A Winning Experience

Vikings sweep Marblehead in Lake Placid

 By Cary Shuman

The defending state champion Winthrop High School boys hockey team swept Marblehead in a two-game series on successive days in Lake Placid by scores of 3-0 and 4-1.

Winthrop goaltender Jimmy Lyman turned in two stellar performances, limiting Marblehead, a perennial NEC and state title contender, to one goal.

“Jimmy played well and our defense played well in front of him,” said Winthrop head coach Dale Dunbar. “Any time you only give up one goal in six periods, you have to be doing something right defensively and we got some timely goals when we needed them.”

Dunbar said defensemen Paul Ferrara, Nate Previte, Nikita Rossi, Thomas Babine, and Ricky Mackenzie were outstanding in the two victories.

In the season-opening game Friday, captain Joe Pumphret netted the first tally of the new campaign in the middle of the second period, assisted by assistant captain Nick Romano and Dom Spinale.

Tony Bordanaro’s unassisted goal gave Winthrop a 2-0 lead early in the third period. Pumphret delivered his second goal of the game, assisted by Breadon Lounsbury and captain Paul Ferrara.

After a scoreless but physical first period in the second game Saturday afternoon, Dom Spinale opened the door to victory with the first goal in the second period. Romano and Pumphret earned assists.

As Winthrop continued to control the play, senior assistant captain Bert Kline broke in and scored, assisted by assistant captain Tomas Babine, giving the Vikings a 2-0 advantage.

Spinale netted his second goal of the game and Pumphret completed the scoring with less than five minutes to go in the game.

Marblehead broke its five-period scoreless drought with less than one minute to play, denying Lyman in his bid for a second shutout.

“We had a great experience [in Lake Placid],” said Dunbar. “We dressed in the U.S. Olympic team’s lockerroom, played in the Herb Brooks Arena, the old Olympic Center. The rink is gorgeous. It brought back a lot of memories from back then and watching it, when Mike [Eruzione] scored the winning goal to beat the Soviet Union and the team won the gold medal.”

The players also visited the Mike Eruzione Team Shop in Lake Placid.

Winthrop (2-0) was set to play Lynnfield High Wednesday night. The home opener at the Larsen Rink at the Mike Eruzione Center is Saturday, Dec. 20 versus Dover-Sherborn/Weston, the team that defeated Winthrop in a shootout in the 2024 state semifinals in Bourne.