by Anna Raboin
Features Editor
Winter 2010-2011 brings hockey back to Westford Academy.
It’s hard to deny that hockey is a favorite of many students. The games are crazy; chants, ice, blades, and insane fans always make the atmosphere explosive and overwhelming.
Tryouts for the boys’ varsity team took place November 29th, 30th, and December 1st this year. Coach Bob Carpenter and assistant coaches Mark Kaplan and Doug Rogers had the hard job of picking out the best of the best players from WA to form this season’s team.
Both rookie and recurring players attended tryouts.
Freshmen Cam MacDonald and Jay Drapeau were accepted onto the team.
Among the returning players, seniors Steve Burgoyne and Ryan Sullivan were made a captain, along with junior Pat Houghton.
The team’s first game happened on Wednesday the 15th. Westford Academy played against Masconomet Regional High School at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro, and tied 2 – 2.
The first period started with two 1-minute penalties against Westford. The Ghosts’ goalie, Steve Burgoyne, prevented at least 6 shots taken by Masconomet. But at about halfway through the period, Masconomet scored. Westford responded with a goal only seconds after, made by Justin Pawlowski, with the help of Matt Brett and Pat Flanagan. The period ended with the score at 1 – 1.
The second period resulted in no scoring, but was exciting nonetheless. Both Westford players MacDonald and Drapeau were working to score a goal, but Masconomet interfered and both freshmenh slid into the net. Powerful slapshots were made by both juniors Matt Brett and Houghton. Junior Cam Tetrault fell and hesitated getting up for a few seconds, but eventually walked off the ice. He came back strong in the third period.
The third period opened with a goal scored 17 seconds in by Westford’s Jake Mercier, with the help of passes by senior Ryan Sullivan and Ian Speliotis, putting Westford in the lead 2 -1. Burgoyne continued to impress with many quick saves. The majority of the period was frantic; many close attempts at goals on both sides kept the spectators cheering and on the edge of their seats. With only 33 seconds left, Masconomet scored tying the game 2 – 2.
After the game, Coach Carpenter said he was proud of the team’s game and was happy with the result. He said that Masconomet High is a tough team, and that Westford stayed strong.