MVC-DLC Hockey: Defections hamper Central, Andover

Prep schools have always been the bane of MIAA and NHIAA school sports programs, more so where hockey is concerned.

Now well-sponsored Junior programs are having a major impact. The latest departure involves Andover resident Paul Russell as the Eagle-Tribune All-Star forward moves on to play in a Junior B league in Worcester this winter.

"Private schools and Junior A doesn't bother me," said Golden Warrior head coach Mario Martiniello. "But Andover is better than most Junior B teams.''

"They take players and lead them to believe it's a quicker road to Junior A, but, as a coach, I know if they find a better player, that player's going to go right to Junior A. Then it's too late."

Russell, who earned a strong reputation as one of the area's most savvy passers, leaves an Andover program that had made the Division 1 North quarterfinals for three consecutive seasons.

Also moving on is Eagle-Tribune All-Star and 20-goal scorer Conor MacPhee as the junior forward shifts from Super 8 Central Catholic to Connecticut's Kent School.

All-Scholastic defenseman Mike Holland also made the move south, leaving the Raiders to bolster the backline at Hotchkiss School.

Conversely, Nick Nawrocki shifts from Lawrence Academy to Andover while sophomores Jared McAdam and Cam Conway transferred from Central to Methuen.

Merrimack Valley Conference

Andover

2008-09 season: 13-5-4, lost in Division 1 North quarterfinals; made quarterfinals for third straight year after not having made it since 1991

Returning lettermen: Derek Wakefield, Sr., goalie; Alex Patti, Sr., forward; Joe Kuta, Sr., defense; Mike Cahill, Sr., forward; Will Maye, Jr., defense; Kyle Berthiaume, Jr., goalie; Dan Colombo, Sr., forward; Alex Driscoll, Jr., forward; Chris Kucharski, Jr., forward; Luke Walker, Jr., forward; Alex King, Soph., defense; C.J. Boilard, Soph., defense

Newcomers: Matt Gibson, Sr., forward; Nick Nawrocki, Jr., defense; Matt Swett, Jr., forward; Tyler Boudrow, Jr., forward; Ryan Oteri, Soph., forward; Matt McIver, Soph. forward; Stephen Brighton, Soph. defense; David Belluche, Frosh., defense; Jim Burns, Frosh., forward

Captains: Joe Kuta, Alex Patti

Returning leaders: Kyle Berthiaume 5 shutouts

Returning honorees: Alex Patti, Joe Kuta and Kyle Berthiaume, MVC-DCL 1 All-Stars

Assistants: Scott Manzi, Steve Neal, Kevin Drew

Fast fact: Sophomore Ryan Oteri, brother of senior all-conference center Sarah, joins the Golden Warrior varsity this season.

Coach Mario Martiniello (6th year, 66-30-15): "(MVC-DCL 1 co-MVP) Riki Retelle is a big loss but we have a strong defensive core led by four-year player Joe Kuda, Nick Nawrocki, who transferred from Lawrence Academy, and a strong freshman in David Belluche. We're comfortable whether Derek Wakefield or Kyle Berthiaume is in net."

central catholic

2008-09 season: 16-2-7, made Super 8 tourney for second time in three years; one of only two teams in state to go unbeaten in regular season; MVC-DCL 1 champ

Returning lettermen: Shawn Bradley, Sr., defense; Steve Balsamo, Sr., forward; Shane Leonard, Sr., forward; Cody Jaskot, Sr., forward; Conor Murphy, Sr., defense; Mike Bryant, Sr., forward; Ryan Abraham, Sr., forward; Jonathan Daniels, Jr., forward; Josh Gallagher, Jr., defense; Nick Leonard, Jr., forward; Bobby Hawkes, Jr., defense; Nick Pelrine, Jr., forward; Ryan Wakeford, Jr., defense; Tom Evangelista, Soph., forward; Jake Donahue, Soph., forward/defense; Andrew DeDuca, Soph., goalie; Kyle Williams, Soph., goalie

Newcomers: Nick Tover, Sr., forward; Andrew Robbins, Soph., goalie; Ryan Daigle, Soph., forward; Ricky Sheehan, Soph., forward/defense; Patrick Dugan, Soph., defense; Nick Owen, Soph., defense; Mike Kelleher, Frosh., forward

