Coming into the winter season, the No. 8 McCann Tech hockey team had only recorded two combined wins through its previous two seasons.
Despite that statistic, Hornets coach Matthew Parise remained hopeful things might soon change. Parise understood that time, effort, and faith would be essential contributing factors for an improvement to occur.
It was worth the wait.
McCann Tech has outscored its opponents 49-27 during its opening seven games. Behind that impressive effort, the Hornets are off to the best start in program history at 6-1.
“The turnaround has definitely been a combination of things,” Parise said. “We have a core group of players who have matured and taken ownership of the program. And some new faces who have added energy and depth, and a coaching staff that has emphasized accountability and preparation.
“Most importantly, though, the team’s mindset has changed — the players expect to compete and believe in what we’re building. And that belief has made a big difference.”
The timing couldn’t have been better because McCann Tech finished 0-11-1 in its inaugural season in 2022-23 and then 2-9 last season. So the Hornets have already tripled their win total from last season and have not shown signs of slowing down.
“Our strong start has come from a commitment to playing team hockey,” Parise said. “We’ve focused on being responsible defensively, getting contributions from all lines, and playing with pace. The players have bought into working hard in all three zones, and that’s allowed us to stay competitive every night and generate consistent offense without sacrificing defense.”
Through seven games, Everett Bayliss has paced McCann Tech’s offense with 11 goals and seven assists for a team-high 18 points. Dallas Ritcher is next with 10 goals and six assists for 16 points, while Nolan Booth (five) and Hayden Bona (five) have recorded 10 combined goals.
Behind those efforts, the Hornets (6-1, 5-0) maintain a first-place lead over Easthampton (4-7, 4-3), Amherst (5-6-1, 4-4-1), and Taconic (3-4, 3-3) in the Wright Division standings. But despite that perfect conference record, Parise reminded McCann Tech about the importance of punching its first-ever ticket into the postseason.
“Our message to the team is to stay hungry and stay grounded,” Parise said. “Conference standings are nice, but they don’t win games. We’re emphasizing daily habits, preparation, and focusing on the next shift rather than the bigger picture.
“If we continue to play the right way and push ourselves every practice and game, we believe the results will take care of themselves when postseason play arrives. We have won nothing, so every game matters. That’s the mindset we need to keep all season long.”
The Hornets will conclude their two-game road trip on Wednesday against Brattleboro Union High School from Nelson Withington Skating Facility at 7:15 p.m., and then welcome Taconic to Veterens Rink for the second of their three-season matchups on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
With so much excitement circulating on and off the ice this season, Parise echoed how essential the community has been toward the Hornets’ newest revitalization.
“McCann Tech is a co-op hockey team representing the North Berkshire County schools in McCann Tech, Mount Greylock, Drury, and Hoosac Valley,” Parise said. “Our fanbase has a large reach because of this, and we love it. It also provides various communities with a rallying point.
“Our fans and players fostered a more regional connection to one another. Our players have always had great support. However, winning has now brought a whole new level of excitement to the community. It’s a proud moment for this group and the players who came before them.”
