Big winter for the Butterbrodt boys
The Butterbrodts of North Andover had an eventful couple of weeks recently.
The last week of February, oldest son @text5:Max Butterbrodt,@text5: a junior at St. John’s Prep, had the best game of his career scoring 19 points in a win over Billerica in the first round of the state basketball tournament. Max’s team went undefeated in the Catholic Conference and at one point was the No. 1 ranked team in the state.
Two days earlier, @text5:Ian Butterbrodt@text5:, a sophomore at St. John’s, won the all-state wrestling tournament in Salem, Mass., copping tourney’s Outstanding Wrestler award after sweeping the 220-pound weight class. A few weeks earlier, Ian led the wrestling team to its first Div. 1 Dual Meet championship.
While the Prep basketball team was upset by Andover last Friday night and Ian lost in the finals of the New England Wrestling Championships in Providence, R.I., it doesn’t take away from their incredible accomplishments this winter.
Daccord creates new goalie stat
Brian Daccord @text5:of North Andover has always been an innovative guy who has been involved in nearly every area of hockey imaginable.
He’s been a player at many levels, a coach at many levels including the NHL, an instructor, a scout and an owner. In fact, he was a Bruins assistant when @text5:Tim Thomas@text5: started with the organization about nine years ago.
Well, Daccord, who runs “Stop It Goaltending,” has introduced a new statistic which, he feels, will make it easier to assess a goalie’s performance.
“With goaltending stats you have goals against average (GAA) and save percentage, but no equivalent statistic to a total points for skaters,” said Daccord.
The Stop It Goaltending Performance Rating (GPR) merges a goalie’s GAA and saves percentage to allow for a better representation of the goalie’s performance. This stat is then used to rank goalies performance within their league and also compare them to over 500 high-level goalies across North America.
“It rewards the goalies that are doing well in both goals against and save percentage, not just one or the other,” said Daccord. “It’s the equivalent of total points for players, which includes goals and assists.”
Merrimack tickets only $5 on Friday
To thank loyal supporters, the Merrimack College athletics department is offering $5 tickets for “Fan Appreciation Night” Friday at 7:30 p.m. when Merrimack hosts UMass-Amherst at Lawler Arena.
Go to merrimack.edu and click on “athletics” and then click “Fan Appreciation Night.” Enter promo code MARCHMACK to receive $5 tickets to Friday’s final regular season game, which will be aired live locally on WBIN TV and nationally on Fox College Sports (check local listings).
Fans in attendance will have a chance to win 2013-14 Merrimack Hockey season tickets, team-signed gear and much more.
Sixth-place Merrimack has clinched a berth in the Hockey East playoffs for the fourth straight season. Merrimack still has a chance to gain home ice in the playoffs with two victories.
Andover native honored for big week
Washington & Jefferson College sophomore attacker @text5:Tim Angell@text5: of Andover was selected as the Landmark Conference Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week.
The Governor’s Academy graduate helped W&J to a 1-1 record by totaling nine goals and three assists. On Saturday, Angell fueled the offense during a 19-7 win over La Roche with a career-high seven goals.
In 18 career games, Angell has amassed 39 goals and 10 assists.
5K race in Nashua on Sunday
Team Earley (teamearley.org), working with Melanoma Foundation New England, will kick off the running of the second annual Leprechaun Leap 5K Road Race/Walk in front of the Liberty Bell heading north on Main Street in Nashua on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Nashua Mayor @text5:Donnalee Lozeau @text5:will be on hand as the official starter while WMUR-TV’s @text5:Jamie Staton @text5:of Windham will be among the runners.
The runner procession (mini-parade) will start at around 9:35 from 2 Court St.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $25 on race day.
Pelham, Windham girls make NEs
Cassie Passamonte@text5:, a Pelham High senior, and @text5:Sarah Vignos@text5:, a freshman at Windham High, both advanced to the New England Gymnstics Championships on Saturday at Algonquin Regional High in Northborough, Mass.
Passamonte will be competing on the balance beam and Vignos on the vault and uneven bars.
Passamonte was the top all-arounder for Pelham and led her team to their best state finish in the school’s history. Vignos competed as an individual this season, due to Windham not having enough girls for a full team. She consistently placed in the top three.
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