Hockey 2005-2006

Solomon Makes 28 Saves in 3-0 Win over Beverly

Courtesy of the Lynn Journal, 1/18/06   

Lynn Classical junior Anthony Solomon earned his first goaltending victory of the season in the Rams’ 3-0 decision over Beverly Saturday at the O’Keefe Sports Complex. The 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound Solomon made 28 saves in the game.
“Anthony made some outstanding saves,” said Lynn Classical coach Jim Dakin. “He was up on his feet a lot. He came and played the type of game that I know he can play. It was a great defensive game for us.”
Solomon said the Rams’ four defensemen limited rebound opportunities and cleared the puck for the zone quickly.
“It was a team effort. We played all three lines and our defense came up big for us,” said Solomon. “Devon Dupuis, Pat Simmons, Jonathan Leighton, and Jared Ward all played great games.”
Solomon’s goaltending gem helped the Rams improve their record to 4-4. Solomon is 1-4 in five starts in the net.
“I was more focused in the net and nothing got by me [Saturday],” said Solomon. “I think we took a big step forward. We want to make it to the state tournament.”
Ryan Duggan had two goals and an assist to spark Classical’s offensive attack. Senior winger John Kelter, who has moved on to a line with Duggan and Tommy Adams, also scored a goal.
The line of Tommy Coppinger, Liam Bransfield, and Brendan Slepoy also played well for Classical.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game 5 - Tough loss for the Rams  (5-3)       Written by Jared Ward

  At Connery Rink Wednesday night, the Lynn Classical and Saugus High School hockey teams found themselves in a battle. In a very hard hitting, scrappy game, Saugus prevailed 5-3 in a very even match. The Rams struck first as Ryan Duggan slid a pass to Tommy Adams, sending him on a break-away as Adams slipped the puck to his back-hand and put it away. Scuzzarella than answered for Saugus on the power-play to tie the score at 1-1 and that’s how the period would end. The second period was just as even as the first as both teams were hitting hard and getting their opportunities. Saugus struck first in the second as McBride set-up McManus. Only 36 seconds later, Duggan and Adams broke in on a two-on-one and Adams lit the lamp again to tie the score once again. The period came to an end at 2-2. The Sachems came out in the third with something to prove as to why they have won the Division 2 State Championship 2 out of the last 3 years and are the reigning North Sectional Champion. Hashem, Chiulli, and Dion scored one after the other making it a 5-2 lead for the Sachems. The Rams did not put there heads down and instead worked to attempt a comeback as they began to control play once again. Duggan lit the lamp on a pass from Adams to make the score 5-3 and to put the Rams back in the game. The Rams sprung to life and began to control the puck in the offensive zone and take charge but Sachems goalie Adam Izzicupo came up big and kept the lead as the Sachems took home the victory 5-3. 

Game 4 - Dominance over Lynn Tech   8 - 3         Reported by Jared Ward

Monday, 12/19/05, we played at Connery Rink. We started off with a commanding 6-0 by the start of the second period and never looked back. We played four solid lines on a consistent basis and used six defensemen. Everyone got a chance to play. The game was a breeze but we are preparing to play three-time Division 2 State Champions Saugus Wednesday night !!  Wish us luck !

Game 3 - We Don't Want to Talk About It   ( a 5-2 loss )   

Game 2 - Clean  Win over Swampscott  9 - 7   Reported by Jared Ward

Wednesday, 12/14/05, the Classical Hockey Team found itself in a game where the lead kept going back and forth. The teams were tied at the end of the first and second period. There were a lot of small penalties, and this team still needs to work on its game. But the big guns of Tommy Adams ( 5 goals) and Ryan Duggan ( 3 goals ) plus Johnny Kelter's goal did the job for the offensive line. Greg Gaudet did a nice job in goal, but it was nice to see 'Sols' Solomon back in net. 'Sols' shut down Swampscott in the third period. Don't miss the big game at Winthrop this Saturday !!

First Game of Season Classical Wins 7-6        Reported by Jared Ward

The first game of the season was a wild and exciting 3 period fight between two good competitors. Latin Academy took the lead right away but Classical kept coming back. Ryan Duggan had 3 goals and 3 assists, picking up where he left off last season. Tommy Adams had 1 goal and 4 assists to keep up the pace. Jared Ward had 1 goal and 1 assist. Johnny Kelter and Liam Bransfield added 1 goal each. Greg Gaudet was exemplary in goal. Coach Dakin said this was a positive but lucky win and the team needs to keep working on their skills. The next game is on Wednesday at Connery Rink, off the Lynnway, against Swampscott.

