Local hockey players eye U-18 national title

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November 13, 2012

Local hockey players eye U-18 national title

Will skate against nation's best in Hartford in April

By David Willis dwillis@eagletribune.com The Eagle-Tribune The Eagle Tribune Wed Nov 14, 2012, 12:06 AM EST

When local high school hockey drops the puck in a few weeks, Salem High’s Paul Antkowiak and Garnett Antkowiak, Timberlane’s Nick Lambert, Haverhill High’s Tom Maguire and Pentucket’s Tom Pingree will go back to being rivals, either on the ice or simply every week when they see the area scoring stats.

But when April arrives, those five and numerous others from around the area will become teammates once again, with a national title as the goal.

Last weekend, the New Hampshire East Eagles won a berth in April’s U18 national tournament after surging to the Granite State League title this spring.

“The kids are thrilled,” said coach Brian Toohey. “Every year it seems like we were right there, then something would happen in the end. This year everything came together and we will get to play for the crown.”

Filled with local players, the Eagles finished 25-0-2 overall this season, 15-0-2 in the Granite State League with 126 goals for and 19 against in league play. The season began in September, and playoffs ended last week.

The roster is composed of players from throughout the region, including Timberlane, Salem, Pentucket, Haverhill, Amesbury/Whittier and Central Catholic, along with former area players including Cam Toohey (Timberlane) who now plays for Berwick Academy.

“The core of this group has been playing together for 5 or 6 years and are very close,” said Brian Toohey, Cam’s dad. “When it’s high school season, they will battle each other on the ice or are always texting each other when the stats come out about who is ahead. But they are always pulling for each other. It’s pretty funny. But when they get here, they become a true team.”

The Eagles’ season is now on hold, for the high school season. But it will resume with the national tournament in Hartford, Conn., in April.

“We have had injuries or back luck that have stopped us from getting here,” said Toohey. “So the kids can’t wait. There are over 40 teams from across the country, and it will be played in a span of about five days. So it will be a very intense tournament.”

Going for nationals

Here are the local athletes from the New Hampshire East Eagles that will play for a national title.

Name School

Paul Antkowiak Salem High

Garnett Antkowiak Salem High

Anthony Licciardello Whittier

Tom Maguire Haverhill

Tom Pingree Pentucket

Ian Mitchell Pentucket

John Orlando Pentucket

Nick Lambert Timberlane

Derek Vaillancourt Central Catholic