There are many things that separate the Marblehead High boys hockey team (15-2-1) from their counterparts throughout their state. But these Headers have one distinction that few teams have, and that’s the ability to refocus quickly after the occasional game, where they might get away from the basics, an attribute that made them state champs last year and a top seed this season.
Coach Mark Marfione doesn’t hesitate to tell them that they are a part of a team, and individual glory and celebrations can come later. The latest example of them possibly lapsing away from the basics was about a couple of weeks ago on Jan. 25 against the host Winthrop Vikings, when the Vikings came away with the 3-1 victory. But just over a week later on Feb. 5, the Headers avenged that rare loss by the same score — only in reverse — at Salem State University’s O’Keefe Arena.
“I think both Winthrop games were pretty even, but we were a bit better on the details in last week’s game,” said Marfione, “especially our (defensive) zone coverage.”
Juniors London McDonald and Andrew Dephillips, and senior captain Kyle Hart netted the goals in the Winthrop game. James Mackenzie, E.J. Wyman and McDonald collected the assists.
“This was a big win for us,” said Hart after last week’s Winthrop game. “We showed that we can step up when the pressure is on. I think Winthrop played a good and gritty game, but we did a good job playing to our pace, not theirs.”
After the Winthrop rematch, the Headers were all over Danvers, another Northeastern Conference rival, last Saturday back at Salem State, 5-0.
McDonald paced the attack with two lamplighters. Senior captain Sean Dolan, and juniors Hayden Gallo and Avin Rodovsky accounted for the other markers. Hart was the assist leader with three.
“This was not our best team game,” said Hart, “but we still found ways to get the puck in the net. Leo (Burdge) played another good game in net for us.”
The Marblehead boys began the final week of the NEC schedule on Monday (Feb. 10) versus the host Gloucester Fishermen (a 5-4 win), before facing off against Masco Feb. 12 at Salem State, beginning at 7:30 p.m. They will then participate in the 30th annual Newburyport Bank Hockey Classic next Monday and Wednesday (Feb. 17, 19) to officially complete the regular season. As of Feb. 7, they are seeded fifth in the Division 3 power rankings, bound to move up if they keep on focusing on the basics in every game.
