By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — The Cape Ann League boys’ hockey coaches recently met to select their All-Star team and three Lynnfield High players made the postseason roster. For all three Pioneers, it was their first time making the team and all three players are forwards.
Owen Considine led the team in goals with 16 on a team that had a very balanced attack. The junior finished with 25 overall points as he also had had nine assists.
“He got off to a slow start but he is a skilled player and got very hot later in the season,” pointed out Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “I was very happy with the way he performed.”
Fellow 11th-grader, Will Norton, was the team’s leader in points with 26 as he had 12 goals and 14 assists.
“He had a very strong campaign this year,” said Gardner, as he is looking forward to getting to coach Norton and Considine again next year.
The third Pioneer All-Star is Jarett Scoppettuolo who led the team in assists with 19. The senior finished with 25 points as he also scored six times.
“He was our most consistent player overall,” said Gardner. “He sees the ice well and checks hard. He was a joy to watch.”
Lynnfield qualified for the MIAA Division 3 state tournament again this winter. After beating Norton, 4-3, in overtime in the first round, they lost to West Springfield, 5-2, at home in the Round of 16 game on March 2.
With that defeat, the Pioneers ended the season at 11-10-1. In the Cape Ann League, Lynnfield finished at 5-4 as they came in second place behind Newburyport in the CAL Kinney Division.
On Tuesday night the Pioneers held their end-of-season banquet at Spinelli’s in Peabody. That night, Gardner gave out several awards.
The Sparkes Award for school and community values, went to senior captain Joe Raffa. Raffa played forward.
Scoppettuolo, received the Taylor-March Inspirational Award while the Mike Dalton Award for work ethic went to senior winger, Jack Neenan.
Jake Connell, a senior defenseman, was given the Selfless Award while senior captain, Jack Carpenter took home the Passion Award.
The Pride Award went to senior forward, Dylan Damiani while the Mental Toughness Award was given to senior forward Evan Rocha.
The Vladamier Award for the top junior varsity player went to sophomore forward Sam Curley.
Along with Raffa, Scoppettuolo, Neenan, Connell, Damiani and Rocha, the team will lose fellow seniors Deven Henehan (defenseman), Zac Benedetto (defenseman), Jack Marenghi (center) and Ryan MacEachern (forward).
They will also lose three players who will be transferring so it will be 14 players overall.
“Our senior class accomplished a lot,” stated Gardner, who just completed his 12th-year at the helm. “They came in during the Covid situation and we won 19 games two years ago and 20 last season. “They will be impossible for us to replace.”
Losing the three other transfer players will be another obstacle next year. “You know you are going to lose the senior class but to lose the three others makes it even tougher,” admitted Gardner.
Lynnfield is slated to return eight veterans back and the good news is that both goalies, Mike Marenghi and Angelo Covino will both be back.
“The junior varsity and freshman players will hopefully be able to step it up for us next season,” said Gardner.