Head Coach: Jim Dakin  

2005-2006 Team  

Captains

Seniors

Classical's Adams nets 100th career point

Classical High hockey player Tommy Adams, in white, scored his 100th career point in the game against English on Saturday.  (Paula Muller photo)

By Jonathan Weiner / For The Item, Monday, February 20, 2006

The number 100 has always been a magical plateau in the world of sports. Wilt Chamberlain once netted that many points in a professional basketball game. A good running back will get that many yards in a football game, and every leadoff man strives to score that many runs over the course of a season for his baseball team.
You can add Classical's Tommy Adams to the list of those who have reached the 100 plateau. The sophomore scored his 100th career point in Saturday's hockey affair against English in the Rams' 8-7 season finale at Connery Rink.
He didn't waste too much time in reaching that total, either. Just 68 seconds after the puck was dropped, he got the puck in front of the Bulldog net, skated into position, and flung a wrist shot past goalie Alex Hutt for career point number 100. He would add three more goals (one in the second, two more in the final period) to finish with a four-goal night.
"It felt awesome to get to that total," Adams, who now has 49 goals and 54 assists in just two seasons, said. "There was no pressure on me to get to it. I just wanted to go and play to the best of my abilities. It's certainly a big accomplishment in doing it in only two years, and I'll never forget it."
Classical coach Jim Dakin, who stepped down after ten years at the Rams helm after Saturday's contest, recognized quickly what he had last season, when Adams as a freshman compiled 66 points (28-38-66) when he was on the same line with Chad Johnson and Ryan Duggan (the trio combined for well over 200 points to be the top-scoring line in the state).
"Tommy is a very good player, with good speed that can be deceiving," Dakin said. "He's very tricky on the ice, and he passes very well. It means a lot to the team to have him out there."
Adams showed just what he could do last season in only his second game when he contributed his first ever hat trick against Hamilton-Wenham. The totals provided from Adams, Johnson, and Duggan brought the Rams to the tourney for the first time in many years. Johnson has since transferred to Tilton Academy, but Adams and Duggan have combined on many a goal this year.
"Ryan and I play very well together," said Adams of his linemate, who has been a teammate of his since their days as Peewees. "We know what each other can do, and we know one another very well."
Dakin mentioned, "The two of them are very talented, and very devoted to hockey all year long."
Classical ended this season 8-12, but Adams added 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points. What's most amazing about him attaining the century mark was that Adams did so in under 40 games. He missed a pair this season due to a concussion, then was disqualified for two others later in the year.
"My first instinct when I have the puck and I have the shot is to shoot at that open spot (of the net)," said Adams. "I get a lot of my goals that way, but also score on rebounds as well."
 The Rams, despite a strong start, missed out on the tourney this season. Adams didn't enjoy ending his season so early.
"It feels awkward that we didn't make the tourney," he said, "and it's kind of sad that the season ends right now."
Footnote :  Ryan Duggan also made the NEC All-Star team and finished the regular season as the state's scoring leader.

Classical Boys Hockey Defeats Tech
By Erik Johnson / For The Daily Item of Lynn, Tuesday, February 14, 2006

The Tech hockey team was handed the tall task of containing a Classical team that still had its eyes on a tournament berth and for a while, it looked the Tigers might play the spoiler.
Classical (8-10) won the game, 8-3, but not without a few anxious moments. The Rams came in needing to win their remaining three games in order to qualify, but Tech goalie Geoff Ferguson, despite missing the last two weeks due to illness, wasn't inclined to make things easy. He stopped 15 of 16 shots in the first period to keep the Tigers in the hunt, 1-1.
The constant barrage, however, finally caught up to Ferguson in the second period, when Classical scored five goals to put the game out of reach.
"(Ferguson) really was great in the first period," Tech coach Tim Serino said. "I just think he was fatigued, and I should have caught on to that earlier in the game."
Dylan Smith supplanted him in the third period, after he allowed a quick goal to John Kelter, right off a face off.
Tech drew first blood, as Dan Regan stole an errant pass and slid the puck over to Michael Spinucci, who broke away for the goal, only 1:39 into the game.
The Rams then went on a scoring spree, putting the next eight goals on the board.
"Tech really did hang in there with us for a while," Classical coach Jim Dakin said. "They gave us all we could handle."
Ryan Duggan again led the scoring attack, picking up a pair of goals and an assist to give him 58 points this season. Ryan Civiello also scored a pair of goals, but had to leave the game halfway through the third period after getting a cut over his left eye, which required stitches.
Tommy Adams and John Kelter both contributed with a goal and two assists, while Tom Coppinger and Pat Simmons had a goal apiece.
"We got to spread (the scoring) out," said Dakin. "All four lines got some playing time."
The third period brought a lot of physical play, especially from Tech, led by senior captain Justin Griffin.
"They played physically," said Dakin, "but it was clean."
The increased physicality led to two Tigers goals -- one by Bill Blundell and the other by Eric Little. Little and Spinucci picked up assists on the Blundell goal.
"We just didn't get enough shots on goal," said Serino. "That was the difference in the game. We just didn't get enough offensive chances."
The win keeps the Rams' fading tournament hopes alive. They need to beat Salem and English in the final two games. Both teams have already beaten Classical this season.

