By John Orrell, Contributing Writer
Marlborough/Hudson – Perhaps no team more than the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School boys’ varsity ice hockey program can appreciate the ups and downs, the best of times and not-so best of times that often come along with sports.
The Aztec skaters endured what they will admit were a pair of forgettable back-to-back winless seasons (2012-2013, 2013-2014) that tested the mettle of the team and its supporters. It wasn’t that the effort was lacking, according to team coaches; the culture of winning just wasn’t there.
But all that is in the distant past as the team has broken from the gate with its best start in memory following a brilliant 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Oakmont Regional High School Jan. 11 at New England Sports Center. The win upped the team’s record to 5-2 in the always-tough Russell Conference with the midpoint of the season fast approaching.
“We have eight seniors that went through some tough times in their freshman and sophomore years,” said assistant coach Steve Motuzas. “They’ve all turned into great leaders helping out a lot of the younger kids. Their leadership and their hard work over the years are really paying off.
“The players’ motto here is team first. We have no individual players out there, just a group of kids who stay together and stay disciplined. That’s important for us. They’re staying out of the [penalty] box and that’s been big.”
“This season so far has been really huge for us,” said senior co-captain and goalie Chris Lazaros who knocked down 23 saves in the Oakmont contest. “It’s been a really rough three years for us. We would take our lumps but this year it finally feels like we’re giving it back. It’s really exciting. We’re all like a big, huge family. There are no words for it, really.”
“This team has really come together,” added fellow senior co-captain Zach Magarian. “We all hustle for each other and we’re all about the team. I like that a lot.”
Nick Benway opened the matchup with Oakmont with a first-period goal just three minutes in. Benway pounced on a rebound from a Dylan Sawyer shot on goal and swatted it home for the 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans would answer back in just 19 seconds with their first of three goals that would put them up a by a pair forcing Assabet to play catch-up for the remainder of the contest. The Aztecs proved their newfound resilient character, chipping away at the lead. Magarian scored the second team goal with an assist from Payton Brier before Zach Nelson tallied the equalizer unassisted before the second period closed.
There would be but one goal in the third period and it came off the stick of Adam Melidio halfway through. The senior forward sliced through defenders after reeling in a pass from Brier and slipped home what would ultimately be the decisive score sealing the Assabet victory.
“I just kind of saw the lane and I took it and then I caught up to the defender and got inside on him,” explained Melidio of his game-clincher. “I got the puck and just shot. We were just trying to get pucks to the net and see what happens. It felt great.”
With games versus a number of evenly matched opponents on the upcoming schedule, the team will need to stay focused and turn the newfound confidence into results on the ice. Such a task will not be hard to do, according to senior co-captain Ernie Jones, whose towering presence is unmistakable.
“We all come together at practice. We all like each other,” Jones said. “Our first couple of years were hard coming to the rink every day and taking those lumps but now we’re putting wins together. It makes it a lot more fun to come to the rink. It’s a great feeling.
“We all have a common goal. Every game we want to get two points with the playoffs as an ultimate goal. If everyone has that same goal, it makes it pretty easy to get along.”
Members of the 2015-2016 Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School varsity ice hockey team are seniors Zach Magarian (defense), Richard Delaney (defense), Ryan Pantridge (forward), Dmitry McQuiggan (forward), Adam Melidio (forward), Ernie Jones (forward, defense), Ian MacCarthy (goaltender) and Christopher Lazaros (goaltender) along with juniors Nick Benway (forward), Cam Benway (forward) and Zach Nelson (defense).
Sophomores on the team include Ethan King (defense), Payton Brier (forward) and Samantha Dahill (goaltender) along with promising freshmen Dylan Sawyer (forward), Sean Delaney (forward), Joe Lafollette (forward), Alex McConnell (defense), Jared Garcia (forward), Ben Denaro (forward), and Connor Rodrigues (forward).
The team is led by head coach Dave Quinn who is assisted by Steve Motuzas, Phil Lacroix, Peter Collins and Pat Sharon.
Photos/Matt Dwyer