Longtime Westfield High School boys’ ice hockey coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews and the Bombers get ready for their season opener at Wednesday’s practice. (Photo by Mark St. Onge)
WESTFIELD – There are not too many high school head coaches who hold every player accountable for each of their actions on and off the ice, while expecting a high standard of excellence to be met day in and day in terms of wins.
That’s what makes the story of longtime Westfield boys’ ice hockey head coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews and the plethora of Bombers’ championship runs even more special.
Westfield is about to embark on its next chapter.
“We don’t want nothing less than a Western Massachusetts championship,” coach Matthews said, following Wednesday’s practice session.
Westfield enters this season having won nine of the last 14 titles in Division III. A championship victory though eluded the Bombers last season as they suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Agawam Brownies in the finals.
Westfield takes aim. (Photo by Mark St. Onge)
“I feel we’re ready,” coach Matthews said. “Let’s see if we can get to the finals.”
To do so, Westfield will need to get by the defending champs, and defeat an old nemesis, Longmeadow, which appears to have restocked for another run.
“We have a team that will … win lose or draw, give us 100 percent,” coach Matthews said. “We have no loafers or slackers here.”
In fact, it is the exact opposite as Westfield figures to have its quickest team in recent memory. If the Bombers use their wheels, or rather, their skates, they could zip right past the competition.
“We have a lot more speed – we’re quick,” Matthews said. “There are no superstars, no puck hogs this year.”
The heart and soul of the first line lies with the team’s captain, senior defenseman Mario Metallo, who is expected to be a major contributor this season, according to the head coach. Metallo will likely be joined alongside junior Mitchell Weiss, and sophomores Nathan Boucher and Max Maggipinto, among others.
Players such as junior forwards Liam Whitman and Ryan Porter, and senior forward Colin Burns figure to have key roles on the second line.
The Westfield Bombers’ boys’ ice hockey team practices Wednesday. (Photo by Mark St. Onge)
“We have two strong lines this year,” coach Matthews said, “and we have a third line that skate with any second line in Western Mass.”
Senior forward Zachary Jarvis and junior defenseman Sean Moorhouse are also likely to determine the outcome of games this season. The two will serve as alternate captains as well as Whitman for 2015-16.
“Our coaching staff is impressed by what we’ve seen so far,” Matthews said. “We’re going to be a very competitive, quick team. We have no superstars, but the players we’ve got are very good.”
Fans will get their first chance to see just how good Saturday when Westfield opens its season against Agawam at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, beginning at 8 p.m.
