THE NORTH READING based East Coast Hipuhpotomi Hockey team came into the Spring Valley League tournament as underdogs and finished as champions on June 23 with a 3-1 win over Dirty Water Valley. (Eric Evans Photo)
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
NORTH READING — One of the only people on hand June 23 at the Spring Valley League Championship game not fully enjoying herself was the public address announcer, who struggled mightily to pronounce Hipuhpotomi each time one of the players scored a goal.
The East Coast Hipuhpotomi, an ice hockey team predominately made up of North Reading skaters, claimed the title by defeating Dirty Water Valley, 3-1, and proudly skated off the Valley Forum ice surface clutching championship medals. The Hipuhpotomi wrapped up the season at 6-4-2 overall.
Their Coach, Rick “Digger” DeGregorio was understandably pleased to add yet another title to an awe-inspiring resume that spans back to a time when his sons Alec and Nolan were fledgling youth athletes. It was also an emotional win for DeGregorio because it marked his last.
“I started coaching my oldest son Alec in baseball back in 2006,” said DeGregorio, who is a graduate of Austin Prep and Merrimack College and works in real estate. “Over the years, I’ve coached a few things for my daughter Faith – softball and lacrosse – I’ve coached my youngest son Nolan, who is here today, from the start thirteen years ago. Now that I’m retiring I’ll need to find a new hobby.”
“We love Digger because he’s truly in it for the kids,” said North Reading’s Nick Sfikas, whose son Theo skates for Phillips Academy in Andover. “He has coached my son since he was a five-year-old and I can safely say he is the winningest coach in North Reading. He has won championships over and over and has never left a kid out.”
Recent graduate Nolan DeGregorio, who helped the North Reading Hornets to a successful winter hockey season, scored the game-winning goal in Sunday’s title game. His father remarked that it was Nolan’s first of the spring season but obviously the most impactful.
“Ryan Stringer had a couple of players pinned on the boards so we had an advantage and I was able to pull it out,” said Nolan, who will attend Colorado State University in the fall. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to pick a corner so I ripped it as hard as I could along the ice going for five-hole. This was a great win because we had a lot of kids playing in their last spring league game. We were glad to finish like this.”
The 16-player roster features 10 players from the North Reading varsity squad including Corbin Day, Tyler Morello, Luke Baker, Michael Pittore, Duncan Gulino, Jack Lazure, and Tom Gazda. Max Forristall leads the defense and snared a game-tying goal early in the second period while Charlie Cooper handled netminding duties for two frames. Goaltender Ryan Losolfo, who hails from Salem, stonewalled Dirty Water in the third, turning aside a half-dozen bids. Ryan Stringer, who skates for Northeast Metro Tech, Ava Baker, representing Malden Catholic and brothers Rowan and Andrew Dunbar, who attend St. John’s Prep, round out the Hipuhpotomi. Andrew scored an empty-netter in the final minute to seal the championship.
The Dunbar brothers, according to Coach DeGregorio, didn’t play hockey for St. John’s Prep over the winter but both decided to lace them up for the spring season under his guidance. The loyalty players have had for Coach DeGregorio is unmatched. Year after year, they’ve returned to his programs and have benefited from his teachings, leadership, and the ability to deliver a great product on the ice while making it an enjoyable experience for all.
“We love the sport,” said Tom Gazda, who never found it a chore reaching hockey practices after varsity baseball practice. “And Digger is the man. He’s been with us since we were very young. He’s the winningest coach in North Reading and we all love him for it.”
“This team, and the fact that most of them have played together since they were five is the real story,” said DeGregorio. “Just a bunch of kids that grew up on the ice together and love the game. All great kids. All great parents.”
