Local sports roundup
Shrewsbury defeats St. John's in hockey for the first time since 1987
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Region - First football, now hockey. If the two schools play each other in baseball, that should be a game for the ages. Behind a pair of goals from Castan Sommer and clutch goaltending of Patrick Army, who made 37 saves, the Shrewsbury High hockey team defeated cross-town rival St. John's, 5-3, Jan. 5.

It was the Colonials' first win over the Pioneers in 21 years. Shrewsbury defeated St. John's in 1987 in overtime.

Shrewsbury's hockey victory over the Pioneers comes less than four months after the football team defeated its arch-rival, 27-25, for the first time in 21 years as well, the Colonials' last victory in that series between the two school coming in 1986.

Also scoring for 3-3-2 Shrewsbury were Steve Stanislawzyk, Dave Comeau and Kevin Dufault.

Scoring for 2-4-2 St. John's were Nick Yacuzzi, Thomas Krysil and Mike Columbe. In net for the Pioneers was Ben Siok, who made 21 saves. Coach invigorates

Algonquin hockey

The Algonquin Regional hockey team entered play this week at 3-5, but despite having a record under .500, the Tomahawks have already won more games than last season and there's a diff erent attitude surrounding the team this season, a quiet confidence.

That comes from Scott Ellison, the Tomahawks' first-year coach, who replaced longtime Algonquin coach Mike Roy behind the bench this season.

Ellison has stressed increased communication to his squad and feels that the chemistry the team has formed by playing together in previous years is paying dividends this season.

"We try to be positive," Ellison said. "When someone makes a mistake, don't get down on him, encourage him. That's what we tell the kids."

Ellison, who previously coached at Medway High and captained the 1984-85 University of New Hampshire hockey team, is a special education teacher at Algonquin.

The Tomahawks have defeated Worcester, Auburn and Ashland so far this season and played extremely tough against Gardner and Marlborough, two teams who entered this week undefeated.

Ellison credits the play of senior goalie Pete Kenyon for a lot of the team's success.

"Pete has given us a chance to win in every game we've played this year," Ellison said. "He's a very good goalie with good skills and mechanics."

Westborough girls

basketball starts 5-0

Led by Danielle Coffey, Annette Kristiansen and Emily and Becky Mongeau, the Westborough girls basketball team has picked up this regu- lar season where it left off last year, winning all five games it has played so far, including a recent win on the road at Holy Name, last year's CMASS champion. The Rangers were undefeated in the regular season (20-0) last year as well, their only loss in the finals against Holy Name.

The Shrewsbury girls have also started strong, streaking out to a 7-1 record, its lone loss being at the hands of the Rangers. The Colonials are led by Kelly McKenna, Taylor Lincoln, Erin Kinback and Kelsey Giedymin.

Algonquin's girls basketball team, despite a rash of early season injuries, is off to a hot start, too, having won five of its first six games. The Tomahawk are led by Christine Otey, Sam Friday, Theresa Logan and Liz Conti.

The Hudson girls have started the season 5-3, while Assabet Valley is off to a 4-2 start, and Hudson Catholic enters play this week 3-2.

St. John's,

Marlborough pace area boys basketball

teams

The St. John's boys basketball team enters play this week 6-1, while Marlborough is 5-1 after its first half-dozen contests. Hudson Catholic is 4-2, Hudson is 4-3, Assabet Valley 3-2, Shrewsbury 4-4, Westborough 3-3 and Algonquin 3-4.