PHOTOS: Meet our new State Champs!
Top photo: Cole Estey, the team’s leading scorer, with 73 goals so far this season, as illustrated by his numerous tomahawk helmet stickers…. He plays center. (Team photo insert, courtesy Terri Corbett)
HN NOTES: HN was recently informed that our Barnstable “Squirt A” Hockey Team had won the State Championship back on Saturday, February 27, during a playoff final held in Springfield.
The is a big deal because it apparently is the first time this has happened at this level in 44 years.
According to team sources, the road to the championship wasn’t easy. In fact, one team leader had to sit out the playoffs because of a nasty concussion. But the young Red Raiders didn’t let the blow dampen their spirits… and according to team insiders, players rallied behind their wounded teammate, finding additional drive and encouragement in their laser-like quest for the title.
It’s a simple formula, where a dedicated team vowed to take home the championship for their beloved teammate. And they did so by simply filling the back of their opponent’s nets with black rubber.
HN learned the determined squirts even swept the 5 game championship tournament by outscoring their opponents 20 to 4, with three complete shutouts!
It was a combination of relentless offense, defense, and solid goaltending.
True hockey championship teams are rare but not unpredictable. While it’s not as easy as simply picking the most talented players and sending them out on the ice together. True championship teams are developed over time, with teammates learning the nuances of their offensive lines and defensive pairs, until the day comes when they can almost read minds and predict each others moves. And it’s the job of successful coaches to recognize great hockey chemistry among their forwards and defensemen, providing structure, while at the same time fostering room and freedom for creative play making.
As for goalies, the good ones study and get to know every player, and have the unique ability to not only keep their eye on the puck, but to watch and learn the rhythms and patterns of play – or in other words, the way the puck bounces.
So here’s a close-up look at some of our new State Champs. They’re still just “squirts,” ages 9 to 11, but judging by the way they play and get along, I would say we’ll being hearing more about these players in the years to come.
Above photo: Liam Mcarthy, defenseman, and high scorer…
Above photo: Jed Cormier, “keeper,” with 15 shutouts so far this season!
Above photo: Forwards Chad Tordone and Coley Buckler take time out from their busy workout to pose for a snapshot and talk hockey.
Above photo: Teammates Mark Rogers and Chris Matton also took a brief timeout for a photo… both pride themselves on digging for the puck and making plays.
Above photo: Micah Leary, came over from another team to bolster the squad where they needed it. Made some key plays according to team insiders…
Above photo: Head Coach Mark Rogers and Assistant Coach Ben Baxter (Assistant Coach Steve Estey was not around for this shot, but can be seen in the following team photo [Courtesy – team photo by Terri Corbett] …)
Above photo: [Courtesy – photo by Terri Corbett] Zak Baxter, reluctantly missed the playoffs due to a concussion. His teammates rallied behind him and carried him down the ice in their hearts.
Above photo: Young players with a lot of questions during practice…
(NOTE: HN only had time to meet just some of the players… the names and details were scribbled down before the weekend and I apologize in advance if there are errors or misspellings… please feel free to send updates and corrections, if necessary to rjbastille@yahoo.com … thank you)
3/8/2016
Robert Bastille,
P.S. – Today’s HyTown Vignette features a classic hockey interview with a French-Canadian goalie from Northern Quebec… it’s also the opening scene from the 1977 comedy film Slap Shot, where the Charlestown Chiefs came to play against the Hyannisport Presidents. The comedy depicts minor league pro hockey like we had on Cape Cod during the 1970s. In those days, we had the Cape Cod Coliseum in Yarmouth, along with a pro team called the Cape Cod Cubs. It’s a hilarious cult sports film which especially appeals to hockey fans from that era, but it does have strong language, violence, and adult subject matter. It stars Paul Newman…
[Press play]
