Boys' hockey
The Super Team
Matt Greene, BC High
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Considered by many to be the best player in the state, Greene has committed to Boston College for next season. In his senior year, the star forward compiled 20 goals and 27 assists. Greene won his first Super 8 title as a sophomore, and has been in the Super 8 final all four seasons as an Eagle. A three-time All-Scholastic and Catholic Conference All-Star, Greene's speed and quick shot made him one of the most prolific scorers in the last two Super 8 tournaments. This season, Greene's offensive explosiveness helped BC High to a 21-3-1 record. In a normal off season, Greene plays for the Boston Junior Bruins and enjoys playing golf, but this summer will likely be spent preparing for Boston College, where he will join his brother Justin. | |
Cory Quirk, Catholic Memorial
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The centerpiece in CM's dominant first line, Quirk has been consistently scoring goals since his freshman year. In his four seasons with the Knights, Quirk boasts 62 goals, 53 assists, and three state championships. This season, Quirk compiled 23 goals and 22 assists and was the MVP of the Catholic Conference, arguably the best conference playing MIAA hockey. A two-time All-Scholastic, Quirk plans to play in the USHL next year before heading to a Hockey East school. He is also a member of the CM baseball team and plays hockey during the summer for the Greater Boston Junior Bruins and Hockey Night in Boston. In his free time, Quirk uses the same fearlessness he shows on the ice to go skydiving. | |
John McCarthy, St. John's Prep
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McCarthy's steady progress since his sophomore year and his imposing stature (6-foot-1-inch, 200 pounds), made him a top target for college scouts. By the end of this season, the prolific scorer had netted 20 goals and added 20 assists, enough to earn him a spot on the Boston University roster next year. While his 40 points helped the Eagles to the sixth seed in the Super 8 tournament, McCarthy was equally impressive in his junior and sophomore campaigns, posting 65 points in the two seasons. A member of the National Honor Society and the captain of the football team, McCarthy's versatility stretches beyond the ice. Along with leading one of the best football teams in the state during the fall, McCarthy enjoys golf and weightlifting in his spare time. | |
Eric Quinlan, Saugus
DEFENSE |
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With Saugus as underdogs in this year's state tournament, Quinlan again shined, helping the Sachems to their second consecutive state championship. The consecutive honors don't end there; Quinlan is now a two-time All-Scholastic and Northeastern Conference All-Star. As the anchor of the Saugus defense, Quinlan did more than protect his own end of the ice, registering 112 points (36 goals, 76 assists) during his time with the Sachems. This year, the 6-foot, 200-pound blueliner was named the Hockey Night In Boston Division 2 Player of the Year and potted 14 goals and 21 assists. While Quinlan is a Division 2 product, he plans to join Greene and McCarthy in the Hockey East in 2005 after a post-graduate year at Avon Old Farms. A year-round hockey player, Quinlan also plays for the EMass Senators and enjoys weight lifting when he is not on the ice. | |
Stephen McClellan, Catholic Memorial
DEFENSE |
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A different breed of defenseman, McClellan's graceful end-to-end rushes are reminiscent of Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch. His brilliant stickhandling has stopped even the best players in their tracks. But don't think his occasional offensive bursts hindered his defense; McClellan led a stifling CM defense, which helped the Knights win their 11th Super 8 title. In his four years at Catholic Memorial, McClellan has won three Super 8 titles and is now a member of the Globe All-Scholastic Super team for the second-consecutive season. While McClellan has still not decided on a school for next season, the defenseman, who registered 19 points this season, stays in shape with Hockey Night In Boston, the Beantown Classic tournament, and weight training with Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning. | |
Ryan Mula, Waltham
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With four goalies as All-Scholastics, Mula stood out at the top, carrying Waltham to the Super 8 semifinals. In the semifinal game, the nimble goaltender solidified his spot on the Super team, stopping 29 shots, including several stunning glove saves, in a double-overtime loss to BC High. A team without any superstars, Waltham was the final public school in the Super 8 tournament and came within one goal of the final, in large part because of Mula. With a 1.49 goals against average and six shutouts, he became a two-time Greater Boston League All-Star and a member of the all-conference team. Also an honor roll student, Mula has been equally impressive on the football field and in track. Next year he will attend prep school. | |
Coaches of the Year
John Blake, Duxbury
