WESTFIELD – This is not horse racing, but it is a winning trifecta of sorts.
St. Mary High School senior center Shaun Gezotis earned his 100th point of his high school career in a late season contest, joining local hockey legends Nick Masciadrelli and Trey Tremblay on a select list of Saints’ 100-point hockey scorers.
Gezotis set up teammate Austin Wolfe, assisting the goal scorer in the secod period of a game against South Hadley Feb. 18.
St. Mary’s Shaun Gezotis goes top shelf for a goal against Taconic during a 2016-17 regular season contest at Amelia Park Arena. (Photo by Bill Deren)
“(It) was an awesome feeling,” Gezotis said of his 100th point. “I’m very lucky that in my last game I scored my 100th point.”
That’s because in the next period Gezotis suffered a season-ending shoulder injury when he was hit into the boards at an awkward angle.
“It was the worst pain I ever felt in my life,” he said.
Gezotis was rushed to a local emergency room where he was treated and released. The next day he was honored for his historic achievement, and appeared to be in good spirits the days following the brief ceremony.
“He epitomizes hard work,” St. Mary coach Don Goodreau said of his senior center. “Shaun plays every shift at 100 percent. He lifts the team up and puts them on his shoulder. Being a captain, he leads by example. He has been fully committed.”
SHAUN GEZOTIS
St. Mary Saints
That commitment resulted in a 4-0-1 start to begin the 2016-17 regular season. Once injuries, illness, and various other ailments began to plague St. Mary during the heart of the season, though, the Saints fell out of the postseason picture.
St. Mary rebounded in the season’s final days, earning ties against Greenfield and Mount Everett to finish the season 5-11-3.
Quinn Powers picked off a pass late in the third period and scored to force a 2-2 against Greenfield on Sunday, and Aaron Blanchard netted the game-tying goal for a shorthanded St. Mary team Monday in a 5-5 game with Mount Everett.
“This was probably the nicest group of kids we’ve had in a long time – on and off the ice,” coach Goodreau said. “They were committed, and never gave up.”
Gezotis finishes his high school hockey career with 55 goals and 45 assists.
As for the future, Gezotis said he is going to attempt to play baseball this spring, if his shoulder allows. As for post-graduation plans, the St. Mary senior plans on attending a local college or university such as Westfield State, Springfield Technical Community College or Holyoke Community College.
The St. Mary boys’ ice hockey team honors senior center Shaun Gezotis for scoring his 100th point.
