test again this year, as the Tigers look to jump from second in the Kelley-Rex division to the top of the standings.
The Tigers have a number of talented forwards returning from last season’s team, which reached the Div. 2 South tournament and beat Nauset only to run into state finalist Scituate in the second round. That loss will provide motivation for junior forward Brett Williams, who was on the HockomockSports.com Second Team with 12 goals and eight assists last year, and the rest of the OA forwards. Williams will be joined up front by seniors Eric LeBlanc and Rory Madden and junior Max Ward.
On defense, junior Matt McCormick returns to be one of the top four along with senior Mike Nikiciuk. Both players will provide leadership for a defensive unit that promises to be aggressive in both zones, as Bertoni continues to implement his system at OA. Sophomore goalie Owen Connor will be the new goalie for the Tigers.
“We will continue to use our team speed and play an aggressive style offensively and defensively,” said Bertoni. “We hope to compete at a high level in all three zones. If we bring an aggressive forecheck we can create turnovers which should result in production.”
2016-2017 Record: 7-12-2 2016-2017 Finish: Missed Postseason. Coach: Dan Mark
Numbers are a bit down for the Stoughton High hockey team this season, so the Knights will be relying on their most experienced players to lead the way, especially early on.
On offense, the Knights boast senior Brendan Campbell at center and junior Sean Doherty at wing. Campbell had a team-high in points last season, finishing second with 11 goals while recording a team-best 15 assists for 26 points. Doherty was third on the team, tying for the team lead with 12 goals and finishing with 25 points.
Senior Cam Nelson and junior Josh Hough will be the leaders of the Knights’ defensive unit. Hough is a captain along with Campbell and Doherty and has the most experience on the blue line. Nelson also saw plenty of time last season, recording an assist.
“We are an inexperienced team that will improve as the season goes on,” said Stoughton head coach Dan Mark.
2016-2017 Record: 12-9-2 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round. Coach: Kris Metea
Taunton has grown by leaps and bounds over the past couple of seasons, setting new program bests for wins and making the state tournament two seasons in a row. This year’s team features only three seniors, so the Tigers will be hoping recent success will continue with a youthful lineup.
Senior forward Will Walsh has returned from junior hockey and will provide a boost to the front line, which head coach Kris Metea has high hopes for this season. Senior Jake Roberts is also back for the Tigers after scoring 18 points last year and junior Cam Sneyd is back after a 16-point season last winter. Metea is counting on high energy from the offensive unit and believes that the roster is capable of creating loads of scoring opportunities.
Sophomore Sean Bunker will be in net for the Tigers and the defensive unit is fairly inexperienced, although the coach believes that by working together Taunton will be able to put together a solid back line. The hope is that defense will become a strength of the Tigers by the end of the season.
“The players enjoy wearing the orange and black and look forward to coming to the rink every day,” said Metea. “The coaching staff has preached about enjoying the journey of a season and the developmental process. These players strive to work hard and get better every day. They will be fun to watch grow throughout the season.”
Colleen Kelleher and Canton will be one of the favorites to win the inaugural Hockomock League girls’ hockey season, which begins this winter. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
2016-2017 Record: 14-5-6 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 State Final Coach: Dennis Aldrich
Canton is coming off a remarkable state tournament run that took the No. 14 seed all the way to the TD Garden and the program’s first state title game appearance since 2006. After years of competing in the SEMGHL Coastal division, the Bulldogs are excited for the first Hockomock League girls’ hockey season and enter the new season as favorites to bring home the first Hock title.
A number of key players are back from the team that battled Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) in the state championship game last March and will be counted on to put together another solid defensive effort that made the Bulldogs so tough to play against during the tournament run. Spearheading that defensive unit is senior goalie Colleen Kelleher, who was stellar throughout the state tournament with clutch saves in key situations.
On offense, Canton returns plenty of firepower. Juniors Maggie Malloy and Lauren Fitzpatrick emerged as big time scorers last year and came through with important goals to help the Bulldogs make a run to the Garden. Senior forwards Melissa Devane, Kendra Farrelly, and Andrea McNeil give Canton a loaded attacking unit that always seemed to pop up with goals when the team needed it most.
“The strength of the Bulldogs will continue to be a tenacious, smothering team defense, strong goaltending, and balanced, opportunistic scoring,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “We are proud to have our roster filled with 11 Canton team captains amongst our 22 rostered players.”
