Agganis Arena was perfect backdrop for rival game
After press time: Melrose falls to Burlington in OT, 5-4 (Jan. 10)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
BOSTON—“Walking into the arena was special. Daunting. Really cool. The locker rooms were giant. Couldn’t help but look around.”
That coming from Melrose High boy’s hockey head coach Joe Ciccarello as the 2024 Melrose High boy’s hockey team entered Boston University Agganis Arena for a first-of-its-kind meeting with Wakefield at the famed rink on Commonwealth Ave in Boston on Saturday, Jan 6.
Flanked by the MHS pep band and the MHS winter cheer team, there was enough spirit and fandom to fill the arena as Melrose and the Warriors battled a fierce contest, which saw Wakefield prevail, 3-1.
Melrose has yet to find their feet this season and as they struggle to get a win in the column, they remain grateful for the chance given by MHS and WHS to play a Freedom League game contest there.
During the game, Melrose senior captain got Jack Wright got Melrose’s lone goal.
“It was great to play there,” says coach Ciccarello of the famed venue. “We scored a power play goal by our best line right now of Jack Wright, Quinn Haggerty and Jack Feeney. They grind and constantly work hard. That’s why they get chances. We couldn’t score the equalizer and then they [Wakefield] scored another power play goal and that was it.”
The Warriors have also had their challenges this season, coming into the game also searching for win. Thus, it was a big victory for Wakefield. “They grind,” notes the coach about the Warriors. “Certainly not more talented than us, but they work hard and get to the net. Something we stress but don’t do right now.
Andrew Nemec scored all three of Wakefield’s goals, starting with the first two that came early off power plays. “We got 2 penalties in 1st period and they scored on both power plays. I probably had them killing to passive. Regardless of penalties, we still only had 1 shot in net,” says the coach.
He continues. “We have been playing very inconsistent hockey as of late. Playing well in spurts, but not sustaining. It’s costing us. Our top offensive guys have not stepped up yet and the lack of production hurts us.”
That lack of production is challenging their defense and their goalies Michael Fuccione and Joe Smith. Against Wakefield, Fuccione was called to duty. “He played well. A few bad bounces but it seems like he’s getting back to form,” says the coach. “It’s not fair to him or our defensemen that we have to pitch a shutout in order to win as we only scored 6 goals in 7 games.”
Out of the 6 goals this season, two have been by junior defensemen Brendon Doyle.
The team is certainly feeling the loss of senior forward Declan Baker, who just recuperated from an injury only to succumb to another recently.
“We lost an important piece in Declan,” says his coach. “He worked real hard to get better in the off-season. Lifted all the time and played high level hockey. First day of tryouts he lands awkwardly and separated his shoulder. Rehabbed and worked hard to come back, and was getting in the last few games and separated it again. He’s hoping for comeback before the season is over.”
In light of their offensive challenges the coach contends its time creative in their approach.
Says Ciccarello, “We know we have no natural goal sniper so we stress get pucks on net with traffic to take away goalies eyes for tips, rebounds and screens. So now it’s just a matter of doing it more in games.”
There is a lot of hockey left and many ML Freedom games coming up. But the coach believes the time is now to make movement. “We have to get going and make it quick. We can turn this around but we must get on the same page. And I have to do things differently, get my message out differently, because with 12 seniors, we have to be the more desperate team. It’s going to take all of us so we must work together. Line by line.”
Melrose will host ML Freedom rival Burlington on Wednesday (post deadline) before hosting Wilmington (3-3-1) on Saturday, Jan 13 at 7:15 p.m. at Kasabuski Arena.