Silverman’s Two Goals Lift Vikings Over Fenwick
The Winthrop High boys hockey team opened its 2023 season on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over non-conference rival Bishop Fenwick on Saturday at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
After spotting Fenwick, which is a Division 1 school, a 1-0 lead in the opening period, the Vikings brought the contest back to level in the middle stanza when junior captain Petey Silverman lit the lamp, assisted by junior defenseman Hunter Fife, who sent Silverman in alone on the Crusader goalie with a nice stretch pass through the middle, with Silverman finishing the breakaway opportunity.
Silverman then provided the game-winner for the Vikings with an unassisted lamplighter in the third period.
Viking senior netminder Nicolas Babine shut the door over the final two periods, stopping 24 shots to preserve the win.
Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew next will face Northeastern Conference rival Danvers this Saturday afternoon at 2:00 at the Ray Bourque Arena at Endicott College. The Vikings will stay on the road for their next encounter next Wednesday evening against non-league foe Lynnfield with another visit to the McVann-O’Keefe Rink. The opening face-off is set for 8:15.
The roster for this year’s WHS boys varsity hockey squad is as follows:
#1 Michael Donahue /SO /G; #2 Colin Banfield /SR /F; #3 Luke Gthinji /SO/F; #4 Thomas Babine /FR/ D; #5 Nicholas Ramano /FR /F; #6 Robert Rich / JR/F; #7 Phillip Boncore SO /F; #8 Jack Hayes /SR/F *(Captain)*; #9 Jackson Andy /JR/ D; #10 Nate Evangelista /SR /F&D / *(Asst Capt)*; #11 Robert Noonan /R/ D *(Asst Capt)*; #12 Aidan Survilas / SO /F; #15 James Fotiades /SO/F; #16 Michael Holgersen /SO/F; #17 Colin O’Leary /FR/D; #18 Hunter Fife /JR/D; #19 Billy Hayes /JR/D *(Asst Capt)*; #20 Petey Silverman /JR/F *(Captain )*; #22 Glen Calla /JR/F; #30 Nicolas Babine /SR /G; #31 Stephen Lindinger /SO/G; Nolan Upton /SO/F; Joseph Rich /JR/F; and Bertle Kline /FR/F.
WHS Girls Hockey Starts Season With 9–0 Win vs. Shawsheen
The Winthrop High girls hockey team opened its season in smashing fashion with a 9-0 triumph over Shawsheen Valley Tech/Bedford Tuesday evening at Larsen Rink.
“It was a great season-opening win for us,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “Everyone got involved and got some good minutes. I was very happy with our teamwork.”
The Lady Vikings took control of the contest from the drop of the opening faceoff, sprinting to a 5-0 lead in the opening period. Five different Winthrop skaters — Izzy Cash (her first career goal), Julia Holmes, Abby Holmes, Emma Holmes (with what Martucci termed as “an absolute highlight reel goal”), and Talia Martucci — all reached the back of the Shawsheen net.
Although the visitors continued to fight hard, the Lady Vikings added to their bulge in the middle stanza with three more goals off the sticks of Emma Holmes (her second of the night), Mia Norris, and freshman Chloe Couture (her first career goal).
Izi Hain applied the icing on the WHS victory cake with a lamplighter in the final frame for the 9-0 finale.
“Izi is a great kid,” noted Martucci of the sophomore, who scored her first career varsity goal. “She works hard, never says a word, and is a pleasure to coach.”
Freshman goaltender Riley Towse earned her first career win (and first shutout) in the Winthrop net.
“Riley was fantastic in her varsity debut,” lauded Martucci. “She was not called upon a lot in this game, but when she was tested, she responded well. It was great to see her get not only her first win, but also her first shutout.
“The leadership of our four captains was awesome,” Martucci continued. “Mia Norris and the Holmes triplets were elite. They are seniors and have a ton of varsity experience. They really helped our younger players get over those first-game jitters.”
Martucci also praised the Lady Viking defensive corps.
“Our defense was incredible from start to finish,” said the coach. “Abby Holmes, Tegan Pereira, Avalina Coffey, Adrianna Rizzotto, Amelia Spencer, and Mia Currier all played lock-down defense, as well as supplying some offense.”
A good crowd was on hand at Larsen to celebrate the Lady Vikings’ victory.
“For a season-opener, we had a bunch of fans,” noted Martucci. “It was very exciting to see as many people as we had in attendance.”
Martucci and his crew will make the long trek up I-95 this Saturday evening for a 7:00 encounter with Newburyport at the Henry Graf Skating Rink and then will travel to Salem State College next Tuesday (December 20) to meet perennial Northeast Hockey League archrival Marblehead at 7:30.
New Coach, New Season for WHS Girls Basketball; Host Saugus This Friday
A new coach, but with a familiar face, will be patrolling the sidelines for the Winthrop High girls basketball team this season.
Former WHS star Anthony Hatzisavas, who led the Viking boys to a state title in 2010, has taken over the reins of the Lady Viking program.
“My dream was always to be a head coach and I am thankful for this opportunity,” said Hatzisavas.
The new coach is enthusiastic about the upcoming season, although the Lady Vikings will be playing a challenging schedule both against their usual Northeastern Conference rivals and their non-conference opponents.
“We have a great group of kids,” said Hatizisavas. “They are young and already have a lot of experience.”
Winthrop opened its season with Andover — the number two-ranked team in the Boston Globe’s rankings — this past Saturday, and though the Lady Vikings came up on the short end of a 47-19 decision, Hatzisavas was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better first test,” he said. “We lost 47-19, but had a great showing from Grace Fleuriel, who had nine points, and captain Maddie Stiglets, who had four points and seven rebounds.”
Andover was just the first team on the Lady Vikings’ tough non-conference schedule, which includes Bridgewater-Raynham, Newton North, Woburn, St. Mary’s of Lynn, Newburyport, and Bishop Fenwick.
“They are all top 15 teams in the Boston Globe and the hope is this schedule will have us battle-tested to make a deep run in the state tournament,” said Hatzisavas.
Leading the way for the Lady Vikings this season will be senior captain Maddie Stiglets and junior Grace Fleuriel, who were both All Conference All Stars in 2022. Also returning are juniors Reese Brodin and Kaylee Farrell, both of whom were starters last year.
Juniors April Ferguson and Hailey Forsyth also are back from last year’s squad.
Sophomores Zoey Bogus, Lilly Conway, Sophia Lindinger, Tina Fabiano, and Kate Brodin and freshmen Amina Barry, Bailey Ferguson, Giada Gergerian, and Poli Tsiotos are expected to be key contributors.
Hatzisavas will be assisted by assistant coaches Andrea Martucci, Mark DeGregorio, Francesca Capone, and Grace Jenkins.
“Also, I could never forget my former coach, who is now also one of my assistants, and that is the famous Frankie Fabiano,” Hatzisavas added. Hatzisavas and his crew made the long trek to Bridgewater-Raynham this past Tuesday and will host NEC rival Saugus tomorrow (Friday) evening at 6:00. They will travel to Newton North next Thursday.