Published in the February 28, 2018 edition
THE LYNNFIELD Middle School seventh graders are hockey champs for the third consecutive season. Pictured in the front row from left to right: goalie, Dan McSweeney, Ryan Hooper, Larry Graffeo, Dominic Micelli, Drew Damiani, Nolan Drislane and Ben Sieve. Middle row left to right: Lucas Cook, Nick Heaslip and Vincent Benvenuto. Standing left to right: Will Van Sicklin, Nick Lucich, Nate Alves, Jake Guertin and Brendan Powers. Missing from photo: Jake Calvani. Coaches not pictured: Sean Powers, Darren Damiani, Jonathan Cook, Greg Alves, and Mark Guertin. (Courtesy Photo)
ANDOVER — The Lynnfield seventh grade middle school hockey team captured their third consecutive middle school title on Saturday night. The Pioneers defeated Newburyport 4-0 at Phillips Andover.
Lucas Cook got the scoring started in the first. He fired a low, hard shot from the point that deflected off a Newburyport skate and into the back of the net to give the Pioneers the early lead.
Minutes later, Lynnfield added to their lead as Drew Damiani made a nifty move along the boards to get around a couple of defenders and then fired a shot blocker side to beat the Newburyport goalie to make it 2-0.
Nick Heaslip then made it 3-0 in the second period as he made a strong end-to-end rush and finished with a laser of a shot through the goalie’s legs.
In the third, Nick Lucich ended all hopes of a Newburyport comeback as he roofed a shot over the goalie to secure the game for the Pioneers 4-0. Dan McSweeney earned the shutout for the Pioneers in net.
Head coach Sean Powers credits the team’s victory to the constant fore-checking and back-checking that the forwards displayed all game.
“They never let Newburyport get any rhythm offensively,” said Powers. “This is the third middle school title that this crew of players has won since they started playing middle school hockey in fifth grade and that is how they won all three title games. They are a fun group of kids to coach.”
