Silver Mettle: Winthrop Hockey Star Petey Silverman will Continue his Career at Tilton School

He broke school scoring records, received every league, All-Scholastic and statewide award out there, and proudly accepted the coveted Bentley Swift Cup and Mike Eruzione Spirit Award at the Winthrop High School Class of 2024 graduation exercises.

He and his Winthrop High teammates filled arenas with Viking fans as far away as Bourne on Cape Cod this past season.

And if not for a 2-1 loss in a shootout to Dover Sherborn/Weston, Petey Silverman and the Vikings most likely would have brought the town its first state hockey championship since the fabled 1975-76 season. Regular-season victories over Division 2 state champion Boston Latin and Division 3 state champion Marblehead during the season attest to the fact that Dale Dunbar’s 2023-24 team was in elite company this winter.

Petey Silverman earned his place among the all-time legends in Winthrop hockey history as a skater with electrifying speed, a masterful stickhandler with the puck, and most importantly of all, a prolific goal-scorer.

After a sensational 69-point (35 goals, 34 assists) season, Silverman, as LeBron James once said, “will be taking his talents” to the Tilton School in New Hampshire in September.

Electing to go the post-graduate, prep-school route, Silverman said he chose Tilton over Cushing Academy, Holderness School, and The Winchendon School.

“I visited Tilton during the school year. I’ve been there before because my sister (Maddison Silverman, who plays hockey at Stevenson University in Maryland) went to Tilton for four years,” said Petey. “That’s how I’ve always known about the school.”

Silverman said he has been in correspondence with the Tilton coaching staff and the 5-foot-10-inch, 150-pound athlete is on the school’s summer conditioning plan, working out regularly at RPM Fitness in Winthrop.

Silverman will be joining two of his fall-season North Suburban Wings teammates from Reading on the Tilton team. Silverman will play a prep school season and then turn his attention to competing in Junior Hockey, the course often taken by Division 1 college players.

While some observers say his style of play is similar to that of former Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights, Silverman said he likes the approach to the game of Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand. “I just like the way he plays the game,” said Silverman.

A four-year varsity player, Silverman played 12 games as a freshman for the Winthrop varsity during a season that was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our team was very good that year, so it was tough to miss out on a full season,” said Silverman. “Joey Holgersen and Ryan Hovermale were the captains when I was a freshman and they were great leaders.”

The Silver-Man Express rolled over the next three years, with Petey accounting for 176 points in his career. In his senior year, he led the NEC in scoring and won the NEC MVP award a second time, teaming up on the No. 1 line with Mikey Holgersen and Philip Boncore. “They were very good linemates – we worked really well together,” said Silverman.

There had been opportunities to leave Winthrop for prep school following his junior season (29 goals, 27 assists).

“I’m definitely happy that I stayed all four years in Winthrop,” said Silverman. “This year especially, it was a great run through the playoffs. Staying in Winthrop was the right choice.”

Gratitude to the Winthrop coaches and supporters

Asked to assess the impact that head coach Dale Dunbar and assistant coach Mike Norris had on his hockey career, Silverman said, “Coach Dale and Coach Mike have helped me so much along the way. Dale taught me who I want to be and how I want to be as a hockey player. Even off ice, he has shown me the way – how to be a man. He’s been a big part of my hockey career. Coach Mike also gave me advice and guidance throughout my career.”

Memories of his storied career

Of all the memories Petey Silverman will take from his Winthrop High hockey career, interestingly, he said the state semifinal game at Gallo Arena in Bourne during which opposing goaltenders Michael Donahue and Andrew Goldstein went save-for-save for three periods and two eight-minute overtimes  – truly demonstrated to him the support of the Winthrop community and the high school student body.

“I’ve never seen that many people at a game that far away from such a small town,” said Silverman. “Our team appreciated the incredible support we received all season. That arena was packed for the game. Donny (Donahue) made one save where the puck was going in and he saved it on the goal line with his hand. He was outstanding all year long and I don’t expect anything different in his senior year coming up. I wish my teammates the best next season.”