The Saints hockey team practices for its Dec. 8 opener against South Hadley at Fitzpatrick Arena. (Photo by Fred Gore)
WESTFIELD – The Saint Mary High School hockey team has a thorn in its side.
St. Mary has lost to the South Hadley-Holyoke contingent in the semifinals each of the last two seasons, and was eliminated from the quarterfinals the season before. The Saints have not beaten the Tigers, formerly the Purple Knights, ever.
On the flip side, nobody has been better than St. Mary in the 2011-12 and 2010-11 seasons other than South Hadley/Holyoke. And the Saints finally tied their nemesis a season ago.
Maybe a win is in the cards this year.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs just like every year,” St. Mary coach Mike Goodreau said. “We’ve got new kids, but we’re going to have fun.”
St. Mary’s hockey program has shrunken a bit, morphing from last season’s 19-player roster to 14 this year. But, no matter the depth and inexperience on defense, sensational senior goalie Zach Brown returns for his last hurrah.
“He really carried us last year,” Goodreau said of his senior goaltender. “I’m going to look for the same this year again, hopefully.”
Senior captain Zach Slepchuk (center), junior forward Nate Tremblay, and senior newcomer Jeff Hockenberry are expected to provide excitement this season as well, the Saints’ coach explained.
For St. Mary to have another solid season, Goodreau said speedy forwards Tremblay and Hockenberry will need to score 20-30 goals apiece.
“We’re going to be young on defense,” he said. “Hopefully the forwards will back check and stay out of the penalty box.”
While keeping a lid on the penalty minutes will be key in game situations, the squad will also need to remain healthy throughout the entire 2012-13 season.
St. Mary opens up against South Hadley at Fitzpatrick Arena, next Saturday, December 8 at 3:30 p.m.
