The Increasing Problem in U.S. College Hockey

Patrick Tabb of the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, MA called my attention to a recent article in the New York Times, "College Hockey Has a Talent Glut, but Nowhere to Grow" by Gary Santaniello, March 23, 2017. It is time to lay the problem on the table in regard to college hockey. According to USA Hockey the number of players in the United States has increased by a whopping 24% over the past 15 years, to about 543,000 players! Yet NCAA Research has indicated that there are only 4,102 participants in Men's College Hockey. Whereas other major sports have grown, what this shows is that colleges are not offering enough opportunities for the fast growing sport of hockey in the United States.  Santaniello likened it to musical chairs, where the number of players have increased, but the chairs have not. This is a MAJOR problem in college sports. There is high demand, but not opportunity.

 Not Enough "Chairs" in College Hockey

What makes the problem even greater is that players from Canada and Europe flock to the United States to play college hockey. The recent NHL Draft was interesting and great to watch, but one should ask...Why so many players from Europe in the NHL Draft?  Oh, there are some great young players in Europe, but nobody can tell me that they are that much better than those from North America who deserve a chance to play in the NHL.

 

The net result of all this is shattered dreams. Shattered dreams since those young players who are good enough and deserve to play college hockey in the United States are NOT getting the opportunity to do so...not enough "chairs". The way the current system works is that there are the real outstanding players, the super stars, who are noticed and scouted from a very early age. Then there are the thousands of very good young hockey players who, it seems, are left to chance to get an opportunity to play college hockey with not enough teams or open roster spots to do so. It is like a roulette wheel for these players and their families, and we are talking about very good players here. Junior Hockey is big in the United States and Canada, and they seem to keep re-organizing themselves for greater opportunity and positioning. Yet the end result of the problem is still the same...not enough "chairs" to play college hockey.  

 

It is time for the NCAA and for colleges to wake up to the reality of HOCKEY in the United States. It is an extremely popular sport, with some very good athletes waiting at the door. But when the music stops, there are no "chairs"...only shattered dreams. Fix it!

 

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

Sports News

Springfield / Chicopee MA 

POPE FRANCIS BASEBALL THROWS OUT CANCER !

Throws Out Cancer !

The Pope Francis Baseball Team sponsored a "Throw Out Cancer" youth baseball clinic at Forest Park in Springfield, MA on Saturday, May 6. It was open to participants from ages 9-14 and turned out quite successful!  They were able to raise nearly $2,000, quite a significant amount for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

 

Website for St. Jude:   https://www.stjude.org/about-st-jude/unique-operating-model.html?sc_icid=us-mm-model

 

St. Jude's treats and works to defeat childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases of children. The majority of the funding is from donors. Amazingly they do this without charging the parents / caretakers for the care and treatment, which is a MAJOR relief from the burden of cost for all those involved...the concentration is on the child's treatment and well being.

 

Really a GREAT hospital.

 

GOOD JOB POPE FRANCIS BASEBALL ! 

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

Olympia - Summer A Hockey League - Team Roster

Olympia Ice Center
Summer A Hockey League
One of Best in Nation

Team: Adolfo's / Carter - McLeod

(Team Organizers: Dominic Blad / Matt Foley)

Keith Petruzzelli

#1 NHL Draft Pick ?

Matt Foley: Bloomington Thunder USHL, Yale University, completed his freshman year with significant playing time at Yale, will return as a sophmore

Dominic Blad: South Kent Prep Selects Academy, Islanders Hockey Club USPHL Premier, UMass Boston, will return as a sophomore

Anthony Blad: Springfield Pics, will graduate high school, looking at a year of Junior play, possibly in the new highly touted National Collegiate Development Conference

Peter Crinella: Entered Holy Cross as a rare true freshman, will return for his junior year

DJ Petruzzelli:  Nanaimo Clippers BCHL, will start his freshman year at Quinnipiac University

Mickey Foley: Springfield Pics, Skidmore College, will enter his senior year, good career

Artie Potter: Springfield Pics, UMass Amherst Club, will enter his junior year at UMass Amherst

Jack Williams: Vallery Jr. Warriors, will enter his junior year at Franklin Pierce University

Sean Kavanagh: Springfield Pics, Tufts University, just completed his senior year after a distinguished career at Tufts

Chris Stearns: Played 2 years at Western New England University

Jake Ryczek: Waterloo Blackhawks USHL, Drafted by the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, will enter his freshman year at Providence College

Johnny Leonard: Green Bay Gamblers USHL, will enter his freshman year at UMass Amherst

Keith Petruzzelli: South Kent Prep Selects Academy, Muskegon Lumberjacks USHL, will enter as a freshman at Quinnipiac University with his brother DJ. NHL News and the New England Hockey Journal rated him a #1 NHL pick for goaltender.

