THE PLNR co-op girls’ hockey team skated past Gloucester 7-1 in the season opener on Friday night at McVann-O’Keefe Rink. The 2-0 reigning Northeast Hockey League champs have 12 players on the team from Lynnfield High. (Peabody Athletics Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — For the third consecutive year last winter, the Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading co-op girls hockey team won the Northeast Hockey League title finishing at 12-1 as the league or state did not do a postseason tournament due to the pandemic.
Five seniors from that roster graduated but seventh-year head coach Michelle Roach does return 19 veterans as her squad will be the favorites to win the league crown again.
“We have a lot of depth and talent this year,” said Roach, as they will carry a 31-player roster. There are 12 players from Lynnfield on the roster.
The three captains this season are seniors Audrey Buckley (goalie- North Reading), Catherine Sweeney (defenseman- Lynnfield) and Kaila Griffin (forward- North Reading). Sweeney was a league All-Star last year.
The other key 12th-grader back is forward Lily Piscatelli (North Reading).
Four juniors to play a major role this year are Hannah Gromko (forward- Lynnfield), Jenna DiNapoli (forward- North Reading), Ella Chase (forward- North Reading), and Penny Speck (defenseman- Peabody).
DiNapoli is the Tanners top returning scorer as she was an All Star last year along with Gromko.
Catie Kampersal is the best sophomore on the roster as the forward from Lynnfield also made the All-Star team last winter.
“We have 12 freshmen on the roster and getting them acclimated was what we worked on in the preseason,” pointed out Roche.
PLNR scrimmaged perennial powers Reading and Woburn during the preseason.
They have gotten off to a flying start in the regular season winning their first two league games.
Last Saturday night, at Bourque Arena on the campus of Endicott College, the Tanners beat host Beverly-Danvers-Ipswich by a final of 8-2.
PLNR came out of the gates strong as they led 4-0 after the opening period. They extended the lead to 7-1 after the second period.
Freshman Sarah Powers (Lynnfield), led the attack with two goals and one assist. Kampersal had one goal and one assist. The other five goals were by Daniella White (freshman- Peabody), Chloe Gromko (freshman- Lynnfield), Chase, Spack and DiNapoli.
Chloe Gromko, Hannah’s younger sister, scored her tally on a power play.
The Tanners outshot the Panthers on net 25-14. PLNR freshman goalie, Alyse Mutti, made 11 saves in her varsity debut for the win.
In the season opener the night before, the Tanners rolled over guest Gloucester, 7-1, at McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. PLNA led this one, 3-0 , after the first and, 7-0, after the second.
DiNapoli had two goals and one assist as she was the team’s only multiple scorer. The other five goals came from Kampersal, Powers, Piscatelli, Shirley Whitmore (freshman- North Reading) and Maddie Monkiewicz (senior- Lynnfield). For Monkiewicz, it was her first-career varsity goal.
The Tanners outshot the Lady Fishermen on net 23-14. Buckley made 13 saves.
On Dec. 15, the Tanners play at host St. Mary’s at Connery Rink in Lynn at 6 p.m. in a non-league game. PLNR then goes to the Janas Rink in Lowell on Dec. 18 to take on Shawsheen Tech at 11 a.m. as they return to NHL action.
Just like last year, players will be required to wear masks.