SPRINGFIELD – Strength, discipline, communication, resilience, and accountability.
Those are just five variables that can help separate a good team from being a great and maybe even special team. Luckily for the No. 1 Longmeadow boys hockey team, they have shown progress in each of those examples – especially during their current eight-game undefeated streak.
During that impressive stretch, the Lancers have won seven of those eight by a combined score of 35-13. Aside from a stalemate against Minnechaug last week, four of those wins have been against premier teams like East Longmeadow, Amherst, West Springfield, and Agawam.
But if you ask Super 7 selection Alexander Hensch, this stretch wasn’t because of one individual player, but the whole team. That’s another example of eminence … commendability.
photo by J. Anthony Roberts
“I think everyone is buying in,” Hensch said. “Everyone plays a really important role on the team, and no one goes unnoticed. And that’s what it takes when you don’t have a real superstar, so everyone is playing a part.”
It’s not just players that are competing on the ice or giving pep talks in between periods that have helped make a difference for Longmeadow. It’s also been the coaching staff, including first-year head coach Chad McGillicuddy and assistant coach Tom Greene, who have raised the bar high and created a new culture that the Lancers have enjoyed this winter.
“I think we did a good job trying to get to know (McGillicuddy and Greene) before the season started,” Hensch said. “Obviously, it’s a new coaching staff, so it took some getting used to. But I feel like we’re really cruising and everybody is on the same page.”
Longmeadow Athletic Director Michael Capotosto couldn’t agree more with that previous statement. So it seems like the Lancers not only hired a new hockey coach this winter, but also an individual who cares about setting the right example for his players and wants to ensure Longmeadow will be a successful program in the foreseeable future.
And that has been the mission since the beginning.
“Chad had a vision for the entire program and how to grow it from day one,” Capotosto said. “He wanted to have the kids have some pride and ownership of the program in many different ways. Chad proposed a few changes that he believed would help his vision. He started with having a consistent schedule of ice time for both varsity and junior varsity, which meant we were going to a new facility for our practices.
“Before this, we were piecing together ice time at several different rinks with early mornings or late nights. Chad also worked with (Smead Arena) to have a locker room at the facility for the teams. We worked together on transportation to the practice as well as some other small upgrades within the program.
“I think he has been consistent in his message, and they have been gaining confidence as they work towards their goals.”
After opening the season with back-to-back wins against West Springfield and Westfield, Longmeadow only claimed one of its next seven games through the beginning of January. But since their one-goal loss to Minnechaug on Jan. 9, the Lancers have remained undefeated.
So what helped change the dynamic of their season?
“We get a lot of work done in our 80-minute practices,” Dominic Cross said. “It’s better to kick it up toward the end of the year than not at all. It would be nice to play at the same speed and same strength throughout the whole season. But it’s better than nothing at the end of the season.”
Though numerous positive things have been mentioned about Longmeadow’s eight-game unbeaten streak, there are still certain things that Cross would like to see the Lancers tackle moving forward.
“I would like for us to capitalize on our opportunities,” he said. “We’ve always put on a lot of shots, but we still struggle to find the back of the net.”
But on the rare occasion where Longmeadow’s offense has struggled to score, there has been no reason to fear, especially because the Lancers have one of the top netminders between the pipes in Jackson Blais. During his rookie campaign, Blais recorded 115 combined saves in six appearances for Longmeadow last season.
photo by J. Anthony Roberts
This season, though, Blais has already surpassed that figure through 17 regular-season games. Blais has also recorded back-to-back shutouts against West Springfield and Agawam to ensure the Lancers punched their ticket back into the state postseason behind their 10th overall win.
Blais, however, also spread love across the ice.
“For one, my defense has been phenomenal in front of me,” he said. “They block a lot of shots, and they limit the chances I have in the first place. And then the offense has helped get the puck out. Aside from that, though, we’re having so much fun out there.
“Anthony D’Angelo and I have so much chemistry together. It’s also been awesome to have McGillicuddy as my coach because he was a goalie beforehand, so it helps to have him help me. Before this, though, I never really had any goalie help in high school. And Greener has done a great job helping out with practices and just coaching in general.”
photo by J. Anthony Roberts
Of the 21 combined players on Longmeadow‘s roster, there is one freshman, seven sophomores, nine juniors, and four seniors. So there is certainly a nice mixture of all ages on the team, which has allowed each teammate an opportunity to work and learn new things alongside each other.
Brayden Sullivan is the perfect example.
“I’ve learned that communication is very important,” the first-year varsity member said. “And then building a bond with the team at the start of the season is important because it can also get you far in the playoffs. The seniors have treated me well so far. And we’ve had good team-bonding experiences like hanging out outside of practice, it’s been fun so far.”
And now with only one regular-season game left until the regional postseason is scheduled to begin, Longmeadow has Thursday’s finale against Ludlow circled on its calendar.
Not only is it another opportunity for the Lancers to extend their undefeated streak, but it will also be a moment to commemorate their four seniors in Matthew Zippin, Hensch, Cross, and D’Angelo from Olympia Rink at 8:30 p.m.
“We have to keep doing what we’re doing,” Cross said. “We have to bring the physicality and keep playing as a team. And as I said before, we have to bury those opportunities.”
