Last year’s playoff run has the boys hockey team excited about the prospects for continued growth, both this season and in the future.
“Last year, we were as competitive as any team in New England,” said head coach Mike Traggio of the Bearcats, which finished 18-6-2 with a loss in the quarterfinals of the NEPSAC tournament. The season included a nine-game winning streak and a run to the finals of the Flood-Marr Tournament.
The success helped build an upward spiral of both team chemistry and results on the ice, said Traggio, leaving the team in a good situation heading into this season. “We’re in a good place in a lot of different areas,” he said.
One of the big reasons for the team’s success last season was an offensive explosion – in its 18 victories, the team averaged 3.7 goals per game and only once scored a single goal. Traggio attributed the uptick in scoring to increased confidence and a better understanding of the team’s offensive system.
“When you have success, the kids think yeah, this is going to work,” said Traggio. “We give them certain things to look for, and try to take the guess work away from it so that some of it can be automatic.”
With the departure of stellar goalie Henry Wilder and three senior defensemen, Traggio said that one point of emphasis this season for the team will be upping its defensive intensity. The focus will be working to regain possession of the puck in all three zones he said.
When the Bearcats return in February, the team will resume practice by building from the back, working from the defensive end back up through to the front line, said Traggio. He added that he hoped the lessons learned on offense from last season will largely carry over to this team and will require less relearning.
Although players were disappointed to not be able to compete with their club teams this season, one consolation was being able to work together earlier in the year, especially with the availability of ice for skating starting in September. “They showed up and worked hard on the ice and in the weight room right up to November,” said Traggio.