English Boys Hockey Defeats Classical
By Matthew Roy / For The Daily Item of Lynn, Thursday, February 2, 2006

To say that the Lynn English hockey team has struggled to find the net would be putting it nicely. The Bulldogs came into Wednesday's game against arch-rival Lynn Classical having scored just 12 goals in 13 games.
 It's funny how a rivalry game brings out the best in a team.
Breaking a 2-2 tie after the first period, the Bulldogs exploded for seven goals over the final two periods to deal Classical a 9-4 loss in front of 500 crazed fans at Connery Rink.
"We finally got everybody back healthy and had a good effort," English coach Al Melanson said. "Classical is a very good team and this is something that we really, really needed."
The Bulldogs (2-11-1) made it clear early that they weren't going to make life easy for Classical. Just 5:26 into the game, Dan Powers snapped home a wrist shot for a 1-0 English lead.
The Rams (6-8) had a response at the 9:59 mark when Tommy Adams took Devon DuPuis' breakaway pass and tucked a backhander over Alex Hutt to knot things at 1-1.
 That's how it stood late in the period when the North Shore's leading scorer got into the act. Ryan Duggan took a Pat Simmons pass and unleashed a bullet from the right circle that beat Hutt for a 2-1 Classical lead with 1:39 left in the period.
English, however, wasn't quite done yet as Billy MacDaniel slapped home a rebound with seven seconds left in the period to even things at 2-2.
"English came out to win this game (Wednesday)," Classical coach Jim Dakin said.
The Bulldogs rode the momentum of MacDaniel's goal into the second period, where they took over the game. Powers got things started with his second tally of the game just 1:47 into the period.
 Then with Classical's Jonathan Leighton off for hooking, MacDaniel got his second goal of the game, assisted by Dave Stevens and Dylan Bogart, at 6:13 for a 4-2 lead. Less than a minute later, it was 5-2 when Mark Boland's shot from an impossible angle caught the right post and went in.
Hutt, meanwhile, was under constant siege during English's goal-scoring bonanza. But the senior netminder came up with save after save to keep the Bulldogs in front.
"Alex is a quality goaltender and he made some great saves in the second," Melanson said.
Adams got the Rams back in the game at 9:41 when he converted a Duggan feed into his second goal of the game. Before period's end, however, English got that goal back when Josh Seaman beat Anthony Solomon 5-hole for a 6-3 lead after two periods.  Less than three minutes into the third period, Duggan and the Rams attempted to hit the comeback trail as his 30th goal of the season made it 6-4. But any hopes of a dramatic finish died when MacDaniel completed his hat trick at 5:12.
Jay Miller and Bogart would add power play goals late in the third to give English a convincing win.
"These kids are finally starting to believe and that's important," Melanson said.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duggan records 100th career point as Classical hockey defeats Rockport

