Hi Rocco, your Haverhill Hillies are off to a terrific start. What’s been the secret behind the team’s success?
I think our success comes from our coaching staff. We have many new coaches this year, and I feel they have helped us develop into a great team. Also, I think our chemistry is very good, since most of us have played together since we were little.
Last year, you didn’t see much playing time, and now you’re on the first forward line and producing. What do you attribute that to?
A major part of my work is what I did over the summer. I made sure to train and get as much ice time as I could to improve my game, and it has paid off. I also always believe in myself that I could be impactful when I got my shot to play.
One of your teammates, Matt Costa, has been an elite goal scorer for the last few years. You play alongside him, and have 11 assists. What makes him so special, and have you learned anything from him?
Matt is an awesome player. I love watching him play and playing on a line with him. He just makes everything look very easy. I’ve known Matt since I was very little, and he’s always been a very good player. Whenever he gives me advice, I try to insert it into my game.
Coach tells me that you and your family are diehard Boston Red Sox fans, and you went to Fan Fest. Tell us about your family, their love for the Sox, and Fan Fest.
I’ve loved the Red Sox since I was a little kid. My dad, who has always been a sports fan, really influenced me to become a Red Sox fan. We go to many Red Sox events, like Fenway fest, and to many games, as it’s a hobby for my dad and me.”
In terms of academics, who would you say is your best teacher, and why?
My best teachers are Mr. (Jeff) Molesso and Mrs. (Erin) Burrows. Math is a struggle for me, and having them as math teachers really helps me out and makes math a fun class.
Breakouts
Mikey Likes it: Pinkerton Academy is off to a strong 6-1 record in New Hampshire league play. Lately, Mikey McGaffigan, a senior forward and three-year varsity member, has emerged as a reliable presence.
“His story typifies perseverance, as he battled injuries as an underclassman,” said head coach Jonathan Chabot. “He’s a consistently hardworking and positive member of our community. He’s a role model for our current underclassmen on balancing intensity, composure, and focus. We’re lucky to have him on our squad.”
Lucky nine for Kramer: Windham has a 4-2 record, and junior Sam Kramer has been a point machine in those six games, with 9 goals and 4 assists.
“In our last three games, he’s had two game-winning goals,” said head coach Shawn Quaglietta.
Kramer and the Jaguars face some tough challenges ahead, including games against Salem, Pinkerton Academy, and a red-hot Hanover team.
Putting the blocker away: Last year, as a freshman, Central Catholic’s Robbie Demederios alternated between being a goalie and a forward. This year, he put the goalie equipment away, and last Monday, it paid off as the sophomore netted his first varsity goal in the team’s loss to Xaverian.
“Robbie is a very hard-working forward who uses his body well around the ice. He has a great understanding of the defensive zone and his defensive responsibilities as a forward,” said head coach DJ Conte.
Thus far, Demederios, “who is a very good goalie, said Conte, has one goal and four assists.
Keeping up the pace: Over the previous two seasons, Methuen High senior captain Will McLaren combined to score 45 points. He has continued that trend, leading the team with 7 goals and 6 assists. He scored two goals in last week’s big win over league rival Haverhill.
Donovan is turning a big corner: North Andover continues to improve, and a big part of that is senior assistant captain Matt Donovan.
“He has really begun to step up and show some strong leadership skills both on the ice and in the locker room,” said head coach Ben Murphy. “He has scored some big goals for us in crucial moments this season, including a two-goal outburst on New Year’s Eve and the go-ahead goal late in the first period last Saturday against Beverly. We have really relied on his consistency and competitiveness to help us through some of the early season growing pains. The group follows our leaders, and Matt has been a great example for us this season.”
A short-handed pest: At the midway point of the season, Whittier Tech sophomore Grady Stickney has emerged as the team’s offensive leader, sitting atop the scoring chart with 31 points, fueled by 20 goals and 11 assists. According to coach Steve Costa, Stickney’s impact has been felt in all situations, but nowhere more dramatically than on the penalty kill. His seven short-handed goals have been a game-changing weapon, turning defensive stands into instant offense and shifting momentum in key moments.
Giving Back to the Community: On January 10, the Haverhill High boys’ hockey team volunteered to help out at the Common Ground Café in Haverhill.
“We donated our time at a local food shelter to help other people. The food was donated to the Food Pantry by others, and we helped bag it and hand it out to the people,” said head coach Adam Hurrell. “We also helped them carry it, too, if they needed help. It was a humble experience, and the kids were very helpful. It was such a good experience that we signed up to do it again on February 14.”