Gardner, Oakmont, Fitchburg/MT all seeking improvement

REGION — The high school hockey season officially kicks off this weekend and three local squads are chomping at the bit to get the 2019-2020 winter season underway.

Gardner co-op

The Gardner/Murdock/Narragansett/Quabbin co-op team has received a well-time boost in participation as it looks to put last year’s tough 0-18 campaign firmly in the rear-view mirror.

“Right now things are looking good. Our numbers are up this year. We had 26 or 27 kids come out for the team. That’s the highest number in my two years so that’s a big plus,” said head coach Scott Freniere. “We have a lot of young talent and they’ve looked pretty good so far. I think our best asset this year could be our speed.”

The Wildcats are hoping they can taste victory early in the season after toiling through a second straight winless season last year.

“Our goal right now is one to multiple wins this season. Which is something that hasn’t occurred in some time,” said Freniere. “They deserve a win. The support from the coaches, school, the parents and the community has been great. Everyone around here wants to win so we are staying positive and working hard.”

In net, senior goalie Alex LaFreniere and eighth-grader Mark Quinn will take turns deflecting the puck. Though it is possible Gardner could lean on LaFreniere’s experience while Quinn continues to develop it is expected that both goalies will see ice time.

Defensively, the Wildcats will be leaning on a handful of determined blue liners. Ben Savoie, Matt Shephard, Matt Marshall, Phil Quinn and Jake Samaha will anchor the Gardner defense.

Jonah Hoisington, Zach Bouncher and Jamison Howland will make up the Wildcats’ top offensive line while Aiden Prentiss, Max Murphy and Michael Ouellet are penciled in for the team’s second offensive line.

Gardner will have four team captains on its roster this year as seniors Savoie and Ouellet, junior Quinn and sophomore Howland have been awarded the title.

“I think we’re in a better place this year than we are at this time last year,” said Freniere. “I can only speak about the time I’ve been here but I said it last year and I’ll say it again and I think we’re on the right path to improving and getting better. We’re doing the right things.”

Gardner kicks off its season on Saturday evening as it welcomes Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley Regional to the Gardner Veterans Rink for a 5:30 p.m. contest.

Oakmont

Second-year head coach Mike Duteau is sure to have his Spartans ready to face the Fitchburg/Monty Tech Red Raiders when the two Greater Gardner teams open the 2019-20 season against one another Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Cushing Acadmey’s Iorio Arena.

“Things are going well in practice to start our season. Unfortunately we’ve had three snow days in the first two weeks so that puts us behind the eight ball as far as getting the systems in place but kids are picking things up quickly,” said Duteau, whose team will have 21 players on the roster as the Spartans attempt to improve upon last season’s 4-14-1 record. “The missed practice time will hurt us in special teams but I’m confident we can adapt and simplify our power play and penalty kill to be serviceable for the first game or two.”

Seniors Charlie Chinian and Jake Berkio will lead Oakmont’s top two lines and will serve as team captains for the Spartans this winter. Chinian, a left winger, will play on the Spartans’ top line alongside senior center Ethan Casavant and right winger Blake Riggins. Berkio will center Oakmont’s second line and is expected to be flanked on either side by left wing Patrick O’Hara and junior right win Jeremy Hansen.

On defense, Oakmont will be anchored by junior Ben Mattson and sophomore Evan Thibault with sophomores Izak Hannula and Drake Nelson also helping to protect the blue line.

Oakmont will have an experienced goaltender between the pipes regardless of which senior — Jake Morin or Evan Taylor — steps into the crease for the Spartans.

“Both goalies look good and are competing hard,” said Duteau. “It’s looking like I have a great one-two punch in net and we feel good about both of them. They’ll be splitting time this year.”

When asked about what he’s looking for out of his hungry group this season, Duteau didn’t sugar coat.

“My expectations are always to win games. I feel like if we play our game, stay within the structure and compete we can be successful,” said the Spartans head coach. “That being said we have a lot of underclassmen. It’s going to take commitment from the young guys and good leadership from our returning varsity players to achieve our main goal of getting into the playoffs.”

Fitchburg/Monty Tech

The Fitchburg/Monty Tech Red Raiders and head coach Steve Lowney are looking forward to the opportunity to put last winter behind them and focus on building a team which can compete for a district playoff spot in the Central Mass. Tournament this winter.

“Everyone is excited to get going again. We really only lost one senior from last year’s team so we have the core returning,” said Red Raiders head coach Steve Lowney. “We are going to need some younger guys to step up and provide some depth but we definitely have a good group of returning core guys and that will help us.”

The Red Raiders missed the postseason by just four points last winter as it accumulated a 6-10-2 overall record. Fitchburg/MT got off to a solid start as it went undefeated through the season’s first four games (3-0-1) before losing eight of its next 10 games to miss out on the playoffs.

“The kids are ready to get back and compete,” said Lowney. “We had a tough finish to the season last year but we’ve turned the page and are focused on this season.”