The Daily Item of Lynn, Friday, January 20, 2006

Ryan Duggan scored two goals and assisted on two others to not only help the Classical High hockey team to an 8-3 win over Rockport on Thursday, but also reach a milestone. With his first two points of the game, he hit the 100-career point milestone.
Although he had plenty of scoring opportunities in the first two periods, Duggan didn't break through until the third period, when he picked up his 99th and 100th points on back-to-back assists on goals by Tommy Adams. Once he got rolling, he was tough to stop. Duggan scored the next two goals, and when the barrage ended, he had four points in a span of 57 seconds.
"Ryan got his 100th point, and that's quite a feat," Classical coach Jim Dakin said. "That's in only a year and a half."
Duggan (55 career goals, 47 career assists) transferred to Classical from English after his freshman year. The 102 points came in his 31 games as a Ram. Last year, Duggan finished with 37 goals and 34 assists. He comprised a third of what was the most prolific scoring line in the state (Adams, Duggan and Chad Johnson). The three combined for 100 goals and 114 assists for 214 points. Johnson, who racked up 77 points in his one season at Classical, now plays at The Tilton School.
Duggan said he isn't thinking goals and assists when he's out there; he's just focused on winning the game.
 "I go out there and what happens, happens," Duggan said. ."If I get a goal, that's fine. If I get an assist, that's fine."
Duggan said he actually prefers getting assists to goals because he doesn't want to be a hungo.
Although the Rams (5-4) ended up winning the game by a comfortable margin, the final score wasn't entirely indicative of the game. Rockport scored the first goal 3:08 into the game, took a 2-1 lead and then came back to within a goal at 4-3 to end the second half.
Classical bombarded Rockport goalie Bryan Greel with 42 shots in the first two periods and 58 over the course of the game, but Greel kept things close through the first two periods.
Steven Smalley scored the first Classical goal to tie the game and Ryan Civiello, who finished with two goals, tied it at 2-2 to end the first period. John Kelter and Civiello each scored in the second period, and it was the Duggan-Adams show in the third. Adams scored two goals in seven seconds, and then Duggan added his two for the 8-3 final.
"The second and third lines were outstanding," Dakin said. "They played really tough. They're playing really aggressive, and that's what we're going to need to qualify for the tournament."
---------------------------------------------------------------------

In his Second Year at Lynn Classical, Ryan Duggan Closes in on 100 Points       Courtesy of the Lynn Journal, 1/18/06

Ryan Duggan is scoring points at a record clip for the Lynn Classical High School hockey team.
Tonight, if form holds up, Duggan will enter the exclusive territory of being a 50-goal scorer and 100-point producer. Duggan has 98 points heading into the Rams’ game against Rockport. He has 16 goals and 11 assists through eight games following a 71-point season as a sophomore.
“I don’t know anyone that has scored 50 goals and 100 points at Classical,” said head coach Jim Dakin. “When I played, the highest scorer in the league was maybe 30-35 points and there were three years of high school then. My guess is that he has the record and he’s done it in a year-and-a-half.”
Dakin feels Duggan can compete at the next level. “Scoring 100 points in one-and-one-half seasons is quite a feat. He’s a solid hockey player, and I think he has a future in hockey.”
Duggan had a two-goal, one-assist performance in a 3-0 win over Beverly Saturday. He is skating on the top line with senior John Kelter and sophomore Tommy Adams.
“That was a huge win over Beverly,” said Duggan. “Everyone played well. Jared Ward had a nice assist on my tip-in.”
Duggan realizes that 100 points is a noteworthy milestone for a high school player. “I can’t do it without my linemates,” said Duggan, son of Gary and Nancy Duggan. “They feed me the puck so I can score, and I give them the puck for assists.”
There may be another Duggan heading to Classical next year. Ryan’s younger brother, Michael, is an eighth grader who plays for the Lynn Youth Hockey Bantam ‘A’ team. He also has a sister, Danielle. “If my brother comes to Classical, that would be great,” said Ryan, “but he hasn’t decided what school he wants to attend next year.”

