WHS Sports Roundup

WHS Girls Hockey Hosts Shawsheen this Saturday

The Winthrop High girls hockey team will open its 2022 season this Saturday afternoon when the Lady Vikings host Shawsheen Tech at the Mike Eruzione Center at Larsen Rink. The opening face-off is set to drop at 1:30.

Coach Anthony “Butch” Martucci’s squad will be led by a trio of captains, Mia Martucci, Summer Tallent, and Elle English. A quartet of veteran players, Mia Norris, Emma Holmes, Abby Holmes, and Julia Holmes, will serve as assistant captains.

“The overall outlook for the season is the same as it is every year,” said Martucci, under whose tenure the Lady Vikings have become one of the pre-eminent girls hockey programs in the state. “We will be built from the net out, with returning all-conference goalie Summer Tallent taking the net for her senior year. Summer not only is one of the best goalies in the conference, but she also is one of the best in Division 1 girls hockey.”

Tallent will be backed up by an up-and-coming eighth grader, Riley Towse, who gives the Lady Vikings a bright future between the pipes.

The Winthrop defense will be spearheaded by veteran returnees Elle English and Abby Holmes.

“Those two will be carrying a ton of weight for us this year and they will get a lot of help from Adrianna Rizzotto, Tegan Pereira, Avalina Coffey, Casey Petersen, Izi Hain, and Mia Currier,” said Martucci.

“Up front we will be very strong with a ton of veterans ready to spark the offense,” Martucci continued, “Mia Martucci, Emma Holmes, Julia Holmes, Mia Norris, Kendall Brant, Talia Martucci, Hannah Parker, Sami DiMento, Lily Tallent, Gabby Buonopane, Izzy Cash, Tori Bates, Reese Ferrara, and Stella Pelletier all will see action and contribute offensively.”

Martucci will be joined behind the bench by the coaching staff of Chris Palmer, Taylor Brown, and Sean Carleton, as well as strength and conditioning coach James Fucillo.

Winthrop once again will compete in the Northeastern Hockey League (NHL). The Lady Vikings, who last year finished second in the league with a sterling 10-3-1 mark behind champion Peabody, will face their seven NHL rivals (Peabody, Newburyport, Medford, Marblehead, Beverly, Gloucester, and Masconomet) twice each.

Non-league foes will include Shawsheen (twice), Latin Academy, and Belmont to complete their 18-game regular- season schedule.

After the season-opener with Shawsheen, Martucci and his crew are off until next Saturday (December 18) when they will host Newburyport.

WHS Boys Basketball Opens Season Tuesday

The Winthrop High boys basketball team will open its 2022 season when the Vikings host Salem Charter School this Tuesday, December 14. The opening tip is set for 4:30.

“We are getting back into the swing of things,” said second year head coach Mike Triant.

The Vikings will be led by captains Chris Cappuccio and Luca Zanelli. They will be joined by a group that includes returning varsity players Zach Bogusz, Mikey Chaves, Aiden Green, and George Galuris.

“We’re battling the injury bug right now,” noted Triant. “George Galuris has a hamstring/groin injury that is still lingering from football season. Aiden Green, who also is a senior and who will be competing for a starting spot, has been out since last Tuesday. Julian Diaz, who is a guard and who will figure into the rotation at some point, also is out injured.”

Newcomers to the team this year include junior Raesean Bebri, junior Eddie Ramadani, junior Eljo Hysa, sophomore Ryan Harris, and senior exchange students Gabe Brandao and Rodrigo Trinco DaSilva.

“We are fortunate to have put in a ton of work during the off-season and hopefully that will pay off once the season gets into gear,” added Triant. “The cohesion may be an issue we face, as it has been tough to develop chemistry in practice.”

Triant and his crew were scheduled to scrimmage East Boston High at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club in East Boston yesterday (Wednesday) prior to Tuesday’s opener with Salem Charter.

“We are looking forward to having a huge crowd on Tuesday and getting this year’s campaign off on the right foot,” said the coach.

Triant has added Eric Mathieu and Phil Lundberg to his coaching staff as varsity assistants.

“Eric had a great career at Central Catholic and Bentley and brings a ton of hoop experience to the staff,” noted Triant.

After Tuesday’s home opener, the Vikings will travel to Saugus next Monday, December 20, for an encounter with one of their Northeastern Conference rivals.

In addition to contests with NEC foes Saugus, Gloucester, Marblehead, Danvers, Peabody, Swampscott, Masconomet, and Beverly, the Vikings will play non-league opponents Salem Charter, Pioneer Charter, and Northeast Regional to round out their 20-game schedule.

WHS Boys Hockey Opens Sat. at Medford

The Winthrop High boys hockey team will open its season this Saturday afternoon with a contest at Greater Boston League rival Medford. The opening face-off is set for 4:00 at LoConte Memorial Rink on Route 16 in Medford.

Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew will be off until next Saturday (December 18) when they will host Northeastern Conference rival Danvers at Larsen at 3:30.

The Vikings will compete once again in the North Division of the Northeastern Conference which includes Danvers, Gloucester, Marblehead, and Masconomet, all of whom Winthrop will play twice.

The NEC’s South Division will consist of Saugus, Swampscott, Beverly, and Peabody,

Non-league opponents on the Vikings’ schedule include Medford, Lynnfield, Bishop Fenwick, Cambridge, and Somerville.

Girls Basketball Team Opens Tuesday Evening

The Winthrop High girls basketball team will open its 2022 season this coming Tuesday, December 14, when the Lady Vikings will entertain non-league rival Salem Academy Charter School at 6:00 at the WHS gym.

They then will trek to Northeastern Conference foe Salem High School next Friday, December 17.

In addition to contests with Northeastern Conference opponents Salem, Saugus, Gloucester, Marblehead, Danvers, Swampcott, Peabody, Beverly, and Masconomet, the Lady Vikings will encounter non-league foes Salem Charter, Revere, Chelsea, Stoneham, and Northeast Regional to complete their 22-game schedule.