By John Orrell, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Every high school athlete that competes at the varsity level enters their given sport with the highest aspirations that include a state championship somewhere in the midst of four years’ time. Often it’s a waiting game as that perfect blend of talent and chemistry develop into a winning formula.
For Shrewsbury High School (SHS) multi-sport athlete Matt Ward, it wasn’t like that at all.
Ward, who excels at ice hockey and lacrosse, was one of those fortunate and rare examples of success coming right out of the gate. As a freshman, he was part of the Colonials 2014 District 3 state championship team seeing ice time at Boston’s TD Garden. Freshmen in any varsity sport, particularly on a team already laden with top to bottom roster talent, are rare and infrequent occurrences, but with Ward coaches saw an abundance of promise that earned him a slot as a third-line forward on the team that would go on to record an historical season.
“It was pretty incredible just coming into high school and joining such an amazing team right away,” Ward acknowledged. “It was a great way to start off my high school career. I’m hoping that myself and the other seniors can finish our careers the way they started because it’s just such an amazing feeling.”
That feeling would be fleeting as Ward and teammates would go on to experience disappointing playoff losses in the next two seasons. In 2015, the Colonials suffered a humbling loss to North Middlesex in the district title game and last year, despite a regular season record of 18-2-1, fell to Algonquin Regional High School in an OT shootout in the district semifinals that stunned players, coaches and team supporters. Such an experience will not occur again, vowed Ward and teammates, whose 11-0 record goes a long way to back up such a prediction.
“We’re extremely motivated,” said Ward. “We’re looking to do whatever it takes to win a championship. We know how it feels from both aspects of it. We were on the winning side my first year and have been on the losing side the past two years. The difference between those feelings is huge. You go from being on top of the world to extreme sadness with all your teammates. As a captain, we want to take the extra step to make sure we’re ready for the season and it’s been paying off.”
Ward has had a multitude of positive influences along the way including his dad, Art, who competed in ice hockey at St. John’s High School. Former teammates Jack and Dan Quinlivan are atop that list for their guidance into the world of varsity hockey as is head coach Steve Turnblom. On the lacrosse side, Ward cannot say enough positives about SHS coaches Nate Skermont and Tim Casey and the feelings are clearly reciprocal.
“Matt has the perfect personality to be a leader,” said Skermont. “Great sense of humor to joke around with the guys when the time calls for it but then when it’s time to flip the switch he becomes as focused and intense as a player can be. He takes his matchup with a defender personally and practices as hard as he plays in games.
“He goes out and acts like a well-mannered level headed gentleman. He is respected by his peers, adults, and younger children. I’ve had the chance to coach him in the summer for two years on a club team and he’s a guy players from other schools flock to because of his personality.”
“He’s one of the best captains I’ve ever coached,” said Turnblom. “He has a never-say-die attitude. If you’re down in the game or tied, he’s the guy you want on the ice. He’s a warrior. He’s just one of those kids that can get it done. He gives everything he has and more. The kids all respect him which is important.”
As a senior, Ward can now look back at great accomplishments, including being named Quinn Conference All-Star and Central Mass All Star in hockey as well as Mid-Wachusett A first team All-Star in lacrosse, all of which occurred in his sophomore and junior years. He is currently atop the scoring leaders in the Quinn Conference.
His most shining moment was a milestone, when he reached the 100-point mark in a Jan. 18 contest versus Marlborough. The much-coveted century mark has been achieved by just 11 SHS skaters before him. But as rewarding as that individual achievement was, he admitted he would trade it in a heartbeat for the ultimate – a state championship.
“I always knew that I wanted to achieve that goal,” said the 5’8”, 180-pound left wing. “It really felt great because I knew that going into the season I had a good chance of getting it so it felt good when I did. I’m just really thankful to all the teammates I’ve played with that helped me get there and my coaches and all their support and all they’ve taught me and helped me reach that point.
“But I don’t play for personal accomplishments. I play to get an opportunity to win a state championship with my teammates. A state championship is something special I’d be able to share with my 24 teammates and coaches forever. It’s been our goal every year since I was a freshman.”
Despite his admittedly diminutive stature, Ward is clearly a regular in the weight room and uses the strength he has acquired to make things happen on the ice and on the lacrosse field.
“I like to grind in the corners. I like to win battles and I use my body despite the fact I’m not the tallest kid in the world. I like to lower my shoulder and get in there. I definitely like to throw my weight around out there. It’s just my style of play. I’ve always been kind of a gritty player. I‘ve never been the most skilled player, but I’ve tried to work hard and win puck battles and work on passing.”
Ward has committed to attend St. Anselm College after graduation where he will compete in Division 2 lacrosse and major in marketing. Choosing between hockey and lacrosse was not easy but in the end was a decision he feels good about. In the meantime, he and teammates will take their hockey and lacrosse teams as far as possible and then take time to reflect on his standout Shrewsbury High career.
“Ever since I started playing sports I always figured that if you’re going to do it you should do it 100 percent. There’s no point in doing it if you’re not going to work your hardest at it. Every time I touch the ice I like to play with a lot of heart and like to leave it all out there because I don’t want to have any regrets when I look back on my high school career.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for my time at Shrewsbury High. It’s so cool to not only play for your high school but to play for your town and your community, your family and your friends. You’re playing for something bigger than yourself. You always have to remember that when you’re on the ice.”
Photos/Jeff Slovin