--------------------------------------

  Classical Hockey Team Archives 2004-2005    

Head Coach: Jim Dakin  

 Asst. Coaches :  Paul "Gus" Costello        E.J. Breen       Bob Rowe

Johnson will Join his Brother at Tilton School 

The Lynn Journal, Eye on Sports, 5/11/05

Lynn Classical hockey star Chad Johnson, who as a freshman was the leading scorer in the state this season, will transfer to Tilton School in New Hampshire. Johnson will leave Classical at the end of the school year and begin his sophomore year at Tilton in September.
Johnson’s father, Tech Athletic Director Dave Johnson, said his son made his decision this week after learning that the Classical and English hockey programs would most likely not be merging for the 2005-06 season. Johnson added that his son wanted the opportunity to play hockey with his brother, Matt, who will be a senior captain of the Tilton team next season.
“The merger [of the Classical and English hockey programs] was going to be a great opportunity to put a talented team together and have a great JV program,” said Johnson. “It was going to be the right thing to do because you know how bad the numbers are in the city. So this merger was something that we were hoping was going to be able to go through.”
Dave Johnson said his sons could be linemates for Tilton next season, with Matt skating at center and Chad playing left wing.
“Chad and Matt might even end up on the same line,” said Johnson. “so that’s an opportunity of a lifetime and an opportunity that Chad had to take.”
Tilton coach Pat Norton, son of NESN college hockey announcer Bob Norton, attended some of Chad’s high school games this season and was obviously impressed with his all-around hockey skills, notably his high-powered offensive game.
Centering a line of freshman Tommy Adams and sophomore Ryan Duggan, Johnson scored 36 goals and had 41 assists. That line accounted for 213 points, and backboned by the stellar goaltending of senior Philip Whelan, the Rams roared to a 17-3 record.
Dave Johnson said the decision to transfer was a difficult one for his 15-year-old son. “It was a hard decision for him because he really likes all three of his coaches [head coach Jim Dakin and assistants E.J. Breen and Gus Costello], who are great guys. They were just tremendous and they made hockey so much fun. It’s a hard thing for Chad to do because he told Coach Dakin he would be coming back next year, and this just happened to break.”
Chad Johnson will also join another Lynn player at Tilton, St. Mary’s senior Jason Rexinis, who will play a post-graduate year hockey at Tilton next season.

Dupuis Named Captain of Lynn Classical Hockey Team

Reprinted from the Lynn Journal, 3/30/05

Devon Dupuis, graduate of the Lynn Youth Hockey program, has been named as the captain of the 2005-06 Lynn Classical High School ice hockey team.
Head coach Jim Dakin made the announcement at the team’s breakup party at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus.
“Devon will be a great leader,” said Dakin. “He’s played full time the last two seasons and he’s very capable of leading this team.”
Philip Whelan, one of the outgoing captains with Ricky Myette and Nick Mamos, said Dupuis will flourish in his role as captain.
“Devon is a great kid on and off the ice,” said Whelan. “He was an excellent defenseman in front of me this year, and next year, I think the team will be in good hands with him as captain.”
Dupuis, a junior, heads a list of returning defensemen that includes juniors Pat Simmons and Justin Gridley. The Rams’ prolific first line of Chad Johnson, Ryan Dugan, and Tommy Adams also returns after combining for 100 goals and 114 assists this season. John Kelter and Ryan Civiello will also boost the Rams’ offense.
Dupuis said he’ll take pride in wearing the coveted ‘C’ on his jersey.
“I was honored to be named as a captain,” said Dupuis, who also plays varsity soccer and lacrosse. “The captains did a tremendous job this year and I want to carry on what they did for the program. Our coach is a great guy. All the players loved his inspirational talks. He’s a great person to have by your side when you take the ice.”
Dupuis said it was exciting to be a part of the Rams’ rise to 17 regular season wins and a state tournament berth this season. “I’m hoping we can bring some of that momentum into next year and continue to be successful,” said Dupuis, son of Dennis and Sheila Dupuis. Devon has two brothers, Robert, a Classical graduate, and Alex, a sophomore at Classical

