One day, Jordan Scally had an epiphany.
"It was about two weeks before the (winter) season was about to start," said Scally. "I just woke up one morning and said to myself, 'I have to play hockey.' "
For three seasons, Scally was arguably Whittier Tech's top wrestler. But when the opportunity arose to return to his first love on the ice, the Wildcats senior could not pass it up.
"It's been great," said the Georgetown resident and now Amesbury High defenseman. "It was time to change sports. I had been away from hockey for a few years. But I am getting back into it and I am coming into my own."
Scally loved hockey from the start. Shortly after his family moved from Salem (Mass.) to Utah, the four-year-old Jordan begged his father, former Lynn Tech hockey player David, to let him join his brothers, future Pentucket players Sean and Nick, in the local youth hockey program.
And when the Scallys moved to Georgetown when he was 11, Jordan quickly enrolled in the local midget youth program, becoming a standout defender.
When Scally reached middle school, another sport began to intrigue him - wrestling.
"It had always interested me," he said. "I had always been a strong kid, so I figured I might be good at it."
For two winters, he juggled the two sports and performed well in both. But when high school came around, Scally enrolled at Whittier, a school without a hockey team.
"I looked into getting a waiver to play hockey (at another school)," he said. "But I just decided to go into wrestling."
And Scally did not simply participate in wrestling, he began to excel.
As a sophomore, the 171-pounder took third at the Commonwealth Conference meet. After that season, he was named team captain for his junior year. He backed that up by winning his weight class at the CAC meet, then taking third at the Division 2 State Meet.
But through his success, he longed for his time on the ice.
"Wrestling is a difficult sport," said the 5-11, 190-pounder. "I missed the fun of playing hockey. I used to have to cut weight all the time to stay at the 171 weight class, especially my junior year. That's probably a big part of why I started considering playing hockey."
Then, while training a month before this winter season was about to begin, Scally received news that Whittier may be teaming with Amesbury to form a co-op hockey team.
"I thought it was people joking around," he said. "I had heard about a co-op team before, and it never seemed to happen."
But, after both school committees approved the plan, the partnership became a reality. And it put Scally in a tough position.
"It was a very, very difficult decision," said the 17-year-old. "I faced a lot of criticism. Everyone thought that I was so good (at wrestling). But it was my own decision. You have to try not to think about it."
After plenty of consideration, Scally made the decision to strap on the skates. But, while he had played plenty of pickup hockey and had worked on his skills during the summer, he had not played in an organized league since the summer after his freshman season.
"Any time you change a sport it's going to be difficult," he said. "I had to get my hockey legs back under me. I noticed that all the lifting for wrestling had slowed me down. But I am getting back to where I was."
Scally's physical play quickly earned him a spot on the Indians' top defensive line. And through nine games, he has added a pair of assists.
The carpentry student must now juggle the strange hours of hockey practices, often 9 p.m. or later, with school and his job with Favreau Construction, where he does everything from remodeling to roofing.
Despite Amesbury's struggles (0-9) and that he still must deal with criticism while walking through the halls of Whittier, Scally says he had no question he did the right thing.
"I was worried I would have regrets," he said. "But I haven't regretted it for a second. We are having a tough season, but it has been fun all the way.
"It's tough. I try to take a nap before practice. But it's nice not having to cut weight every day. I actually get to have fun now."
And his contributions have not gone unnoticed.
"He has been a pleasure to have on the ice and in the locker room," said Amesbury coach Peter Cignetti. "He gives 100 percent in every game and practice. He is a lot more mature than the other kids. He keeps the team in order and has been wonderful."
Houston reaches century mark
When Tim Houston's second assist of Monday's game was announced, he and his teammates were busy playing out the final seconds of Central Catholic's 2-2 tie with Catholic Memorial, the No. 1-ranked team in Eastern Mass.
But after the game, Houston had more to celebrate than the impressive tie.
His assist on the Justin Kurek goal gave him 100 points for his varsity career.
"I am very excited," said Houston, a North Andover resident. "Not too many people have done it. It feels great."
Houston is believed to be the seventh player in Central Catholic history to score 100 points. Erik Antkowiak and Todd Elliott are tied for the school record with 173 points, followed by 2007 Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year and Houston's linemate of the season ago, Paul Jaskot (148). Central Catholic head coach Mike Jankowski, Al Salvia and Dean Borelli also reached the mark.
"I knew I was pretty close at the start of the season," said Houston. "I kind of lost track for a while. Now that I have got it is great. To follow in the shoes of Jaskot, one of the greatest players I have seen, and coach Jankowski."
After scoring seven goals and adding 13 assists as a sophomore, Houston broke onto the scene a year ago when he was one of the keys to their run to the Super 8. He scored 22 goals and had 30 assists. So far this year he has four goals and 15 assists.
The Jordan Scally File
Hometown: Georgetown
Position: Defense
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
On the mat: Wrestled three years for Whittier. Was Wildcats' captain last year as a junior, taking third at Division 2 States.
On the ice: Played hockey as a child. In his senior season, has moved to play hockey for Whittier's newly-founded co-op team with Amesbury.
Family: Father David played hockey for Lynn Tech. Brothers David and Sean both played at Pentucket.
Hockey Fab Five
The Eagle-Tribune's ranking of local boys high school hockey teams:
School%Record
1. Central Catholic%6-3-4
2. Andover%8-2-2
3. Salem%10-3-0
4. Timberlane%9-3
5. Phillips%6-2
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wildcats find home in Amesbury
Amesbury hockey coach Peter Cignetti could not overstate the importance of his squad's new co-op program with Whittier Tech.
"I don't think the program would have survived without Whittier's contributions," said the second-year coach. "It is something that has worked out really well."
After a 3-16-1 season a year ago, the Indians' numbers were at a record low this season. So they looked to the school down the road for help.
"Amesbury's AD (Elizabeth McAndrews) asked us and got the ball rolling," said Whittier athletic director Kevin Bradley. "The league voted in favor of it, and it was approved by both school committees, both principals and superintendents."
Whittier's hockey team disbanded after the 1991 season. Currently, 11 Whittier students are playing in the Amesbury hockey program, with seven on the varsity team.
"A lot of parents have asked if we would get hockey," said Bradley. "But we just didn't have the numbers. This is a perfect fit. There has been plenty of interest and we try to accommodate everyone. A lot of kids are excited about the opportunity."
