Last season the boy’s varsity hockey team made it to the D2 state championship at theBostonGardenfor the first time 2003 where they fell to Saugus3-1.
Unfortunately they lost a heartbreaker toTewksbury2-1 in overtime. Despite their loss their returning players will comeback even hungrier to get back to the Garden.
They lost a few key players from last year’s team including, forwards Tom Carlow, Mark Robbins, James Marchand and defensemen, Derek Ridgeway and Alex Taddeo. Although they lost some players they have returning and new players filling those spaces.
When asked what sets this years team apart from last years team Senior Captain Nick Bertoni said
“Everyone has a good work ethic, we were off to a little bit of a slow start but we have picked it up and are playing good hockey now”
Even though its only eight games into the season they believe that they have the ability to make another run at the Garden.
Senior Mark Teehan said
“I think that we have been playing good, we still have a lot of work to do but it’s definitely a possibility”.
Senior Nick Green said:
“I believe that we have a good chance, we haven’t been tested too much this year but we have a solid team”.
Sophomore and starting goaltender Mike Donadio said
“We definitely have a chance to make it to the Garden were off to a good start and we have a strong team”
The Panthers are undefeated through four-league games with wins against Mansfield, KP North Attleboro andAttleboro. They have three non league wins against Smithfield, Cranston West,Natick,Martha’s Vineyard; their only loss came in a scrimmage against the defending Super 8 champions, Malden Catholic where they lost 5-1.
Aside from making it to the Garden one of the team’s main goals each year is to win the Hockomock league title. They won consecutive titles from 03-07, lost in the 08-09 season and won it in the 09-10 season. They are looking to regain the title from Mansfield after falling to them twice last season.
Wednesday night Franklin defeated Mansfield 4-2 in one of their biggest and most important games of the year. This was a huge win forFranklin, currently giving them the top spot in the Hock. Big goals coming from Mark Teehan, Cam Curley and Mike Patjane and good goaltending from Mike Donadio helped the Panthers defeat the Hornets. They playMansfield one more time this season but we could possible see a major grudge match in the playoffs.
Bertoni also commented on their win against Mansfield
“Definitely the biggest win of the year, everyone was ready for the game and it feels great to get the victory”
The way things are going right now it seems thatFranklinwill regain their Hock title. Right now the Panthers are two wins away from locking up a playoff spot, they have two big games coming up against Oliver Ames and Canton.