NORTH ANDOVER – On the first day of tryouts, Zack Steely wanted to make a good impression with his new hockey coach, Ben Murphy.
Except the North Andover High senior didn’t leave much time to make one.
“I dislocated my shoulder,” he said. “I ran into the boards doing a normal drill, and my shoulder popped out.”
He was able to “pop” his shoulder back in, but the injury forced Steely to miss the rest of the tryout session and sit out for a few weeks.
“I did a lot of physical therapy,” he said. “I was out for about three-and-a-half weeks. I missed two preseason scrimmages and then our first two games this season. It’s been so good to be back.”
And since he’s returned to the lineup, all he’s done is score goals.
In Saturday’s 5-4 win over Algonquin Regional in the first round of the second annual Jersey Mike’s Holiday tournament, Steely found the back of the net twice.
The following night, in the championship game against Methuen, he started the team’s dramatic comeback, scoring the first goal to cut the deficit to 2-1.
“(Aiden) Schwartz and (Matthew) Donovan were strong on the forecheck. I was the third forward in, so I was high in the slot. I was screaming to Schwartz, ‘here, here, here’ to pass it up, and I got and shot it underneath the (crossbar),” explained Steely.
Then, after the two teams were deadlocked at 3-3, which included a scoreless five-minute 4-on-4 overtime period, it was Steely who went first in the shootout and buried a wrist shot to the far-right corner, which, for all intents and purposes, was the game-winner.
“I missed two breakaways during the game, so I gave up on the move and decided to shoot it, and it worked out,” he said.
His four goals (if you count the shootout) already matches last year’s totals, as he finished with four goals and 13 assists.
It may have come a few weeks later, but it’s safe to say that Steely has made quite an impression with his new coach.
“We were missing Zack in the early part of the year, and it’s taken him a few days to get his feet underneath him, and he’s been great as a leader for the team and us,” said Murphy. “He’s been getting on the scoreboard and been very productive offensively, but the best part of his game is that he plays 200 feet. That’s what I want out of everybody. When your leaders and your upperclassmen are doing it the right way, it’s a lot easier for guys to follow that lead by example.”
“Zack has a great stick and is poised and confident with the puck,” continued the coach. “I’m going to continue to get on him because he has an excellent shot, and I want him to shoot more. He has a plan with the puck whenever he skates up the ice, and it’s exciting to watch. As he continues to go, we go (as a team).”
Steely said that before his pre-season injury happened, he knew coming into this season that he would be more of an offensive threat.
“Last year, I was more of a playmaker,” he said. “I know I need to step up and be more of a goal scorer. So far, I have done that, and it’s good to see.”