Captains: Shawn Bradley, Steve Balsamo, Shane Leonard

Returning leaders: Steve Balsamo 12 goals, Nick Leonard 11 goals, Tom Evangelista 11 goals, John Daniels 6 goals

Returning honorees: Steve Balsamo, Nick Leonard and Shawn Bradley, MVC-DCL 1 All-Stars

Assistants: Kevin Cronin, Brian Cronin, Paul Cronin, Kim Brambold, Ryan Dugan (JV), Chris Cullen (JV)

Fast fact: Methuen's Evangelista clan knows goal-scoring with Tom a budding star for the Raiders, his sister Ashley the top freshman for the URI women's soccer team and their father, Tommy, a former ULowell hockey star.

Coach Mike Jankowski (9th year, 93-67-24): "We have strong forwards and great young goalies. Kyle Williams and Andrew DeDuca have an interesting competition going and they're battling it out for the starting spot. Going undefeated last year was remarkable but there were a lot of one-goal games. Hopefully, we'll be on the right side of those this year as well."

haverhill

2008-09 season: 6-13, didn't make state tourney; after four straight winning seasons have had back-to-back 6-win seasons

Returning lettermen: Brad McGovern, Sr., forward; Matt Fairburn, Sr., goalie; Ernie Lupi, Jr., forward; Jeff Roberts, Soph., forward; Jeremy Monne, Soph., forward; Jack Franklin, Soph., defense; John Rankin, Soph., defense

Newcomers: Ken Murray, Sr., defense; Alexander Emery, Sr., forward; Dan Dubois, Jr., defense; John Fitzgerald, Jr., forward; Doug Gigliotti, Jr., defense; Patrick Fitzgerald, Soph. forward; Trevor Campbell, Soph., forward

Captains: Brad McGovern, Matt Fairburn

Returning leaders: Brad McGovern 10 goals, Jeff Roberts 5 goals

Returning honorees: Brad McGovern MVC-DCL 2 All-Star

Assistants: Joe Roberts, Mike Lupi, Jim Lorendeau

Fast fact: Brothers Patrick, a sophomore, and junior John Fitzgerald are playing together for the first time for the Hillies.

Coach Spike Sprague (3rd year, 12-24-3): "We're very, very, very, very young. It's one of those years where we're loaded with sophomores (six on roster). We're not going to outscore teams 6-5, so they're going to have to play tough defensively. If the kids stay in the system, we'll stay competitive."

Methuen

2008-09 season: 5-12-3, didn't make state tourney; improved from 1-17-2 the year before

Returning lettermen: Pat Fleming, Sr., defense; Nick LeBlanc, Sr., defense; Pat Lucey, Sr., forward; Mike Lussier, Sr., forward; Devin Moore, Sr., forward; Pat O'Leary, Sr., goalie; Colin Trainor, Sr., defense; Eric Dalrymple, Sr., defense; Mike Summa, Sr., forward; Matt Charette, Jr., forward

Newcomers: Brandon McDermott, Sr., forward; Pat Lucey, Sr., forward; Eric Ardagna, Sr., defense; Josh Finley, Jr., defense; Kaspar Pasanen, Jr., forward; Casey Barnicle, Jr. forward; Cam Conway, Soph., goalie; Jared McAdam, Soph., forward; Tyler Murphy, Soph., forward; Jordan Blatti, Frosh., forward; T.J. Gannon, Frosh., forward; Matt Beauchemin, Frosh., forward;

Captains: Pat Fleming, Mike Lussier

Returning leaders: Mike Lussier 7 goals, Pat Lucey 4 goals, Eric Dalrymple 4 goals

Returning honorees: Pat Fleming MVC-DCL 2 All-Star

Assistants: John Deveau, James Peirce

Fast facts: Senior Devin Moore will miss the first four or five games due to a shoulder injury suffered in fall hockey. Junior second-line center Kaspar Pasanen moved to the area from Finland.

Coach Denny Egan (3rd year, 6-29-5): "We have three freshmen on our top two lines and it's working out well. We tried freshman Matt Beauchemin and sophomore Jared McAdam with Mike Lussier on our first line because nothing was clicking offensively and off the bat they had nice scoring opportunities."

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