Image News Service will give roster information on teams, one by one, as they come in. Games start on Thursday, May 18 at the Olympia Ice Center, 125 Capital Drive, West Springfield, MA 01089.

* Note: 11 of the above played hockey for Cathedral High School, Springfield, MA

Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service

Olympia Summer A Hockey League Ready To Launch !

The Olympia Ice Center's Summer A League is ready to launch their regular season on May 18 in West Springfield, MA. This is one of the best off season leagues in the nation with many current, past, and future stars that include professional, college, prep, high level Junior, as well as some of the best up and coming players in Western Mass (and elsewhere). Last year, although there were some close games, Milano's won it all with a 14-0-0 record.

 

Milano's had a very strong roster that included league leading point getter, Frank Vatrano of the Boston Bruins; Tyler Kelleher UNH who burned up Hockey East this past year as one of the nations leading scorers and a Hobey Baker candidate; Barry Almeida, a 2 time National Champion with Boston College now playing professional hockey in Europe; and several other notable players.

Other exciting recent news across the Summer A League was defensive sensation Jake Ryczek getting drafted by the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, he is on his way to play for Providence College; and goaltender Keith Petruzzelli who was featured in NHL News as rated #1 for North American goalies. He was also picked as the #1 NHL Draft Prospect in the April 2017 issue of the New England Hockey Journal. Keith is on his way to play for Quinnipiac.

 

Dominic Blad (UMass Boston) and Matt Foley (Yale) are busy putting together their roster under a new sponsor that will be announced shortly. To make it more informative for local and visiting fans, as well as scouts, Image News Service will attempt to:

 

* Provide a roster list of each team and dig out as much as we can find about each player for your information.

 

* A weekly schedule so that you can see weekly match ups and game times. Games are played on Thursday night starting on May 18 at the Olympia Ice Center, 125 Capital Drive, West Springfield, MA 01089.

 

If you love hockey, plan on attending these games...lots of our local stars...and some of the best off season hockey in the nation. Plan ahead, don't miss these games !

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

Tyler Kelleher to Play Professional AHL Hockey

Longmeadow, MA native Tyler Kelleher after a great college career at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) has signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. The Admirals are affiliated with the NHL Nashville Predators Hockey Team. Kelleher had a sensational senior year at UNH with 63 points in 40 games, including 24 goals and 39 assists, with a +7 rating. All of this in the very tough Hockey East Conference. This ties him with Zach Aston-Reese from Northeastern as the Division I college hockey scoring leader in the nation. That is pretty amazing. Tyler is a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award as the best college hockey player in the country.

#16 Tyler Kelleher UNH

Finds the Open Spot

Game vs. UMass Amherst

Photo by Alfredo

Tyler is 5' 6" , 165 lbs. Some say that his size, speed, and defense may be limitations on his ability to play pro hockey. I BUY NONE OF THAT. I have seen him play many times. Tyler is as tough as they come and he backs down from no one. His grandfather was a professional boxer. In fighting for the puck against the boards or in front of the net he has some of the fastest and most aggressive repetitive stick action that I have ever seen and he frequently will win out. He has very good speed and skates with a skip in his step. In addition to basic speed he has the ever important quickness. As far as scoring he has the knack, knowledge, and the ability to find the open spot on offense and be in the ready position to make something happen. As simple as that sounds, few hockey players have this ability to the extent that Tyler has.

As far as defense his +7 season rating for UNH tells us that his defense is pretty darn good. One other factor concerning Tyler, when he hits the ice, at whatever level, at any venue, he goes 100%. This includes practice sessions, summer league games, and his games at UNH. One speed, full out. That is a sign of a very good hockey player...it comes from within, it is inside the person. (I call it "fire in the belly".)  

