High School Hockey Previews

’Canes finally have reason for confidence

Matt Metcalf, Assistant Sports Editor
Posted 12/4/14

There weren’t too many positives taken from last year’s Warwick Vets’ hockey season.

The team went just 2-16 overall, compiling four points en route to finishing sixth out of seven teams in …

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High School Hockey Previews

’Canes finally have reason for confidence

Posted

There weren’t too many positives taken from last year’s Warwick Vets’ hockey season.

The team went just 2-16 overall, compiling four points en route to finishing sixth out of seven teams in Division III.

But the one thing that head coach Mike Boyajian insisted on last season was teaching the game of hockey to some inexperienced players and developing his younger guys.

He’s hoping that last season will serve as a springboard to some more success this season.

Not only will the ‘Canes have some skilled freshmen from last year return as sophomores this season, but those players have developed. That, along with a talented group of incoming freshmen, has Boyajian feeling like his team can be very competitive this year.

“We have kids coming back who have made improvements and have gotten bigger and stronger,” Boyajian said. “It’ll be good because we don’t just have to rely on our freshmen this year.”

After being limited to what they could do from a gameplan standpoint with inexperienced players last year, the ‘Canes will now look to use their talent to their advantage.

“We’ve gone from simply teaching the game last year to now being able to do some more in-depth stuff this year,” Boyajian said.

Some newly infused talent to go along with a considerably easier schedule, could lead to some success this season for the ‘Canes.

Two of D-III’s top teams from a season ago, in champion East Providence and runner-up Narragansett, have moved up to D-II for this season. Replacing those two teams are struggling programs Johnston/North Providence co-op and Mount Hope, who combined for six wins last year in D-II.

Vets graduated three players from last year’s squad – forwards Colin Peters and Anthony Parisi and defenseman Kyle Veyera.

Sophomores Gregory Fontaine and Jacob Mitchell are two of the team’s top returners. Fontaine, who is a defenseman, totaled seven points last year and is the team’s top returning scorer. Mitchell will be one of the ‘Canes top offensive threats, compiling six points in 2013-14.

The nucleus of the forwards will be comprised of Mitchell, juniors Oliver Pinheiro, Dylan Tindle and Brandon Major, sophomore David Kowalik and freshmen standouts Michael Sollenberger and Noah Kane.

Fontaine will headline the group of defensemen for Vets. He will be joined by senior Tyler DiPetrillo, junior Peter LaPorte, sophomore Tim Chaffee and freshman Andrew Canning.

In net, the ‘Canes will get a lift from Nick McGhie. McGhie was ineligible last season, but is motivated and ready to go for this season.

“At one time when he was young, he was one of the better goalies in Warwick,” Boyajian said.

McGhie will have some competition, however, as Vets will bring back senior Colby Howard from last year’s team.

Howard, who suited up as a goalie for the first time last year, made significant strides and finished the year strong, notching his first shutout in a 5-0 win over Woonsocket in late February.

“We have some depth in goal, which is more than we’ve had in a while,” Boyajian said.

Other players on the roster are Tyler Algren, Austin Cramer-Lacoursiere, Henri Guiot, Trevor Hassell, Matt Palombo, Jacob Pelletier, Virakchai Thongdee and Joseph Thorpe.

Boyajian is excited that his team now has some game experience under their belts and they are now in a position where they won’t have to lean on freshmen.

“The biggest thing for us this year is experience,” Boyajian said.

Vets will get good tests this weekend though, as they’ll play Johnston/North Providence and West Warwick/Exeter/West Greenwich co-op, who finished second during the regular season last year with a 16-2 record.

Although Vets should be much better than a season ago, they know that they’ll have to get through some good teams to have a resurgent year.

“We should get tested this year,” Boyajian said. “This weekend should be a good indicator of where we are as a program.”

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