Editor's Note: On Saturday, Feb. 4, The Salem News was granted exclusive access to the St. John's Prep hockey team for its home game against Austin Prep at the Ristuccia Memorial Arena in Wilmington. Sports editor Phil Stacey and staff photographer David Le spent the day with the Eagles players and coaches, witnessing everything from pre-game meetings to being inside the team's locker room between periods, as well as pre- and postgame. The words and photos you see chronicle that day.
THE DRIVE UP
More than two hours before game time on a sunny Saturday morning, Kristian Hanson hunches intently over a laptop in his dining room.
"See this kid, No. 20? They love to try and get him the puck back door on the power play," Hanson says. He's watching film of this day's opponent, Austin Prep, and referring to the Cougars' top offensive threat, captain Ryan Quinn. "We can't let that happen today."
Always tense on game day, the St. John's Prep head coach is especially so today. His team can clinch a state tournament berth with a win over the Cougars, and it's a team they should beat.
That worries Hanson.
"There's always pressure," says the 35-year-old Hanson. "We need one win to qualify for the postseason, probably four to make the Super 8 (Division 1A double-elimination tournament). That's where the pressure comes from."
It takes him 35 minutes on this day to arrive at the Ristuccia Memorial Arena in Wilmington. The car radio is tuned to classic rock, but Hanson isn't really listening; his mind is whirring, thinking about possible scenarios and trying to diffuse potential pratfalls before they happen during the game.
His coaching staff is made up four assistants. His brother, Jess, and Jeff Tache have been with him for the last dozen years, back to Hanson's time behind the bench at Salem High. Scott Hentosh and Dave Hennessey have served as assistant coaches for the Eagles since Hanson took over five years ago.
"They know I can get really wound up," he admits, "so it's a good balance between the five of us. The biggest thing we pride ourselves on as a group is developing players."
Hanson talks about fellow Salem native David Letarte, the Prep's four-year starter in goal, and how strange it will be not to have him around next season. He says he enjoys night games much more than day games like this; later starting times allow other things to occupy his mind beforehand. He mentions how grateful he is that his wife, Sue — expecting the couple's second child later this month — understands him and his coaching foibles.
"We've been together a long time ... she knows on game days I'm obsessed. She knows how very seriously I take this," he says. "She's really, really great that way.
"When you have kids who could potentially be drafted high in the (NHL) Draft or play at a Division 1 college, it wouldn't be fair of me not to give them a 100 percent commitment. So that's what I do."
PREGAME
Arriving at the rink about 75 minutes before the puck drops, Hanson settles behind the glass in a corner of the rink to watch the Prep JVs play. The varsity players, all decked out in blue blazers, shirts and ties, begin to arrive shortly thereafter, as do the assistant coaches.
While unspoken, everyone associated with the team knows the significance of wearing the navy blue and white Eagles' sweater. Some of the greatest players in North Shore (Mike Kelfer, John McCarthy, Colin Blackwell) and even U.S. high school hockey history (Bobby Carpenter) have worn the Prep colors, and each player who tugs on the uniform seems to quickly understand what a special brotherhood he has now become a part of.
For a team that lost more than a dozen players from the squad that was an overtime goal away from capturing the first Super 8 championship in school history last winter, the Eagles expect mercy from no one. They show up expecting their opponent's best effort each game, and today's matchup against a fellow parochial school is no different.
When told that he seemed relatively calm for a game day as he writes out Hanson's lineup for the afternoon, Hennessey smiles and says, "My wife and kids certainly don't say that."
On a day that is warm for February, many of the Prep players have gone outside to do their team jog and pregame stretching. A soccer ball comes out and many of the players will work it around, focusing on hand-eye coordination and dexterity they'll need later on.
Senior defenseman John Ryan is the first one back in the locker room; while he says he isn't superstitious, he's often completely dressed and ready to go before some of his teammates have even come back from their pre-game rituals.
"Me, Nick (Pandelena) and Jay Currier usually get in here first," says the 17-year-old Ryan as he taped his stick and Drake booms out of the headphones atop his head.
Fifteen-year-old sophomore forward Jack McCarthy is putting his equipment on when he's asked who keeps the team loose before games.
"It's Dave," he remarks of Letarte. "He's real serious during games, but loosens us up before it. He's really vocal, cracking jokes and all."
"He'll be a wrestler in his second life," a voice booms from across the room as laughter erupts. "He'll go MMA on any one of us."
So who gets the most nervous before games? Much to his objections, the players joke that junior forward Paul Crehan earns that nod.
"I'm not nervous, just focused," he says.
Letarte, usually the last one to finish getting dressed, has completed his normal pre-game routine with Hentosh, his goalie coach. It involves, among other things, the coach dropping a rubber ball in front of him and telling Letarte "left" or "right" so that his reactions are instinctive.