Certainly with ANY hockey player there is room for improvement and I am sure that he will do this as he enters his professional hockey career.

Tyler is already on the roster of the Milwaukee Admirals and will be wearing his number, #16.  I firmly believe that Tyler has the ability to play in the NHL. The best of luck to him, let's wait and see what happens.

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

   

AUSTIN ORSZULAK TO PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY

Former Cathedral High and American International College (AIC) hockey star, Austin Orszulak, has signed a professional contract with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL. They play their home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY. The Thunder are part of the NHL's Calgary Flames organization. Austin is listed as #10 on their roster and has already participated in some games, a quick transition from AIC where he was the team captain.

#17 Austin Orszulak

Blocking Shot in AIC Win Over UMass

January 2017

Photo by Alfredo

Austin played on some good teams at Cathedral High and earned the Gene Grazia Award as the best offensive player in Western Mass. He played junior hockey for a couple of years for the Springfield Pics where in the 2012-13 season he tallied an outstanding 51 points with 21 goals and 30 assists. In his sophomore year at Division I AIC he had 35 points in 36 games, but perhaps his most important role was that of team leadership that evolved to becoming team captain.

The name "Orszulak" is synonymous with Western Mass hockey since there are a bunch of them who are all excellent hockey players. They include Travis, his brother, and cousins Matt, Justin, and Chris. I had the opportunity to watch (and photograph) Chris play at Amherst College when my gallery was in Amherst. By the way, most of them play in the Olympia Ice Center's Summer A League in West Springfield, MA that is considered one of the best off season hockey leagues in the nation. Austin has been one of the leading scorers in this league.

The best of luck to Austin in his new professional career!  We will all follow his progress.

Al DiLascia

Image News Service

The Excellence of Western Mass Hockey

The Excellence of Western Mass Hockey: We have an AHL professional team in the Springfield Thunderbirds, 2 Divison I College Teams, 2 Division 3 College Teams, excellent high school hockey, as well as the Springfield Pics and Springfield Rifles Junior hockey at various levels. We also have one of the best off season Summer Leagues in the nation at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, MA. Most importantly we have as the list below only begins to show, a ton of hockey talent.

I strongly encourage local college coaches (and the Thunderbirds) to recruit more Western Mass talent. Why? First, as the list below shows there is a treasure chest of talent. Second, There is no better way to increase interest and attendance at games than to have some local talent on the teams. Common sense stuff !

Some Statistics:

* Massachusetts is one of the top 3 states in the nation for producing college hockey players.

* NCAA statistics reveal that only 11.7% of high school hockey players end up playing in college, that means 88.3% don't.

* Only 5.6% of college hockey players end up playing major professional hockey, that means that 94.4% don't.

* Approximately 60% of all college hockey schools are located in the New England area. This is why East Coast Junior Hockey is continually strengthening. New England area college coaches love this since recruiting opportunities are right in their own backyard.
  

Western Mass Hockey Players Update - College, College Bound, and Professional

First, The Brothers:

Charlie Kelleher - One of the most impressive up and coming players. He is committed to the University of New Hampshire in following his brother, Tyler. My own opinion, he could have been playing and starring for them now!  This season he has played for the Tri-City Storm and the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL where in 52 games he registered 43 points.
  

Tyler Kelleher - University of New Hampshire senior, who burned up Hockey East and Division I College Hockey with 63 points in 40 games. He is tied for the lead in D1 college points and is a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in NCAA College Hockey. The NHL is nuts if they don't pick him up. Both Charlie and Tyler, by the way, are as tough as nails...their grandfather was a professional boxer.

Mickey Foley - Skidmore College, a solid player who completed his junior year for Skidmore with a 10 -12 -4 record with some impressive wins.

Matt Foley - Yale University, doing an amazing job with a lot of playing time as a freshman having played in 33 games. He had 8 points as a freshman defensive player. A great start for a freshman.

Dominic Blad - Finished his freshman season with UMass Boston. They were ranked as high as #3 in the nation for D3 Hockey, with a highlight of the season beating an unbeaten 8-0 Utica College Team at the "Aud" in Utica before a crowd of 4,000. Although the team did not finish strong, Dominic and Coach Peter Belisle are committed to a much stronger 2017-18 season.