Classical’s Storybook Season Halted by Lowell

Reprinted from The Lynn Journal, 3/9/05

What Lowell High started Sunday evening in Chelmsford’s Tully Forum, the Danvers High Falcons finished in stunning fashion 24 hours later just down the road at Tsongas Arena.
The net result? The tournament is over for both the Lynn Classical and St. Mary’s icemen. The third seeded Rams were upended by sixth seeded Lowell, 3-2, Sunday in the Div. 3 North quarterfinals, while the top seeds in Div. 2 North, the Spartans, were shocked by the ninth seeded Falcons, 4-2 Monday night.
Two weeks removed from an 8-1 shellacking at the hands of St. Mary’s , Danvers pulled off the major league upset as Falcon third liners Kyle Pydynkowski and Brett Fravel each scored unanswered goals in the final period.
St. Mary’s, which was playing without head coach mark Lee due to an MIAA suspension, got on the board first in the opening minutes on a John Ragusa tally from Jared Weymouth.
Later in the period, Danvers evened it on a strike from D.J. Hines. The Falcons’ Jim Devaney put Danvers up, 2-1, with the lone score of the second period, but the Spartans quickly evened things just 20 seconds in to the final period when Jim Mamos set up Jason Rexinis.
The emotional win was sweet redemption for the Falcons, who were upended by the Spartans three years ago in the Div. 2 North final, while also serving as an equally bitter pill to swallow for the Spartans (17-3-1), who seemed to have all the pieces in place this season to grab the one prize that has eluded them - a state title.
Danvers goalie Stevie Moulton was sensational at times in turning back 26 shots, while Nick Vitale had 19 saves for the Spartans. Danvers (13-7-1) moves on to play upstart Newburyport (12-8-2) in what would have appeared to be a pretty unlikely semifinal when the seeds first came out.
In Lowell they have dubbed him the “DiDomeninator” and after watching Red Raiders’ goalie Steve DiDomenico turn back 34 Classical shots from every conceivable angle Sunday, no one on the Rams’ bench is likely to find fault with the nickname.
The outstanding performance in net ended the inspired storybook ride for the Rams, who in one season’s time went from three wins to a season with just three regular season losses and an appearance in the Div. 3 North quarterfinals. Lowell (14-5-3) moves on to their third straight North semifinal where they will face No. 1 seed Holliston (18-1-3).
The third seeded Rams (17-4-1) broke out on top first as Ryan Duggan beat DiDomenico off an assist from Tommy Adams. With the kind of scoring opportunities that the Rams were generating early, it appeared that the strike would be the first of many, but the brick wall from Lowell had different ideas.
The best of those chances would come early in the second period with the Rams still holding a 1-0 advantage. Ryan Duggan skated in alone on the net minder who was sprawled out in the slot trying to break up the play. In an instant, what looked to be a 2-0 Classical advantage, instead evaporated in the webbing of DiDomenico’s glove.
With their goalie standing on his head on one end of the ice, Lowell would go on to knot the game at 1-1 at the 13:46 mark of the second period on a Nick Gys wrister from the left circle. Jim McKennedy’s shorthanded goal 24 seconds into the third made it 2-1 and the sixth seeds seemingly put it away on Jim Kennedy’s goal with 7:33 to play to make it 3-1.
But with the large Lowell student contingent chanting, “It’s all over” with less than a minute to play, the Rams showed their mettle. Coach Jim Dakin pulled goalie Phil Whelan for an extra attacker and got immediate results as the Rams won a face off in the Lowell zone and Duggan scored on a twice-deflected shot in close with 47 seconds to play.
While they would have obviously loved to have gone further in their first trip to the tourney in seven years, this Rams team will not be forgotten anytime soon. Counted in the gaudy 17-win total are two wins over arch-rival Lynn English — the Rams’ first over the Bulldogs in many years - and a win over previously unbeaten Salem.

----------------------------------------

Classical Hockey Tops Latin Academy to Advance in Tourney
By Matthew Roy,  from The Daily Item of Lynn,     Friday, March 4, 2005

