Boys’ Hockey Demolishes Choate

The boys’ varsity hockey team won all three of its games this past week. On Wednesday Feb. 8, it played Proctor Academy in an away game, and on Saturday and Sunday it played Hebron Academy and then Choate Rosemary Hall at home. The team triumphed over Proctor 7-5, its closest game of the week. Big Red dominated in the other two games, beating Hebron Academy with a score of 4-1, and Choate Rosemary Hall 7-1.

Senior and co-captain Graham Rutledge said that the game against Proctor Academy was a successful win. “They were a strong team and I’m very proud of our boys being able to battle back from a 4-2 deficit,” he said.

Part of this win was attributed to senior and co-captain Bradley Ingersoll, who scored two goals in the game on Wednesday. Senior Paul MacDonald and uppers Sam Stone, Bobby Murray and Kyle Jadatz also scored against Hebron.

Rutledge reflected on the Choate game, saying, “Choate wasn’t actually a very strong team so we went into that game very confidently.” Rutledge praised Murray for a “great game with 4 goals.” Other team members echoed this sentiment. Lower Michael Pitts said, “Bobby stole the show.”

Senior co-captain Matthew McShea also celebrated upper Cam Speck, saying, “He had an amazing weekend, leading the team with the game-winning goal against Choate.” The other two goals in the game were scored by Stone and lower Paddy Bogart, who scored on a quick-release shot.

Murray said the he knew the game against Choate was going to be tough without postgraduate Tim Kalinowski, who injured his back and Sam Stone, who got a shoulder injury in the first period. However, according to Murray, senior Ryan Moore “really came to play.” Murray said, “From the bench, Moore was a real vocal leader for the forwards and helped carry us to victory against a solid Choate team. When he did finally get on the ice, his play was definitely noticeable.”

Another player who Murray said helped the team was postgraduate Pat Schena, who Murray describes as “a quiet leader on the ice.” Murray said that although Schena did not score a goal, “his presence was definitely felt by Choate, who seemed to be intimidated by his size and strength.”

McShea thought the best play of the week was “a great back-checking effort by [senior] Greg Shapiro. It’s the little things like that that win games.” Reflecting on the team’s week, McShea said, “These games taught us to work together!”

This week the team is looking to increase their record to 22 wins and 5 losses with a home game against Northfield Mount Hermon School and an away game against Deerfield Academy.

Lower Garrett Foster said that it is, “a big week,” as the team cannot lose any more games if they want to make it to the Elite Eight. “Our backs are up against the wall, but I think that the boys are up for the challenge.” If the team is able to win the rest of its four games, it will clinch a spot in the playoffs. After dismal playoff performaces in the past years, the boys have their hearts set on winning it all.