Around the Rinks

After down year, 'Canes are finding their stride

Matt Metcalf, Assistant Sports Editor
Posted 1/6/15

Last year was a frustrating season to say the least for the Warwick Vets boys’ hockey team.

But after taking some lumps in a 2-16 season in 2013-14, it’s looking like the ‘Canes are …

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Around the Rinks

After down year, 'Canes are finding their stride

Posted

Last year was a frustrating season to say the least for the Warwick Vets boys’ hockey team.

But after taking some lumps in a 2-16 season in 2013-14, it’s looking like the ‘Canes are trending in the right direction in a big way.

The reason for that?

Last season, the ‘Canes were inexperienced and lacked depth. They were forced to rely on a wave on freshmen that just weren’t ready to take on the responsibility of carrying a team at the high school level.

But this year, the roster is well-balanced from the goaltending position on out.

Friday night, Vets put together an impressive 7-0 win over Mount Hope to move into fourth place in Division III. The win put the ‘Canes at 2-3 in league play, totaling their win total from a season ago through just five games this season.

They’re making the turnaround with many of the same players that have matured after a season in the league, but they’ve also been aided by many new players.

Senior goaltender Nick McGhie is undoubtedly the biggest addition to the team, as he was ineligible for last season, but is back this year and has been impressive early in the season.

Vets is also getting a lift from three freshmen – Noah Kane, Collin Csoszor and Andrew Canning. Kane and Csoszor combined for three goals on Friday night and have been effective as top-six forwards for the ‘Canes, while Canning has been a great addition to their defensive core.

Add that to the sophomores that the team has this season that they relied upon as freshmen last season in Jake Mitchell, Greg Fontaine, Tim Chaffee and David Kowalik – who have all continued to improve.

Although the ‘Canes are 2-3 and have some more work to do, they’ve been competitive with the stiffest of competition in D-III, with their only lapse coming in a 9-2 loss to first-place Ponaganset.

Other than that, Vets had close losses to Johnston/North Providence Co-op and undefeated West Warwick/Exeter/West Greenwich Co-op and has also handily beaten Woonsocket and Mt. Hope.

They were on the other end of some of the lopsided wins that they’re putting up this year a season ago.

“It’s big that we have that year under our belts,” head coach Mike Boyajian said. “Especially kids like Dylan Tindle and Brandon Major – those kids strapped on skates for the first time last year – and you would never know it from seeing them out there. It’s simply getting used to the systems and getting used to playing as a cohesive unit, rather than just going out there and playing.”

The team is getting steady contributions from a number of areas this season as well, rather than just relying on a few individuals to put the puck in the back of the net.

Vets has two solid lines, both up front and at the blue line.

Its top two offensive lines of Kowalik, Mitchell and Tindle and Csoszor, Kane and Major combined for four of the team’s seven goals on Friday night, while six different players scored goals in the game.

Two of the other goals came from defensemen Chaffee and Fontaine and the third came from a third-liner – Austin Cramer-Lacoursiere.

It’s safe to say that the team’s depth has made them a legitimate playoff contender in D-III.

“They’re really starting to feed into our systems and it’s paying off,” Boyajian said. “You have to give credit where it’s due too, McGhie is playing very well when he’s in net. He’s already kept us in games and now if we do have any lapses, we have someone back there who can bail us out at times.”

The system around McGhie was working perfectly on Friday night. Vets’ defense limited any legitimate scoring opportunities from Mt. Hope, as its only really good looks came on the power play.

Boyajian attributes the success of the system to the willingness of the players to learn and get better.

“The kids want to learn the little intricacies of the game,” Boyajian said. “They come to practice and they’re ready to go. It’s not just simply trying to get them into the mindset of being hockey players. Now they come ready to learn and say – ‘what do you have for us next coach?’ I have to say we’re very proud of how far they’ve come from last year.”

With some tough games behind it early in the season, Vets’ schedule will now become a little bit easier.

Four of the next five games for the ‘Canes will come against opponents who are below them in the standings, including two games against winless Scituate and one apiece against Woonsocket and Mt. Hope. The only roadblock in that stretch is undefeated Ponaganset.

The ‘Canes still have a lot to prove, however, as they make their push towards a playoff berth.

It’s crazy what a big difference a year makes.

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