WAKEFIELD — The Middlesex League’s boys’ hockey coaches recently voted on All-Stars for the 2021-22 season.
Wakefield was represented by their two senior captains as forward Joey O’Brien and defenseman Evan Simoneau both earned All-Star honors.
This is the second season in a row that Simoneau and O’Brien have been named league All-Stars.
“Both guys are four-year players and have meant a lot for us building the program,” said head coach Mike Geary.
O’Brien racked up a team-high 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points from Wakefield’s top line.
Simoneau had 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points while leading the defense in the top pairing.
The Warriors dealt with injuries while enduring a tough 4-8 start through their first 12 games.
Their captains then led Wakefield on a great run, going 6-1-1 (including a five-game winning streak) through the end of the regular season to finish at 10-9-1 and earn a No. 11 seed in the new statewide Div. 2 tournament.
O’Brien scored a goal and Simoneau picked up an assist in Wakefield’s 2-0 state tournament victory over Somerset-Berkley.
“They each had terrific senior seasons on the ice but I am more proud of how they grew as leaders during the season,” said Geary. “They convinced the team to keep pushing forward and believe, which resulted in that (6-1-1) stretch to end the season with a winning record.”
First-place Stoneham and second-place Watertown led the balloting in the Freedom Division with three All-Stars while third-place Wakefield (who finished just two points back of Stoneham) and fourth-place Burlington each had two All-Stars. Wilmington and Melrose each had one All-Star.