Franklin enters the first Hockomock League girls’ hockey season with a young roster, but one that is expected to compete with the other four teams and have a shot at bringing home the inaugural title.
Junior Regan Paterson and senior Jackie Connelly will be expected to provide leadership and create scoring opportunities for a roster that is loaded with underclassmen. Both players provide speed and playmaking ability in the attacking zone and the Panthers will be counting on their experience to make the difference.
Leadership is going to be critical for this year’s team and head coach Marjorie Burke is looking to her senior class to provide direction for the youthful lineup on both ends of the ice. Among the seniors that Burke is looking to this season are Bella Trask, Caroline Hedvig, Maddie Hinkley, Jillian McGlaughlin, and Connelly.
“We are excited about the upcoming season,” said Burke. “We are young but look to be competitive.”
Three years ago, King Philip was the top seed in Div. 2 and after two more playoff appearance, the Warriors now have the opportunity to bring their recent success into the first ever Hockomock League girls’ hockey season and hope that an experienced lineup could make them the first Hock champs.
Junior Nicole Connor is off to a strong start this season and has the potential, according to KP coach Jack Unger, to be one of the top players in the Hockomock League this year. Connor will play both at forward and along the blue line, crucial versatility that makes her an important piece for KP. The Warriors return five seniors who will be the “backbone” of the squad, said Unger. Kyleigh Remmes, Olivia McCarthy, Jessica Daniels, Katie Crowther, and Talia Quinn give the Warriors depth all over the ice.
Lilly Potts returns for her third year in between the pipes, while sophomore Cristina Coleman will be the backup netminder. Freshmen Avari Maxwell and Jordyn Remmes will be instant contributors on offense, while classmate Marin Cormier will step in on defense. Sophomores Abby Carr and Sammy Robison are also expected to step in at forward this season.
“[The roster is] rounded out by a number of talented juniors who should be able to spread out the scoring amongst the three starting forward lines,” said Unger.
2016-2017 Record: 14-6-1 2016-2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 First Round. Coach: Mike Dalton
Mansfield, Oliver Ames, and Foxboro have joined forces since the 2014-15 season and have reached the postseason each of the past two winters, suffering an overtime loss to Walpole in the first round of the state tournament last year, and have started this season with an impressive win in the opener.
The Warriors will be led by Foxboro’s Catherine Luciano. The senior was the team’s leading scorer last year and scored a hat trick in the season opener to get off to another strong start. Joining Luciano on the top line will be Mackenzie Fraser and Isabelle Shanteller. Other contributors in the offensive zone include senior Kayla Dalton, Kristina O’Connell, and Lindsey Corning.
While the Warriors are expected to create a number of scoring opportunities, defense will be just as important if Mansfield/OA (MOA) is going to make it a third straight playoff appearance. Denea Reager, Ali Delano, and Emily Bubencick will all be critical components of the Warriors defensive unit. Senior Kerren Holmes will be back in goal this year to stifle the opposition, while freshman Cate Gallegher will be the backup netminder.
“A strong freshman class will assist the team with help on both offense and defense,” said MOA coach Mike Dalton. “The team looks to compete for a top position in the Hockomock League and secure a spot in the tournament.”
2016-2017 Record: 1-19-1 2016-2017 Finish: Missed Postseason. Coach: Richard Grasso
The newest of the programs in the inaugural season of Hockomock League girls’ hockey, Stoughton is in only its third season of varsity play, but the Black Knights are counting on last year’s experience and the growth in the program to make them a team to watch out for this winter.
Two-time all-star Julia Russell will be one of the key defenders for the Black Knights, but also brings an offensive punch with her speed forcing opponents to worry about her carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Senior Sarah Widrow will join Russell at the blue line and provides consistency in the defensive zone. Both will be expected to provide leadership for the less experienced players on the roster and try to make Stoughton a team that is tough to play against.
The offense will be sparked by a pair of freshmen. Hailey Nelson and Morgan Lesso made an instant impact on their debuts, helping Stoughton start the season with a 6-5 win at Framingham in the season opener. Lesso recorded a hat trick against the Flyers to set a high standard in her first varsity action.
“Stoughton will be a much stronger team this year than last,” said Black Knights coach Richard Grasso. “However, this will be a great challenge for our program. We have a lot of respect for the teams in the Hockomock League. There’s a lot of talent out there and each team is well-coached.”
Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 40 vs. Coyle & Cassidy, 50 – Final (OT) – Foxboro erased a 19-point deficit in the second half, punctuated by two free throws from Ashley Sampson (15 points, nine rebounds) with 1.9 seconds left to tie the game. But Coyle outscored the hosts 12-2 in the extra period to pull out the win. Freshman Katelyn Mollica finished with 11 points in her debut.
Franklin, 33 vs. Holy Name, 29 – Final (OT) – Freshman Elizabeth Wilson was fouled in the final seconds of regulation and hit all three free throws for Franklin to force overtime in the season opener. The Panthers outscored Holy Name 5-2 in the extra period to earn the win. Franklin rallied from 19-10 down at halftime, helped by holding the Naps scoreless in the third quarter. Sophomore Breanna Atwood led the Panthers with nine points, while Ali Brigham and Wilson each scored six in the win.
Mansfield, 40 vs. Medfield, 23 – Final – The Hornets got off to a great start in the annual Endowment Game opener against Medfield, leading 13-4 after one quarter. Mansfield opened the lead further with a 15-8 third quarter. Maggie Danehy led the way for the Hornets with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Meg Hill added nine points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Sydney Mulkern chipped in with six points and, according to head coach Mike Redding, excellent defense on Medfield star Maggie McCarthy.
Sharon, 43 @ Nipmuc, 23 – Final – Sharon wins its season opener and new head coach Sandra Lombardi picks up a win on her debut on the Eagles’ bench. Emma Eberhardt was the top scorer for the Eagles with 16 points and Telyshia Hebert added 10 points in the win.
Hockey
Stoughton, 1 @ Bourne, 8 – Final – Stoughton’s Luke Bainton got the Black Knights on the board late in the second period, converting a feed from Brendan Campbell.
Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis) Boys
Attleboro, 23 vs. Franklin, 76 – Final – Franklin took first place in 11 of the 12 events, rolling to a win over the Bombardiers. Senior William Jacobs was a two-time winner for the Panthers, taking first in the 55M hurdles (8.74) and in the high jump (5-05.00). Junior Dylan Kehoe took first place in the 600M, finishing in 1:30.23 – the top time among all Hockomock runners at the meet. Attleboro’s lone first place finish was senior Alex Boedeker in the 2 Mile (10:23.23).
Canton, 20 vs. North Attleboro, 80 – Final – North Attleboro junior Omar Jasseh won a pair of events, and the Rocketeers had the top performance among all Hock teams in four separate events. Jasseh won the 55M dash in 6.99 and took first in the long jump (meet-best 20-07.75). Big Red also had the best times in both relays as well as Mario Bresko’s 6-04.00 in the high jump. Canton’s Jack Healey took first in both the 1 Mile (4:55.81) and the 2 Mile (11:09.97) races.
Foxboro, 46 vs. Stoughton, 54 – Final – Stoughton and Foxboro each won six events, but the Black Knights were able to pick up just enough points to edge the Warriors. Stoughton’s Ritchy Laguerre was a double winner, taking first in the 300M (37.86) as well as the high jump (5-09.00). Foxboro’s winners included Will Regan (2:48.5) in the 1000M and LJ Piazza (8.53) in the 55M hurdles.
King Philip, 18 vs. Mansfield, 82 – Final – Mansfield swept first, second and third in half of the events, rolling to a dominant win over the Warriors. The Hornets swept the 55M dash (Greg Waters in first), the 600M (Nick Horn in first), the 1000M (Kevin Crawford in first) the 1 Mile (Patrick Heavey in first), the 2 Mile (Kalin Petrov in first) and the long jump (Jareme DiLorenzo in first). King Philip’s Aeden Angelone won the high jump (5-03.00).
Milford, 42 vs. Sharon, 58 – Final – Sharon won seven of the 12 events, edging the Hawks in the opening meet of the season. Chris Gong took first in the 55M dash with a league-best time of 6.72 while also coming in first in the long jump (18-11.75). Sharon also won the shot put, high jump, 2 Mile, 600M and 300M. Milford won both the 2×400 and 4×400 relays.
Oliver Ames, 69 vs. Taunton, 31 – Final – Oliver Ames swept both relays and took first place in eight events overall, earning a win in the first meet of the season. Senior John MacAdam was a dual winning, taking first in the 55M hurdles (8.66) and the high jump (6.33). Taunton freshman Nolan Tavares took first in the 2 Mile (10:59.69) and Owen O’Gara was a double winner, taking first in the 55M dash (6.97) and the 300M (37.31).