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Two years ago, Duxbury was in Division 2. Last year, in its first season in Division 1 competition, the Green Dragons had just four wins. This year, Blake, in his first season as coach, brought Duxbury to its first Super 8 tournament and led the Green Dragons to a 19-6 record. While his team was knocked out of the elite tournament before the semifinal round, the Green Dragons went out in dramatic fashion, defeating Waltham, 2-1, in double overtime. Blake, who played hockey at Canton High and at Plymouth State College, came to Duxbury this year from Cohasset, where he led the Skippers to a South Shore League championship last season. While Duxbury lost six games on the season, Blake faced one of the toughest schedules of any public school, losing all six games to Super 8 teams. | |
Paul Spear, Framingham
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Framingham was one win away from the Super 8 tournament, being knocked out of the tournament in the wild-card round. It was a serendipitous loss as Spear led the Flyers to the Division 1 state final. In his fifth season as the head coach at Framingham, Spear led his team, without star player Will Ortiz for 11 games, to a 15-7-5 record. ``[This was a] great group of players, led by seniors who made every attempt to overachieve,'' said Spear. ``The talent and fearlessness of the coaches and players brought us to a new level.'' Spear, who graduated from Marian High in 1988, where he played hockey, has compiled a 68-32-12 record in his five years with the Flyers. During the off season, Spear is an avid fisherman. Spear is also a continuing education student at Framingham State College. | |
John O'Neill, Winthrop
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O'Neill, in his second year as coach of Winthrop, was just getting adjusted when the announcement came that the school would likely not have another hockey season. It didn't break his, or his team's, concentration as Winthrop fought to a 19-2-1 record. The Vikings, hoping for a state title, came up short, knocked out by the eventual state champions, Saugus, in the North semifinal. ``This team had great senior leadership, which in return made the coaching staff's job easier,'' said O'Neill. In his two seasons as the head coach of Winthrop, O'Neill, who played hockey at Danvers High and Salem State College, compiled an impressive 36-6-2 record. His coaching this season earned his team a Northeastern Conference title and earned him NEC Coach of the Year honors. In his free time, O'Neill enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. | |
Anthony Sulmonte, Abington/East Bridgewater
DIVISION 3 |
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Sulmonte was a student at Stonehill College in 1980-81, the last time Abington/East Bridgewater won the South Shore League title. This season he brought the league title back to Abington, where he played in high school, leading the team to a 15-3-2 record. Abington/East Bridgewater's impressive regular season showing was enough to earn it the No. 1 seed in the state tournament. Although his team's offensive skill and great goaltending led it to the South quarterfinals, Sulmonte points to other characteristics in his players. ``We had 20 young men with character, a strong sense of commitment and an understanding of the concept of team work,'' said Sulmonte. When he is not coaching Abington/East Bridgewater, Sulmonte enjoys playing hockey and golf. | |
The All-Scholastics
Phil Greer, Arlington Catholic
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Playing on a team with two outstanding forwards, Justin Bonitatibus and Ryan Vraibel, Greer stood out as the team's MVP. He stood out so much, even in the highly competitive Catholic Central League, he was named the league MVP. At 6-1, 180 pounds, Greer used his size and impeccable positioning to lead Arlington Catholic to the semifinals of the Super 8 tournament. A two-time league all-star, Greer stymied his opponents, leading the Cougars to an 18-6 record. While Arlington Catholic was knocked out of the tournament by Catholic Memorial, losing 5-2, Greer finished the season with an impressive 1.90 goals against average. Undecided on school in the fall, Greer has another chance to shine in high school sports as he runs track in the spring. | |
Joe Grossman, BC High
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Last year, as a junior, Grossman led the Eagles to an undefeated season before losing to Catholic Memorial in the final. This year he only got better, bringing his team back to the Super 8 final while posting a 1.11 goals against average. Six feet tall, but deceptively nimble, Grossman will move on to junior hockey next year. A two-time All-Scholastic and three-time scholar-athlete award recipient, Grossman has compiled a 41-6-2 record as the Eagles netminder. While he has come within one win of a Super 8 title in his last two seasons, Grossman did share goaltending duties in 2002, when BC High won the Super 8, defeating Catholic Memorial, 2-0. Dedicated strictly to hockey during the school year, he enjoys golfing in his free time. | |
Ryan Kelly, Billerica
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At 6-2, 215 pounds, Kelly would be an imposing figure even in the NHL. However, the star forward has used his combination of size and skill for the past four years to become one of the top high school players in the state, compiling 125 points through his time with Billerica. Also an all-star in all four seasons and all-conference twice, Kelly netted 25 goals and added 30 assists to help the Indians reach the Division 1 North semifinals, before being knocked out of the tournament by the state champions, St. John's of Shrewsbury, in a dramatic, 1-0 overtime loss. Kelly is a three-sport athlete, playing lacrosse and cross country for the Indians and an honor roll student. | |