Seven-year Tourney Itch Over for Rams

from The Lynn Journal

As they swarmed his net with the same furor of a three-on-one open ice break, Phil Whelan could only smile. After all, this was one breakaway that the Lynn Classical goalie more than welcomed.
“I’ve been waiting four years for a celebration like that,” said Whelan of the mob scene on the carved up ice at Connery Rink Saturday after the Rams’ 5-3 win over Hamilton-Wenham.
“It was great and I can’t really describe the feeling. Just to see those guys coming at me in the crease was a great feeling.”
Qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in seven years will tend to have that effect, and with their 20th point secured Saturday Jim Dakin’s 10-3 club was indeed ready to celebrate.
It has been a long wait for Dakin too.
In just his second year at the helm his Rams skated into the tournament and lost a nail-biter to Westford Academy. He had hoped that it was the first of many trips to the postseason, but depleted numbers in the ensuing years cross-checked those hopes. Last season the Rams won just three games, but to their credit a core of eight seniors returned this year intent on making their final trip around the ice at Connery a memorable one.
“They’re the backbone of the team and they’ve got the experience,” said Dakin of the group that is led by captains Whelan, Ricky Myette and Nick Mamos. “They’ve all stuck it out and they’ve only gotten better each year. They’ve all seen the bottom, now they’re getting to see the rewards.”
Whelan, who has seen his share of far less friendly rushes of the crease over the last three years, admits that there were times that he left the rink shaking his head.
“Sometimes it kind of did get frustrating, but we could see that this year that we had some new kids who were going to really help,” said Whelan.
Enter the wunderkind line of freshmen Chad Johnson and Tommy Adams and sophomore Ryan Duggan. It’s a troika that has posted a gaudy 139 points in 13 games for the Rams led by Johnson’s 26 goals and 22 assists, which is second best in the state. Like Whelan, it’s a group that Dakin has also had his eye on for quite some time.
“I coached them in middle school,” said Dakin who was already keeping his fingers crossed back then that the trio would somehow find their way into the Green and Yellow jerseys.
“But this is Lynn and you never know what is going to happen.”
As it turned out, Dakin hit the jackpot with both Johnson and Adams joining the team this year and Duggan transferring over from Lynn English after his freshman year to join them. The coach admits that he was wary how the youth infusion might affect the chemistry of this year’s club with some of the older players bound to see less ice time.
“It can be a sticky situation and maybe it was that way for a game or so, but it hasn’t been a problem,” said Dakin. “All you have to do is watch these guys play and it’s amazing; everyone feels that.”
The coach is quick to pint out, however, that the secret of his Rams’ success is far broader than one flashy rookie line.
“The real key over the last four or five games is how well the other lines and our defense have all stepped it up,” said the coach.
The senior line of Kevin Curry, Mike Pennell and Eric Lunden has been more than solid all season long as has Classical’s other line which is centered by Saugus transfer Ryan Civiello with John Kelter and Kevin Fowler at left and right wings respectively.
Mamos and Myette anchor a strong defense in front of Whelan along with Devin Dupuis, Pat Simmons and Justin Gridley. When Whelan needs a break — and he’ll get one tonight when the Rams clash with Rockport — backup Anthony Solomon is more than up to the task. It’s the kind of depth that has been sorely lacking in recent years for Dakin, who had just 18 players and two lines a year ago and routinely watched his team simply run out gas in the final period.
Along with the expanded roster has come some landmark wins. Powered by a hat trick by Johnson and a 29-save performance from Whelan, Classical toppled their cross-town rivals from English for the first time since 1976 last month. That win came on the heels of a dramatic 4-3 win over previously unbeaten Salem at Rockett Arena. It was a win that Dakin called his biggest in his nine years with the Rams.
There’s still plenty of work to do for the Rams who have a three-game week starting tonight and who clearly want to tack on as many wins as possible to give them a decent seed in the tourney.
“We’re looking to add some more wins,” says Whelan. “We don’t want to slow down now.”

The Beat Goes on for the Classical Hockey Team. 

Reprinted from The Daily Item of Lynn, 2/10/05

The Rams scored six goals in the first period in a 10-1 win over Rockport Wednesday at  Connery Rink. Ryan Duggan had the hot hand in this one with a hat trick and an assist. Chad Johnson was right behind with two goals and an assist, bringing his season total to 51 points in 14 games.

"Our kids came out flying," Classical coach Jim Dakin said. The Rams also had goals from Pat Siimons and Ricky Myette, who also had an assist each, and Ryan Civiello and Liam Bransfield.

Mike Pennell had two assists with Greg Gaudet and Justin Gridley each adding another one. Anthony Solomon (29 saves) was in net. Classical ( 11-3, 6-2 ) plays Swampscott today, 2/11/05, at 3:30 at Salem State College.

----------------------------------

Scenes from Saturday's 7-2 win Over Lynn English

1/15/05      Photos courtesy of Peter Whelan, Hockey Dad

Rams Prevail in Lynn Hockey Battle                                                   

from the Lynn Journal

Lynn Classical hockey coach Jim Dakin might have had an inkling that it was going to be a good day when he won the 50-50 raffle at the Classical Hockey Boosters breakfast Saturday morning.
That afternoon, his Rams hockey team defeated Lynn English, 7-2, in a well-played game before a large crowd at Connery Rink.
Freshman Chad Johnson notched a hat trick while senior goaltender Philip Whelan turned aside 29 shots to power Classical to the program’s first win over English since the 1976 season.
Johnson (3 goals, 2 assists) and linemates Tommy Adams (1 goal, 2 assists) and Ryan Duggan (1 goal, 1 assist) finished with 10 points on the day. “That line was terrific again,” said Dakin.
Kevin Fowler (1 goal, 1 assist) and Ryan Civiello also scored goals while linemate John Kelter had two assists. Fowler scored the all-important first goal of the game.
The line of seniors Kevin Curry, Mike Pennell, and Eric Lunden also played very well. “I thought they played their best game of the season,” said Dakin.
Classical defensemen Ricky Myette, Pat Simmons, Devin Dupuis, Nick Mamos, and Justin Gridley played excellent hockey throughout the game.
Whelan was immense in the first period, holding off a furious assault by the English forwards who came out flying and kept the pressure on the Rams’ defense. “Phil played a tremendous game,” said Dakin. “When we needed a big save, he came through, especially in that first period when English outskated us.”
Dakin was pleased with his team’s overall performance.
“The boys were really pumped up for this game,” said Dakin. “They played hard and they worked hard for this game. They deserved to win. English played a heck of a game for the first couple of periods. They were aggressive, and I thought they outplayed us for quite a while. They were moving the puck well. Phil [Whelan] came up with some big saves.”
Josh Seaman, an impressive looking sophomore, had a goal and assist for English. After teammate Matt Bonderson fought for the puck along the boards behind the net, Seaman stickhandled to the left of net where he adroitly deposited the puck inside the post, slicing Classical’s lead to 2-1. Sophomore Dan Powers scored English’s second goal in the final period.
English sophomore Jonathan Tobin had some brilliant saves and kept his team in contention until the Rams put it away in the third period.
“English has some really good players,” said Dakin. “They’re a young team, so this should be a really good rivalry for the next few years.”