Anthony Blad - Probably the most improved in the list. A Senior at Suffield High, playing with the Springfield Pics in the USPHL he has now evolved to become one of the better defensive players at his level in Western Mass. He recently participated in an invitation only Beantown Classic Tournament at the NESC that included some of the best players in the Northeast. In 3 games he registered 2 goals and an assist with a +6 rating as a defensive player. In contact with several DI and DIII colleges for Engineering and hockey.

Bryce Peritz - Suffolk University completed his freshman year in hockey after playing with the Springfield Pics.

Cam Peritz - Give him an A++ for his college hockey opportunity and decision. The Pope Francis (and Cathedral) senior ranked 2nd in Mass Division I High School Hockey with 39 points in 20 games. A leading candidate for Western Mass Player of the Year. He is going directly out of high school to Wesleyan University, a GREAT academic college.

Tanner Zacharewicz - UMass Dartmouth. It is always great to see 2 brothers playing at the same school at the same time, both solid players. Tanner is a senor and played 26 games and had 7 points.
    

Kyle Zacharewicz - UMass Dartmouth. Kyle, a junior played in 21 games and had 4 points. The brothers are from Ludlow, MA

DJ Petruzzelli - DJ last played for the Springfield Jr. Blues in the NAHL and registered 4 points in only 5 games. We believe that he has had injuries, after playing the prior year in Canada in the BCHL. DJ had over 100 points while playing for Cathedral High School. DJ has a commitment to Quinnipiac University.

Keith Petruzzelli - Keith was featured in NHL News as rated #1 for North American goalies in the NHL Central Mid Term Rankings...this is a BIG deal. After starring for the South Kent Prep Selects Academy last year as they were ranked 3rd in the nation, this year he is playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. In an amazing recent happening he scored a goal that received national publicity as he let fly a shot some 200 feet on an open net and scored full ice ! Both DJ and Keith should be on the 2017-18 Quinnipiac Team next season...that should be exciting.
  

Extra Special:

Frank Vatrano - He is the pride of Western Mass playing in the NHL with the Boston Bruins. Injured at the start of the season he has bounced back to be a major contributor toward the Bruins' run for the Stanley Cup playoffs. In 35 games he has 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points. As a younger player he represents the future of the Bruins under new Coach, Bruce Cassidy. He is a constant threat to score with his well known quick release thunder shot.

And the Rest:

Artie Potter - UMass Amherst Club, Artie wanted to concentrate on his Engineering studies as a freshman, but now as a sophomore he was a standout (no surprise) on the UMass Team that played many major college hockey club teams, a very good brand and level of hockey. They even went down to Florida to play the undefeated #1 ranked Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. They were good enough to get into the post season playoffs.

Jack Williams - Completed his sophomore year at Franklin Pierce University. Playing in 24 games he registered 9 points as a defensive player.  A tragedy earlier this year with the sudden, unexpected passing of the head coach.

Peter Crinella - Holy Cross College, completed his sophomore year after being a rare true freshman with no Junior play. This seldom happens in college hockey, especially at the D1 level. Scored goals against nationally ranked Notre Dame and the Air Force Academy. The Crusaders had a 14-15-7 record.

Ryan Cloonan - Boston University, a sophomore forward for BU in the tough Hockey East Conference with a record of 23-10-3. BU is 7th ranked nationally in DI Hockey. Ryan has 5 points in having played in 31 games.
  

Cullen Geary - Bowdoin College, a solid defensive player for the Polar Bears. Cullen is a junior who played in 11 games this past season and had 2 points. He was injured most of last season.

Sean Kavanagh - Tufts University, a solid defensive player as a senior for Tufts. Sean had 11 points in 23 games for Tufts and also received some special recognition for his play.

Austin Orszulak - A senior and captain of American International College Hockey. Austin played in 36 games this year and registered 14 points.

Danny Petrick - Will be headed to play for Northeastern University in the tough Hockey East Conference. In 29 games for the Austin Bruins in the NAHL he had 15 points as a defensive player and was given recognition toward "Star of the Week" in the NAHL.

Joe Mazza - Western New England University. Joe, a sophomore defensive player played in 23 games and had 3 points.

Barry Almeida- A 2 time National Champion with Boston College, he is currently playing professional hockey in England in the EIHL for the Coventry Blaze. In 36 games he has an impressive 38 points. Why isn't he playing for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL?