Girls
Attleboro, 20 vs. Franklin, 80 – Final – It was a dominant performance for the Panthers, taking first place in 11 of the 12 events, including all individual events. Senior Jess Kroushl had a tremendous night, winning three individual events with two league-best performances. Her times in the 55M Dash (7.47) and 300M (43.84) were the best on the day, and she also took first in the long jump (16-06.75). Danielle Pierre won a pair of events, winning the 55M hurdles and the high jump for the Panthers. Attleboro’s first place win came in the 4×200 relay.
Canton, 11 vs. North Attleboro, 85 – Final – North Attleboro nearly swept first place in all events, taking 11 of the 12 events to pick up a big win. Senior Rachel LaBonte was a double-winner in individual events, coming in first in both the 600M and the long jump. Canton’s Chloe Pennacchio earned the Bulldogs’ lone first place finish, taking the 2 Mile race.
Foxboro, 64 vs. Stoughton, 36 – Final – Foxboro’s Lexi Quinn won both the 1 Mile and 2 Mile races and the Warriors swept both relays to earn the win over Stoughton. Quinn clocked in at 5:47.59 for the mile and had a meet-best time of 12:03.97 in the 2 Mile. Other winners for Foxboro included Christina Rogers (300M), Emma Dahl (1000M), Kelli McCarthy (high jump), Grace Groves (shot put) and Cathy Dizney (55M hurdles). Stoughton’s Sahrina Perry won the 55M dash and Sarina Hutchinson took first in the 600M.
King Philip, 37 vs. Mansfield, 63 – Final – Mansfield junior Amanda Mangano won three individual events and the Hornets swept both relays to pick up the win over KP. Mangano took first in the 55M dash (7.56), the high jump (4-11.00) and the long jump (16-02.75). Junior Val Buonora shaved five seconds off her personal best to take the 1 Mile race (5:49.80) and senior Emily Penta held off two opponents to win the 600M (1:53.38). Freshmen Emma Lamson (1 Mile) and Grace Fernandez (1000M) each contributed points with third place finishes in their debut.
Milford, 26 vs. Sharon, 73 – Final – Sharon sophomore Jada Johnson won three individual events and the Eagles took first in 11 of the 12 events to earn the win. Johnson took first in the 55M hurdles (9.54), the high jump (4-07.00) and the long jump (16-07.00). Milford’s lone win came from its 4×400 team.
Oliver Ames, 35 vs. Taunton, 65 – Final – Taunton took first place in the eight of the 12 events, including both relay races. Victoria Gravel won a pair of individual races, taking first in both the 55M hurdles and the long jump. Oliver Ames had four different winners, highlighted by Elizabeth Peckham’s first place finish in the 1 Mile.
Below are the official 2017 Hockomock League Golf All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Jack Goyetch, Canton
Hockomock League All Stars
Kyle DelSignore, Attleboro
Corey McKenna, Attleboro
Jack Goyetch, Canton
Joey Vaughan, Canton
Danny Powers, Canton
Bryan Woelfel, Franklin
Danny McLaughlin, King Philip
Kayla Schubert, King Philip
Brian See, Mansfield
Brendan Loomer, Mansfield
Dylan Kane, North Attleboro
Marcus Costa, North Attleboro
Ryan McGarry, Oliver Ames
Nolan Donze, Oliver Ames
Mark Bissonette, Oliver Ames
Eric LeBlanc, Oliver Ames
Matt Kelley, Oliver Ames
Thomas Walsh, Oliver Ames
Corey Carter, Sharon
Brendan Campbell, Stoughton
1. Canton – 247
2. Oliver Ames – 249
3. Franklin – 254
4. Foxboro – 262
5. King Philip – 264
6. Mansfield – 265
T7. Attleboro – 267
T7. North Attleboro – 269
T7. Sharon – 269
T7. Stoughton – 269
11. Milford – 271
12. Taunton – 283
Top 10
1. Dylan Kane, North Attleboro – 77
2. Ryan McGarry, Oliver Ames – 78
3. Bryan Woelfel, Franklin – 79
4. Joey Vaughn, Canton – 80
T5. Danny McLoughlin, King Philip – 81
T5. Mark Bissonette, Oliver Ames – 81
T5. Brendan Campbell, Stoughton – 81
T8. Jack Goyetch, Canton – 83
T8. Brian See, Mansfield – 83
10. Danny Powers, Canton – 84
