Winthrop High School Sports Briefs

WHS boys hockey opens season tonight

The Winthrop High boys hockey team will open its 2012-13 season this evening (Thursday) at Mansfield in a non league encounter at 5:30. Winthrop faced Mansfield twice last season and split the two contests.

WHS head coach Dale Dunbar will skate a Viking squad that is as young as any in recent years. Only four members of the team, senior captain Jake McKinnon, senior assistant captain Luke Hodgkins, junior asst. captain Chris Page, and junior asst. captain Chris Page, return with significant varsity experience. Sophomores Dylan Driscoll and Pat Todisco also saw some varsity ice time last year.

A trio of netminders will tend to the goaltending chores: freshman Ray Feeley, sophomore Tom DiBenedetto, and freshman Brandon Creador.

“We have a very young team, but we’ve been working hard and looking forward to the start of the season,” said Dunbar.

The Vikings competed in two scrimmages this past week against Northeaster Conference rivals Marblehead and Revere, the latter in the North Shore Jamboree at Salem State University on Sunday morning. Marblehead had the better of the play vs. the Vikings in their encounter, but Winthrop easily handled Revere, 6-1, in their contest.

After tonight’s opener, Dunbar and his crew will entertain Peabody Wednesday night at Larsen in their home and Northeastern Conference opener. Face off time is 6:00.

Boys hoop team     falls to Malden

The Winthrop High boys basketball team ran into one of the top teams in Eastern Massachusetts, Malden of the Greater Boston League, in the Vikings’ season opener Tuesday evening and came out on the short end of a 98-45 decision.

“Malden is a very strong team,” said WHS head coach Mike DiMarino, who made his debut as the new Viking mentor. “We played hard against them throughout the game and overall gave a tremendous effort,  but they are a Division 1 school which should be a powerhouse this season.”

Junior forward Curtis Lockett dropped in 10 points to lead the Vikings in the scoring department. Senior captain Mike Lessard displayed tenacity under the defensive boards.

DiMarino and his crew will travel to Swampscott Friday for their Northeastern Conference opener and then return home Tuesday to entertain Gloucester.

Girls host Swampscott Friday in season opener

The Winthrop High girls basketball team will get its 2012-13 season underway tomorrow evening (Friday) when the Lady Vikings host Swampscott at the Holland Gymnasium. Tip off time is set for 7:00.

“We’re ready to go and looking forward to the start of the season,” said WHS head coach Ignacio Oyola. “We’ve played well in our scrimmages and now it’s time for the real thing.”

The Lady Vikings scrimmaged at Masconomet last Thursday and fared well against a Division 1 team that perennially qualifies for the state tourney. The Winthrop girls more than held their own in the six quarters of play in which Oyola gave all of his squad a chance to play. Freshman forward Nina Bartlett hit for 13 points to pace Winthrop in the scoring department. Kristen Siscamanis struck for 10 points and Jen Adamson added nine.

Ashelyne Babb and Theresa Jones drained three pointers to add to the well-balanced Winthrop offensive attack.

In Saturday’s matchup in the Jamboree at Lynn Classical against No. Reading, another perennial tourney-qualifier in Division 3, the Lady Vikings showed their defensive prowess in a low scoring battle.

Winthrop will travel to Gloucester Tuesday and to Marblehead next Friday.

Girls hockey team to host Cambridge Saturday

The Winthrop Lady Bulldog hockey team was set to start its season last night (Wednesday) at Medford as it sets out once again to claim a division title in the Eastern Mass. Girls Ice Hockey League.

Coach Anthony Martucci’s squad will meet Cambridge Saturday evening in its home opener. Face off is set for 5:00.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.