Willy Smith - After 3 impressive seasons in Canada with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, this season he played 50 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. He is one of my favorite players to watch play.

Johnny Leonard - Can't wait to see him play for UMass Amherst next season, my camera is ready ! He is well seasoned having played 2 years with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. This year he played in 50 games and contributed 30 points. He is one of the all time greats from Cathedral High School that definitely will help UMass Amherst next season.

Jake Ryczek - Providence College bound, drafted by the NHL Chicago Black Hawks, now playing his second season with Watererloo Black Hawks in the USHL. As a defensive player he has 29 points in 44 games. After 4 years in the USHL he is definitely ready to play for Providence. Jake is the best defensive player ever to come out of Western Mass.

TJ Syner - Former UMass star, pro hockey with the Coventry Blaze, British Elite Hockey League. He had an impressive 41 points in 36 games with Coventry. Again, Why isn't he playing for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL?

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It should be noted that most all of the above players play in the Olympia Ice Center's Summer A League in West Springfield, MA. This is why it is considered one of the best off season leagues in the nation.

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

CAM PERITZ TO WESLEYAN....A++

Cam Peritz in Action

Pope Francis, Jan. 15, 2017

Photo by Alfredo

Cam Peritz should get an A++ for his college hockey opportunity and decision. The Pope Francis High Hockey star started as an 8th grader at Cathedral and made his presence known right away by scoring some goals in key games. He currently is ranked 2nd in scoring in Mass Division I High School Hockey with 39 points in 20 games as he has led Pope Francis to a 15-4-1 record and a very probable Super 8 selection. He is also a leading candidate as Western Mass Player of the Year.

So why do I consider his college opportunity / decision A++ ?  With his credentials I am sure he would have had Division I college opportunities, something that most high school hockey players dream of. This would also, most probably, have included one or two years of Junior play. On a personal level Junior play is something that I never fully bought into since with all other sports athletes have an opportunity to play directly in college right out of high school. Oh, I understand Junior play and the reasons why, and the excuses they give which I don't fully buy into. What colleges get are essentially semi-pro players who end up playing college hockey at 24 or 25 years old!

Enough of that, let's look at Cam's decision. First and foremost, let's first look at education. Wesleyan University, part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) offers some of the best education in the country. The fact that they are "smaller" schools with relatively lower enrollment is even better since the education is more personal and more effective. People in Western Mass are very familiar with Amherst College and what a great school that is. They are also a member of NESCAC. Cam is an excellent student and he will fit well at Wesleyan. 

To play directly out of high school, WOW!  What an opportunity !  I love it for all the reasons I gave above. I say, why not?

I have watched and followed Cam play since he was an 8th grader at Cathedral. When I first heard about his decision to go to Wesleyan, I was absolutely thrilled for him. My thoughts were, and still are, that this is EVEN BETTER than any DI opportunity that he may have had. Having watched and photographed many NESCAC games while in Amherst, I know that it is a very good and competitive brand of hockey. It is also great that being in Middletown, CT that family and friends can see him play.

My personal rating of Cam's decision and opportunity, for what it is worth,  is A++ .

Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service

THE BEAR IS LOOSE IN BOSTON !

The word "Bruin" is a Dutch word for brown, but it is also associated with a folk term for brown bears. Anyway, the Bear (Boston Bruins Hockey) is loose in Boston!

East Longmeadow's Frank Vatrano

2 Goals, 2 Assists in Last 2 Games !

New interim Coach, Bruce Cassidy, has the Bruins Hockey Team on a roll with 3 wins in a row over San Jose, Vancouver, and Montreal. More that he has brought some excitement to the Bruin's game and has unleashed their offense. Former Coach, Claude Julien, is a good and well respected coach, who placed more emphasis on the defense. Cassidy is willing to take some risk with defense while applying more of an onslaught on the offensive side. To be honest, they are now much more exciting to watch, I love it!  It should be noted that the first 2 goals of the game by the Bruins in their 4-0 win last night over the first place Montreal Canadiens were scored by defensive players Adam McQuaid, and Zdeno Chara.