Classical Edges Salem in Hockey Rematch
By Matthew Roy / For The Daily Item of Lynn,  Friday, January 14, 2005

Rams Look to Ice English when Cross-town Rivalry Resumes Saturday   reprinted from Lynn Journal 1/12/05   

The eight seniors on the Lynn Classical ice hockey team have come a long way – together.
They’ve been through the lean years, just 10 victories in their first three seasons. They’ve attended the many practices and have stayed committed to their academic obligations – serving as an inspiration for the younger players in coach Jim Dakin’s program.
They’re now enjoying the program’s finest hour. Classical is off to a sizzling start and a contender for a state tournament berth and with the help of some impressive newcomers, the future looks solid.
One thing that captains Ricky Myette, Philip Whelan, and Nick Mamos and classmates Ryan Prendergast, Mike Pennell, Kevin Curry, Eric Lunden, and Kevin Fowler haven’t achieved in four years: a win over crosstown rival Lynn English. In fact, it’s been more than three decades since Classical last defeated English on the ice.
But that could all change Saturday at 4 p.m. when the two teams meet for the first time this season.
“The program was in rough shape when we got here,” said Myette, who was the Classical quarterback last fall. “But we stuck it out. We knew we had some young players and we’ve been waiting for this year for four years and it’s proving to be a good one.”
Myette said the seniors have a lot of respect for English. “They’re a good team and we’re not looking past them,” said Myette. “We’ve been working very hard in practice and we’ll be ready.”
Mamos, a defenseman, has been a four-year contributor on the varsity. Mamos said he’s honored to be a captain and that he’s looking forward to Saturday’s game at Connery Rink.
“English has beaten us every year,” said Mamos. “The team we have now is our best team. If we’re going to beat them, this is the year to do it. If the other seniors and I have helped turn the program around, I’m proud of being a part of that.”
Whelan has been the Rams’ standout goaltender this season.
“Hopefully, we can shut down English’s offense,” said Whelan. “Our team has improved a lot this season. My defensemen have been playing great in front of me. We’re all excited about how well the team is playing this season. We also have a great boosters club that does a lot for us.”
Curry skates on the right wing for the Rams. “It’s been fun but I have to say this year has been the best,” said Curry. “The seniors are really close.”
Pennell said freshmen forwards Chad Johnson and Tom Adams and sophomore Ryan Duggan have provided a huge boost to the offense. “They score a lot of our goals and they’ve helped out a lot,” said Pennell. “All the seniors provide the leadership. The coaches have done a great and I know the seniors have enjoyed playing hockey for them.”
Jim Dakin said the fact the seniors have played hockey together for several years has helped set the foundation for the success.
“We have eight seniors and they’re the best kids I’ve ever coached,” said Dakin. “You never have to worry about them with their schoolwork. They’re just eight super kids who always work hard and are a pleasure to coach. Their parents should be really proud of them. They make my job that much easier.”
Dakin understands the significance of Saturday’s English-Classical game, having played hockey for the Rams in the 1960s.
“It’s been a long time since Classical has beaten English in hockey,” said Dakin. “I expect a good, clean game and there should be a big crowd at the rink. This is what high school sports is all about.”
English hockey coach Doug Anderson, who previously coached at Classical, is looking forward to Saturday’s match-up.
“It should be an exciting game,” said Anderson whose team defeated Marblehead, 2-0, Saturday and has been improving with each game.
Sophomore goaltender Jonathan Tobin excelled in the win over the Magicians and he’ll be tested by Classical’s potent first line.

Classical Icemen Outgun Tech
By Joyce Erekson, The Daily Item of Lynn ,  Friday, January 7, 2005