Over the weekend, Lowney’s squad got their first taste of competition in their annual jamboree. While the Red Raiders may have struggled at times, Lowney used it as a measuring stick, especially with his younger players.

“We had our jamboree against North Middlesex Regional and Leominster and I rolled all of our lines out there. I wanted to see them play,” said Lowney. “I feel we currently have three lines that are varsity ready. I’m not opposed to adding a couple guys here and there later that show us they can play at that level.”

The Red Raiders will carry 19 players this winter, led by senior captain Anthony Lesperance, junior captain Max Beaulac and alternate captain Devin LeBlanc, a senior.

In net, Lowney will turn to a pair of juniors, Spencer McCrillis and Garrett Johnson, to frustrate the opposition.

“They’ve pretty much split games since they were freshmen so they both have experience,” said Lowney. “If one starts to outplay the other then we will play the hot hand but as of right now we are comfortable with both.”

On defense, the Red Raiders return three players from a year ago in sophomores Robert Brogan and Peter Stephens and junior Connor Leger.

“We’re young and kind of inexperienced back there but we have some other players who look ready to step in,” said Lowney. “George Love is our lone senior on defense. We have a sophomore who moved up from junior varsity Zack Robillard and a freshman Nick MacKenzie. All three will definitely be in the mix.”

Up front, Lowney is hoping for big things from Beaulac, who had a strong sophomore season last year with 14 goals. Lowney is also confident in Lesperance, Jace Salame and Ryan Johnson to provide a bulk of the team’s scoring this season.

“We’re hoping for big things from that group,” said Lowney. “We have a few other guys like Nathan Jorge, Christian Rodriguez and Riley LeBlanc that will also help.

“Our focus right now is to just get better every day,” Lowney added. “To work hard and focus on building.”

Gardner/Narragansett/Murdock/Quabbin

 Date Opponent Time

Sat, Dec. 14 Lunenburg 5:30 p.m.

Wed, Dec. 18 Fitchburg/MT 5 p.m.

Sat, Dec. 21 Littleton 5:30 p.m.

Sat, Dec. 28 Minuteman 5:30 p.m.

Mon, Dec. 30 Oakmont 3 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 1 at Holliston 4:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 4 at Nashoba Tech 1 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 8 at Worcester 5 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 11 Hopedale 5:30 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 15 Grafton 5 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 18 at Northbridge 4 p.m.

Mon, Jan. 20 at Fitchburg/MT 5:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 25 at Lunenburg 5:30 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 29 at Assabet 7:30 p.m.

Mon, Feb. 3 Nashoba Tech 5 p.m.

Wed, Feb. 5 at Littleton 7 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 8 Chicopee Comprehensive 5:30 p.m.

Thu, Feb. 13 at Shawsheen Tech 7:10 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 15 at Oakmont 7 p.m.

Wed, Feb. 19 St. Joseph’s Prep 3 p.m.

Oakmont

Sat, Dec. 14 Fitchburg 8 p.m.

Wed, Dec. 18 at St. Peter-Marian 4 p.m.

Mon, Dec. 23 at Lunenburg 1:30 p.m.

Mon, Dec. 30 at Gardner 3 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 4 at Littleton TBD

Wed, Jan. 8 Northbridge 6:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 11 at Belchertown 6 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 15 at Assabet 7:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 18 Ludlow 6:30 p.m.

Mon, Jan. 20 at Hopedale 3 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 22 Worcester Tech 6:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 25 Nashoba 6 p.m.

Mon, Jan. 27 at Leominster 7:30 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 29 Grafton 7 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 1 Assabet 6 p.m.

Thu, Feb. 6 at Fitchburg/MT 4 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 8 at East Longmeadow 4:30 p.m.

Wed, Feb. 12 Lunenburg 8 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 15 Gardner 7 p.m.

Wed, Feb. 19 Littleton 6:30 p.m.

Fitchburg/Monty Tech

Sat, Dec. 14 at Oakmont 8 p.m.

Wed, Dec. 18 at Gardner 5 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 26 Assabet 4:30 p.m.

Mon, Dec. 30 Northbridge 6:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 4 at Lunenburg 5:30 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 8 at Grafton 7 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 11 at Nashoba Tech TBA

Tue, Jan. 14 Hopedale 6:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 18 Littleton 8:10 p.m.

Mon, Jan. 20 Gardner 5:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 25 at Assabet 5 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 29 at Worcester 6 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 1 North Middlesex 6:10 p.m.

Thu, Feb. 6 Oakmont 4 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 8 at Leominster 6:30 p.m.

Wed, Feb. 12 St. Peter-Marian 7:30 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 15 at Littleton 7 p.m.

Tue, Feb. 18 Shawsheen Tech 6:30 p.m.

Thu, Feb. 20 Lunenburg 1:30 p.m.

2019-20 High School Boys Ice Hockey Schedules