Published in the March 22, 2018 edition

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

NORTH READING — Sammie Mirasolo, a NRHS sophomore, was recently voted the Northeastern Hockey League’s girls’ hockey Player of the Year. She is the first player in the history of Peabody’s program to be named MVP.

The Peabody/North Reading/Lynnfield girls’ co-op hockey team had a great season, finishing 11-8-2 and making it to the Div. 1 tournament where they fell to St. Mary’s, 2-0, in the preliminary round.

Mirasolo also set a new precedent for the program by setting a new single season scoring record. Mirasolo finished the season with 26 goals and 15 assists for 41 points.

SAMMIE MIRASOLO had plenty of chances to celebrate this season as she set a new Peabody single season scoring record with 26 goals and 15 assists this year. A North Reading resident, Mirasolo is a student at NRHS, and along with the help of other Hornets like her sister Cassie, helped lead the Peabody/North Reading/Lynnfield co-op girls’ hockey team to an 11-8-2 overall record and a spot in the Div. 1 tournament. (Mark Grant File Photo)

The Hornets, including Mirasolo’s sister and team captain Cassie, a senior at NRHS, and juniors Charlotte Grant and Jessica Robert, sophomore Jeny Collins and freshman Paige Thibedeau, really helped the Tanners establish themselves as a force this season.

“They played a really good brand of hockey,” said NRHS Athletic Director David Johnson. “They were a successful team who competed really well.”

According to Johnson, the Mirasolos have been catalysts for that success as well as interest and support from the community.

“That program really got kickstarted when Sammie came in,” said Johnson. “The enthusiasm and success of Cassie and Sammie really got the town talking about the co-op girls’ hockey team.”

It was the coaches who voted Sammie Mirasolo the MVP of the Northeastern Hockey League. As if they really had a choice. She was fifth in all of Division 1 with those 41 points, and first in her league, 10 points higher than the second leading scorer, Masco’s Abby Gendron (31).

“She has the passion and spirit for the game and she is clearly well-liked at the high school and well-thought of by her teachers,” said Johnson.

Overall, it was certainly a banner year for a student-athlete who is very important to the NRHS community.