Ryan Kent, Bourne
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The only All-Scholastic from Division 3, Kent has more than earned his spot among the top players in the state. Bourne's powerful offense, which Kent was the heart of, bowled through opponents in the state tournament, scoring 27 goals in five games en route to the Division 3 state title. Kent, a four-year varsity player, has compiled 44 goals and 74 assists with Bourne, including 53 points this season. The captain of this year's squad, a South Coast Conference All-Star and the MVP of the Canal Cup tournament, he has been accepted to several schools, but has not committed. When he isn't on the ice, Kent enjoys the water, kneeboarding and fishing during the summer. | |
Matt Lentini, Belmont
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The Middlesex League may not have had its best year, but it was hard to tell with a look at Lentini's numbers. The senior forward, who led an offensively dominant Belmont team, was named a first team all-star and the Middlesex League MVP. Lentini, who has a combination of desire and pure talent, which was the hallmark of the entire Belmont squad, led his team in scoring with 18 goals and 41 assists. His offensive dominance continued in the Super 8 tournament, picking up nine points in Belmont's three games. In his career at Belmont, Lentini, who also plays soccer and baseball, compiled an impressive 50 goals and 81 assists. In the fall he plans to attend prep school for a year. | |
Brian Mahoney-Wilson, Catholic Memorial
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Nobody can express what makes Mahoney-Wilson so good better than Catholic Memorial coach Bill Hanson: ``The thing about Brian is he handles the puck so well, he communicates with the defensemen, he makes the big save and he doesn't give up soft goals.'' The Knights couldn't have asked for more from the goalie who led them to two Super 8 championships as a starter. The consummate playoff goaltender, Mahoney-Wilson allowed just four goals in his five Super 8 tournament games. Throughout the season, his numbers were equally impressive, posting a 1.16 goals against average and seven shutouts. Also accomplished in the classroom, Mahoney-Wilson boasts a 3.63 grade point average. Next year he hopes to attend Boston University, Northeastern, Harvard, Notre Dame, or Maine. | |
Ray Monroe, St. John's (S)
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St. John's of Shrewsbury was the last team anyone expected to win a state championship this year. Until the last game of the season, the Pioneers hadn't even qualified for the tournament. That is when Monroe took over. Through five tournament games, the star goalie posted two shutouts, including a 4-0 victory over Framingham to win the Division 1 championship, and allowed just seven goals. St. John's 10 losses came by a combined 12 goals its success was due to the stellar goaltending of Monroe, who had a 1.82 goals against average and a .943 save percentage. In his time with the Pioneers, Monroe's 22-13-1 record helped St. John's remain one of the strongest programs in Division 1. | |
Stephen Owens, Catholic Memorial
FORWARD |
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Success seems to follow Owens wherever he goes. In his two seasons with Catholic Memorial, Owens helped the Knights capture back-to-back Super 8 titles. This season, as one-third of CM's hard-working, high-production first line, Owens managed 13 goals and 19 assists in 24 games. Last year, scoring 14 goals and adding 8 helpers, Owens helped the Knights upset undefeated BC High in the final. As if the success with Catholic Memorial wasn't enough, Owens has won back-to-back national championships with South Boston's Midget A tournament team. Next year he will attend prep school or play junior hockey, but first he will take his athletic ability to the field on CM's lacrosse team this spring. | |
Tom Price, Milton
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As an All-Scholastic, listed with some of the most talented and accomplished high school hockey players in the state, Price's statistics still manage to astound. In his career with Milton, he has compiled a remarkable 160 points and has three times been named to the Bay State Conference All-Star team. A member of the National Honor Society and the captain of the Milton baseball team, Prices's talents extend beyond the rink. However, this season, Price solidified his reputation on the ice, picking up 55 points. In a season when the Bay State had three teams playing deep into the Division 1 tournament, Price was named the league's MVP. He will attend Phillips Exeter this fall. | |
Steve Smolinsky, BC High
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A single goal, in the biggest game of the season, illustrated just how talented Smolinsky is. In the Super 8 final, against CMs defensive stronghold, Smolinsky made two quick dekes, stepped around a defenseman and scored. ``Smolinsky has done it all year,'' said BC High coach Joe McCabe following the final. ``He had a great tournament. That kid is a Division 1 college hockey player. He is about as fast a kid as you'll see out there. And character-wise, he's the best.'' McCabe's praise simply supported what Smolinsky demonstrated during the season by picking up 42 points, that he is invaluable to any hockey team. Next year he will take his consistent contribution to Salisbury School. | |