Cassidy also seems willing  to give his younger players more of a role in Bruins play and that will certainly pay off. He is very familiar with the play of David Pastrnak and Frank Vatrano who he coached with the Providence Bruins. Pastrnak is only 20 years old and already has 25 goals and 23 assists this season in 51 games. Vatrano returning from a pre-season injury has 8 goals and 5 assists in 24 games, but he has scored 2 goals with 2 assists in the last 2 games under Cassidy.

The Bruins Stanley Cup playoff chances look a little brighter as they sit in 3rd place in the Eastern Division Atlantic Conference with 64 points. They are tied in points with the 2nd place Ottawa Senators with 64, but the Senators have played less games.

Lot's of pride in Western Mass for the great play of East Longmeadow's Frank Vatrano! It looks like he will thrive under Bruce Cassidy's offensive minded coaching!

Go Frank Vatrano, Go Bruins !  

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

Boston Bruins Fire Coach Claude Julien

Coach Claude Julien Fired by Bruins

A popular Coach with both players and fans, and just a good guy. After being fired today, there is little doubt that Coach Claude Julien will land on his feet and most likely will coach again in the NHL. But sometimes a change is good. The Bruins have been tottering on the edge of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and for the Bruins organization not making it 2 years in a row is unacceptable. After 55 games they have a 26-23-6 record with 58 points and momentarily they are out, but still have a chance. 

Watching them play recently they have tried hard and played aggressively, but they seem to need an injection of a renewed spirit, and a different coaching wrinkle.

Under Julien the Bruins made the playoffs in 7 of his 9 years and won the Stanley Cup in 2011...a pretty good record. But you could kind of sense by his body language that Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney was not all that comfortable with Julien as of late. He was in somewhat of a dilemma since Julien was popular, particularly with the players, and he did have a decent record. But you could sense he wanted a change. Many felt that him bringing up Providence Coach Bruce Cassidy as an Assistant Coach this year was a signal that he was getting ready to act.
  

Assigned as Interim Coach, Butch Cassidy, has a lot of coaching experience, having coached in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and most recently with the Providence Bruins in the AHL. This move could be very good for East Longmeadow's Frank Vatrano since Cassidy is very familiar with his play when he played, and starred, for Providence in the AHL. He recognizes Frank's ability to score and put up points and my guess is that he will play him differently where he will put him in a better position to do so. We shall see.

It should be an interesting and revealing end of season for the Boston Bruins Hockey Team.

Go Bruins !

Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service

Frank Vatrano Scores Winning Goal for Boston Bruins !

Frank Vatrano

Celebrating Goal Last Night

Frank Vatrano scored what amounted to be the winning goal last night in the 4-3 Bruin's win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was the 3rd win in a row as the Boston Bruins battle for a playoff spot for the Stanley Cup. The win gives the Bruins 58 points for 3rd place in the Atlantic Division, 3 points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs who have 55. The 58 points also ties them in points with the 2nd place Ottawa Senators who have played less games.

 

Vatrano's Goal came with 7:37 left in the game and solidified the lead at 4-2 at that time. But the Lightning came back and scored so his goal proved to be the winning goal that the Bruins needed. In 19 games the East Longmeadow, MA native has 6 goals and 3 assists for 9 points.

 

Post game it was nice to hear the NESN announcer, Tom Caron, mention Vatrano's background at Cathedral High School, as well as UMass Amherst. Speaking of Cathedral, two former Cathedral Hockey stars will go at it at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield tomorrow night as Holy Cross visits AIC for a game at 7:05 PM, a good chance to support local hockey and see Peter Crinella (Holy Cross) and Austin Orszulak (AIC) play.

 

Hope to see you at the game !

 

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service 

Bruins Frank Vatrano Excels in Loss

Frank Vatrano Excels in Loss

Photo by Joe Makarski

 

A lot at stake for the Boston Bruins. Out of 15 sports writers / analysts looked at only 2 give the Bruins a chance to make the play-offs. (Probably less now.) After a disappointing lackluster 4-0 loss vs. the NY Islanders and given a day off by Coach Claude Julien, the Bruins were all charged up and ready to go last night against the Detroit Red Wings. Tension was high under the pressure to make the play-offs and to keep their popular Coach from getting fired. In particular, Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron wants to save the Coach he admires and respects.  

