Boys Hockey Suffers Defeat Against Cushing Academy
By Teddy Capozzi and Gavin Kim
On Saturday, Jan. 28, Exeter boys varsity hockey took a 0-4 loss to Cushing Academy on the road.
This season started off with two wins, but a six-game losing streak throughout November and December has held the team to a 9-10 record.
Exeter’s highly competitive schedule was on display Saturday afternoon. Cushing has been one of the strongest programs in prep hockey and this year has been no different. Upper Christian Maro reflected on the preparation for this game. “Going in, we knew it was gonna be a really tough game. You know, Cushing, they’ve been a really good program in the past and they got some good players this year.”
The team’s best games have come from strong defensive performances in spite of lacking offensive production. Despite the fatigue that travel may bring in an away game, Maro felt the team was able to come out strong. “We knew it was going to be hard because there’s a long bus ride going in, so we knew we were going to have some car legs, but we still came out in the first period and played them well.”
A favored bounce for Cushing put them ahead 1-0 going into the second period. Lower Dryden Dervish felt the turning point in the second period. “We had a couple of breakdowns in the second that they capitalized on and cost us the game.”
By the third period, Maro described feeling unsure of an Exeter victory. However, he was proud of the team’s effort to finish the game and carry some momentum into the next game. “I think we responded really well despite taking the loss. In the third period, we came back and we did our best.”
While this loss was not a strong showing for the team, players are optimistic for the final stretch of the season and the overall future of the program. Maro noted that the team has met regarding the final games and playoffs. They are particularly optimistic due to a stretch of home games. “We’ve struggled on the road this season and it’s to our benefit that we’re going to be playing at home, the last eight or nine games of the season. Hopefully we can put together a streak and get into the playoffs,” Maro said.
Similarly, Dervish has put the Cushing game behind and looks to take each game one at a time. “We’re in the push to make playoffs and we’re very focused on that. We know we have to win the majority of our games and are going to work as hard as possible to do so,” he said.
In terms of the program’s future, senior and goaltender Gabriel Marcoux remains excited for the following seasons. Having spent much time around the team, Marcoux is keen on what will lead to success and what needs to happen in the following years. “I think we have a really young team this year compared to years past. We have a lot of lowers and new uppers and not as many PGs as we usually do. So there’s going to be a little transition period.”
