Middleboro hockey brings strong leadership, postseason hopes into new season
Gavin Pyne corrals the puck. Photos by Bobby Grady
Pyne weaves through defenders.
Wyatte Goyette shoots.
Goyette puts pressure on the defense.
Xavier Valcorba wins a face-off.
Levon Mulready looks to score.
Keenan Peterson crosses the blue line.
Greg Mason makes a save.
Jake Deane shoots.
Gavin Pyne corrals the puck. Photos by Bobby Grady
Pyne weaves through defenders.
Wyatte Goyette shoots.
Goyette puts pressure on the defense.
Xavier Valcorba wins a face-off.
Levon Mulready looks to score.
Keenan Peterson crosses the blue line.
Greg Mason makes a save.
Jake Deane shoots.
MIDDLEBORO— Winter sports are in full swing at Middleboro High School and Nemasket Week is catching up with each team about the new season, what to expect from each team, who the players to watch are and more.
The Middleboro High hockey team is looking to put together a strong season in its fourth year of joining forces with Wareham and Carver High School. Following the Sachems’ 4 to 3 loss to Bishop Stang High School, Nemasket Week caught up with head coach Steven Chamberlain.
Q: What’s your reaction to the game?
A: I think it was a really good back and forth game between two high school hockey teams that play every year. I wish we came out on the other side of the score board. [Bishop Stang] started on top and we came back then they jumped ahead because of a couple costly mistakes. I felt like the boys were going to tie it up at the end but we came up a little bit short.
Q: In the first few weeks of the season, what has preparation looked like?
A: We’ve done a lot of on-ice and off-ice work just prepping the team for every scenario and really trying to get them to come together as a team and be good teammates. In order to be successful team chemistry is almost equally as important as one ice play.
Q: How are you fostering strong team chemistry while pulling kids from three high schools?
A: We have a lot of really good kids and we’re senior heavy right now — I think we have 11 seniors so it really helps having strong leadership. My assistant coach and I are lucky because our captains really take the reins.
Q: So far what are the team’s strengths and what are some areas of improvement?
A: We have a lot of strengths, offensively our strength is Wyatte Goyette and Xavier Valcorba who set the pace offensively. Wyatt is already the all-time assist leader in program history and he’s only a couple points shy of leading the program in points. On the back end Levon Mulready is a phenomenal defenseman who will jump up to forward as we need it. If we cut down on a couple mistakes I think we’ll be in really good shape.
Q: Moving forward, what are the expectations for the year?
A: Last year we got knocked out in the playoffs by Nauset who went on to win the state championship and we gave them a run for their money. Since then these guys have had a fire in their belly ever since that game and if they show up and put forth their best hockey there’s no doubt we’ll go on a serious run in the post season.
Q: How is this Sachems team different from past years?
A: We’ve really started to have strong chemistry and I think they’re truly starting to play for one another and have fun out there. We have a lot of talent in all the different positions but I really think the character and strong team leadership goes a long way.
Q: Who are the guys to watch for this year?
A: Wyatte Goyette, Xavier Valcorba, Gavin Pyne, EJ Wankey Levon Mulready and our goaltender Greg Mason.
The Sachems will face off against Apponequet Regional High School Monday, Dec. 29 for their next game.