 

A hockey old timer that I respect said "It is all about the line that a potentially good player, plays in." This is especially true when you have a quick release sharpshooter like Frank Vatrano who can score. You have to get him the puck! Last night Julien put the East Longmeadow, MA native in the first line and it paid off immediately. Vatrano scored within the first 44 seconds of the game with an assist from Patrice Bergeron.  Then with only 2.27 into the game this was followed by a Bruin's goal by Brandon Carlo...and THEN, another goal 8:50 into the game by Frank Vatrano, to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead. It looked like it was going to be a Bruin's night.

 

The Red Wings, however, are a very good team. Dylan Larkin, younger brother of present UMass Boston Hockey star, Colin Larkin, scored his 12th goal of the season...yet he is only 20 years old. The Red Wings were back in the game.

 

It was an exciting game to watch, Vatrano took some additional hard shots at the net, but the final score ended tied at 5-5 in regulation. Overtime produced no winner and it went to a shoot out where the Bruins lost a heart breaker, 6-5.  The Bruins aren't out of it yet but they go against a tough Chicago Black Hawks team tomorrow night. Will they make the play-offs? Will popular Coach Claude Julien get fired? These answers will be coming soon.

 

Frank Vatrano has a very respectable 5 goals and 3 assists in 14 games. 

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service

Some Western Mass and Other Sports Highlights

* One of the most pleasant surprises of the high school hockey season thus far this year is the Pope Francis High School Hockey Team. Having lost many of their star players through graduation and leaving for high level Junior or Prep play, in honesty, not much was expected.  Yet here today, they sit ranked #1 in Division 1  Massachusetts High School Hockey, with an outstanding 9-0-1 record.  When they go out on the ice, you can sense excitement and high energy. They don't lumber out on the ice like many teams do...they CHARGE out there! 

Team play is definitely evident, but a leader on the team is Senior Captain Cam Peritz. A recent MassLive Athlete of the Week, he is also currently ranked #1 in the Western Mass Player of the Year Watch. After 5 points yesterday and today's game he should be solidly ranked #1 in points in Division I Mass. HS Hockey.
     

#4 Cam Peritz In 7-0 Win Today

Pope Francis v. Barnstable High

* Frank Vatrano is hitting stride with the Boston Bruins after coming back from a pre-season injury. He has played in 12 games so far and has scored 3 goals and has 3 assists for 6 points. Not bad! Most importantly you can see his constant improvement in returning from the injury, not easy to do. He has been playing in the 2nd line for the Bruins as they battle for a play-off spot in the NHL.

* Longmeadow High Hockey has earned a #1 ranking in Western Mass Division III Hockey with an 8-0-1 record. Their leading point getter is Spencer Robbins with 16 Goals and 17 Assists for 33 points in 9 games...pretty outstanding. Spencer is ranked #2 in Massachusetts Division III Hockey for points. 

* An unbelievable achievement for UConn Women's Basketball in breaking their own record with now 91 wins in a row and counting. UConn is ranked #1 in the nation. They have won 11 NCAA Titles, including the last 4 in a row. They have had 6 undefeated seasons. Coach Geno Auriemma is not only the best coach in women's college basketball history, but may very well be the best coach ever in sports, ANY sport!  Not only does he win, but gets / develops the best players..and turns out fine young women.

Whether they win by 2 points or 50, I love watching them play. The reason? They play excellent basketball in every facet of the game...nearly perfect. Frankly, I get tired of watching many men's games where a fancy point guard dribbles all over the place, self impressed, with no teamwork. You NEVER see that with UConn, ALL players are involved, at times the ball never hits the floor with their passes. Men's teams, at every level of basketball, could learn from watching UConn Women play. Famous UCLA Coach John Wooden said "The best basketball in America is being played in the women's game."  UConn Women exemplify that.

* How about the New England Patriots? They certainly have a chance to go all the way this year. They have a chance for a few good reasons. First, they have a good all around team. Second, they seem well prepared and outsmart other teams. Third, they have Julian Edelman who somehow, some way, gets free and makes some amazing catches at critical times.  And finally, most importantly, they have Tom Brady, who could very well be the best ever. The Houston Texans played some very tough defense against Brady and roughed him up a bit...but somehow he was able to get some key passes off for completion at critical times. Don't bet against the Patriots and Brady!

    

Alfredo DiLascia

Image News Service