Published December 18, 2019
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — Last winter, the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team lost in the first round of the Division 2 North state tournament to Tewksbury 2-1 in overtime. Tewksbury ended up winning the North as they lost to Canton in the state final while the Pioneers ended up at 11-6-4.
Ten players from that team graduated, including Cape Ann League All-League players George DeRoche and Jaret Simpson, but eighth-year head coach Jon Gardner did return 12 players when training camp opened on Dec. 2.
Four of the veterans back are this year’s captains, Dan Mack (defenseman), John Simonetti (center) and Ronnie Fuccillo (center). Simonetti is the lone returner who made the Cape Ann League All-Star team last year and he is also the team’s top returning scorer with 25 points as he had eight goals and 17 assists.
Fellow 12th-grader Sam Pifko is an assistant captain and he is a left winger.
The other five seniors back this season are Sean Robbins (right wing), Rob Tashjian (left wing), Jack LaCoste (defenseman), Jackson Hammersley (forward), and Anthony Magwood (goalie).
Two new seniors on the squad are Colin Dennison (center) and Christian Maney (defenseman).
The three juniors back are Alex Buonopane (right wing), Cole Trainor (left wing) and Jake DeBenedictis (goalie).
Although training camp started later this year due to a late Thanksgiving Day, the Pioneers were able to squeeze in four scrimmages against Danvers, Winchester, Norwood and Gloucester.
“The kids played better every scrimmage,” said Gardner. “It was tougher this year with the late start.”
Last Saturday afternoon, the Pioneers opened the 2019-2020 campaign with a 2-2 tie against visiting Triton at McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
After a scoreless first period, the Vikings scored the lone goal in the second period.
Simonetti tied it, unassisted, 3:25 into the third period and Tashjian gave the locals the lead with 3:06 left assisted by Robbins.
However, the Vikings tied it with the extra skater 1:14 left.
“I was happy to get away with the point,” said Gardner. “Although, I was not happy to give up that goal late.”
Triton outshot the Pioneers on net 31-18 as DeBenedictis made 29 saves.
The next two games will also be at home for Lynnfield. On Dec. 18, they welcome Masconomet at 8:15 p.m. and then, on Dec. 21, they host Hamilton-Wenham at noon.
