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Thursday, March 11, 2010 |
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Out-of-state challenges musts for MSC icemen |
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Monday, 09 February 2009 |
By BRENDAN McGAIR
If we are to glean anything from Mount St. Charles’ upcoming hockey clash with perennial Massachusetts power Catholic Memorial, it’s this: these are the type of games that put a rubber stamp on the season.
In the Land of the Mount, seasons are judged solely on whether victory laps are skated at Providence College’s Schneider Arena. No coronation is complete without the Belisles, head coach Bill and top assistant and son Dave, embracing on the bench while the MSC players litter the ice with sticks and gloves in jubilation.
What further punctuates the Mounties’ year is games like those taking place Wednesday at Adelard Arena. Proving its mettle against Catholic Memorial – who despite a pedestrian year by its own lofty standards (6-3-4) ranked second in the Feb. 1 edition of Boston.com’s Mass. hockey poll – is rarified air because Mount St. Charles hardly gets tested within the borders of the Ocean State.
If that ruffles the feathers of local hockey followers, perhaps these scores will shed some light as to why the Mounties actively seek out competition elsewhere. Outside of Bishop Hendricken, no other Rhode Island program has managed to stay within plain sight of MSC this winter. The lops-sided tip of the scales in Mount’s favor have yielded far too many wins in clear-cut fashion such as 13-1 over Barrington and 11-0 and 9-0 over Toll Gate. Remove the two Hendricken contests and MSC has out-scored its R.I. “competition” by a whooping 66-2 margin.
MSC has long sought competition elsewhere, a telling sign that shows just how imbalanced the hockey landscape is around here. The holiday tournament held every Christmas vacation in Woonsocket is simply the best four days of pure high school hockey this area witnesses. The star power in the field was something Mount craved after opening the season with 32 goals in four games.
Last month’s trip to Minnesota provided MSC with another stiff test against primetime opposition. On Wednesday, the juices should be flowing at Adelard against a Catholic Memorial outfit that seeks to exact some payback. Mount dealt Catholic Memorial its first loss of the season last February – in Dedham no less.
It’s a shame that Mount and Hendricken don’t play more than the three times it’s booked for this regular season. Two of those games are already completed, both sides earning wins on the Mounties’ home ice. The rubber match and with it the inside track to the No. 1 seed is set for Feb. 20 in Warwick.
Regardless of what unfolds at Thayer Arena, the Mounties and Hawks are on a collision-course for another championship series in mid-March. Only Hendricken represents a credible threat to MSC’s chances to repeat as champs, but the Mounties should enter that series stockpiled with gamesmanship thanks to the out-of-state schedule the Belisles have carefully calculated.
With only one worthy intrastate challenger (Hendricken), it shouldn’t be hard to see why MSC dots the calendar with contests against the ilk of Catholic Memorial. You simply get a better handle on what kind of program you’re operating when facing off against high-powered programs.
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Last Tuesday at the Murray Center on the campus of Rhode Island College had to qualify as a proud moment for longtime St. Raphael coach Tom “Saar” Sorrentine. Two of his former star pupils, Antone Gray (RIC) and Jeff Holmes (UMass-Amherst), took to the same hardwood.
“It was fun to see them play. Both were great players (at SRA) and it’s nice to them continuing on in college,” said Sorrentine. “Things are working out for those two.”
Gray’s club staged a furious comeback, fighting back from an 18-point deficit to post a 72-61 win over Holmes and the No. 20 Lord Jeffs (great nickname). Gray, the Anchormen’s starting point guard, left his fingerprints all over the stat sheet, finishing with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Playing in 15 minutes off the bench, the freshman Holmes contributed six rebounds and a block.
Sorrentine has produced numerous college hoopsters in his years on Walcott Street, but last week’s meeting represents the first time two ex-Saints opposed one another in a regular season game. Brothers T.J. and James Sorrentine were on opposite sides when Vermont and St. Michael’s playing in an exhibition contest a few years back.
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One interesting name to pay attention to regarding the vacated head football job at North Attleboro High is Frank Iannetta, the former pigskin boss at Cumberland. The Red Rocketeers’ position became open when Kurt Kummer, the former coach at Seekonk, chose to devote all his energy and time to his athletic director responsibilities at North. … Brian Hanuschak (Cumberland) is averaging three points and three rebounds in 12 minutes in his freshman year for Division II Saint Rose. … Newenglandrecruitingreport.com rates Pawtucket’s Nyheem Sanders and Woonsocket’s Antjuan Jones as, respectively, the third and fourth R.I. hoop prospects amongst the Class of 2009. Amongst the locals appearing in the listing for the 2010 prospects are Shea’s Malcolm Moniz (No. 4), Robert Alers of Central Falls (No. 5), Shea’s Kelvin Walker (No. 7) Mount St. Charles’ Colin Russell (No. 9) and East Providence’s Donald Williams (No. 10). Woonsocket native and current St. Andrew’s sophomore Mike LaPlante is the second-rated prospect in the Class of 2011.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 February 2009 )
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Saturday night I attended the semi-final girls basketball
game vs Townies Girls team as an aunt of one of the EP players. It was an exciting
all-around game for both teams, and I give credit to my niece and the Townie girls
too for a great season. <br />I just have to say though, that I was
particularly impressed with the talent, poise and unflappable playing style of this
Tolman girls team! It can only speak well of a great coaching staff, and their love
and encouragement of these talented girls. After the game, the low-key humilty that
the Tolman girls displayed, showed real sportsmanship and class. I have a feeling
that this season is the "Year of the Tiger" and hope that they go straight on to
victory in the championship. No matter what the outcome though, they've gained a new
loyal fan in me, and I look forward to following the next seasons with real
interest. This is the way that high school sports should be played! You go Tolman
girls! - Regina Orio
THANK YOU TO THE PAWTUCKET TIMES AND THE WOONSOCKET CALL
FORV THEIR GREAT COVERAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING IN YOUR PAPERS IT IS VERY MUCH APPERICATED!! A SPECIAL THANKS TO TERRY NEAU FOR HIS EXCELLENT COVERAGE OF CUMBERLAND CLIPPERS WRESTLING AND FOP ALL THE GREAT PICTURES YOU PUT IN THE CALL THEY ARE AWESOME!!!THANKS AGAIN!!! - Dawn Lariviere
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