The goalie has no qualms talking about his own superstitions. Letarte washes his socks the night before each game, tapes his stick the same way and always says the same pre-game prayer.
Dan Farmer, a Prep senior who is not dressed for today's game, is nonetheless eager for the contest to begin. "Some of the guys on this team are my closest friends. I'm always ready to support them," says the well-mannered 17-year-old from Bradford. "Sometimes I get nervous for them just watching the games."
GAME TIME
It's getting closer to noon, and the focus in the room shifts. Power Bars are being consumed, sticks are being rubbed down, players bow their head in reflection for the task ahead.
Outside the locker room, the coaches count down the final moments before Hanson gives his final pre-game speech.
"It's all about mental preparation," Hentosh says of the Eagles' approach to today's contest. "They've put in all the work beforehand; now it's up to them to make it happen on the ice."
Tache talks about trying to possibly get some players into today's game who don't see as much ice time as others if the scenario presents itself. The problem is it's not always easy convincing the head coach.
"Kristian will always look at the worst-case scenario and try to prepare for it. He's a lot like Bill Belichick in that he never wants to let down," Tache opines.
Eight minutes before noon, a voice booms into the locker room.
"Put your helmets on!"
A minute later, Hanson comes into the room, which immediately becomes silent.
"OK, their senior goalie," Hanson begins. "He gives up a lot of rebounds, so we need to generate shots on him. The longer you let him hang around, the tougher it's going to be for us.
"You have to win to get in. You are the better team, no? But the better team doesn't always win if it's not prepared. So I hope you guys are ready. Let's go out there, boys!"
The players jump up instantaneously and let out a team cheer. As they make their way out of the locker room, the players offer each other last minute encouragement.
"Lot of energy, lot of emotion, boys!"
"Take it to them on the first shift!"
James Brightney, the last player out of the room, has his eyes closed and his helmet leaning on top of his stick. "I like to be reflective," says the junior defenseman softly. "Before we get going."
It's game time.
FIRST INTERMISSION
Following 15 minutes of hockey, the Eagles return to their locker room with a 2-0 lead. It was a decent, but far from great, first period; when asked to rank it on a scale of 1-to-10, the Prep players yell out "three" or "four" from different corners of the room.
There are mistakes that need fixing. For starters, the coaches aren't happy that many Austin Prep shots are reaching their target because of the Eagles' inability to lay out and block them. The forecheck has been strong and the rebounds that Hanson said would be there are, but the Prep hasn't cashed in on the opportunities presented to them.
They also don't want to put the visiting Cougars on the power play, either. Captain Sam Kurker was whistled off for tripping — on a play in which he thought he was interfered with. "I was hooked down and thought we had the power play," muttered Kurker from the penalty box.
Junior first line center Brian Pinho is one of the most vocal players in the locker room prior to the start of the second period. "Look for a pass before you dump it in," he implores. "When we get the puck down there, just move it quick."
Then, turning to the team's defensemen, he says, "Make it tape-to-tape and we'll take it in."
"It's time to start taking the body," says Letarte.
"We gotta pick it up, plain and simple," adds Kurker.
Hanson comes back into the locker room and the helmets are immediately snapped back on the Prep players.
"It looked to me like they put No. 19 on you," he says to Kurker, "so don't get mad and don't get even if he's doing that chippy stuff. Just get the puck in open space and look for Brian and Birdy (sophomore wing Tyler Bird), and they'll get it back to you in open space."
Turning his attention to the rest of the room, Hanson continues, "Our D-zone coverage was very sloppy that period. We were all over the place. So go out and play the way you're capable of from the first drop of the puck this period.
"Let's bury this team."
SECOND INTERMISSION
A much crisper second period results in the Eagles doubling their lead to 4-0 with 15 minutes to play. They outshot Austin Prep by a healthy margin, got goals from Pinho and Andrew Brandano and seemed to have the visitors flummoxed.
"We certainly had better defensive zone coverage, and they didn't pressure us much, either," Hanson says before leaving the bench for the hallway outside his team's dressing room. "But we've got to bury our chances. We had some 2-on-1s and a 3-on-1 where we didn't even get a shot off."
Hentosh knows what his team is in for the rest of the way. "Austin'll come out strong the first five minutes of the third," he says, "so if we can hold them off there, we'll be good."
Pinho is again speaking to his teammates in the locker room, this time about the new freshman goaltender that Austin Prep has put into the game.
"Don't shoot high on this kid; he doesn't go down," says Pinho. "Put it on the ice and look for rebounds and tips."
The players are still intently focused: 15 minutes to earn the two points needed to qualify for the postseason.
In case anyone's mind is wandering, Hanson quickly brings them back to reality.
"We had great pressure that period," he tells his squad. "But what I don't want to see is guys playing all offense. You have to qualify today. You're 15 minutes away. Give me 15 minutes of hard work and smart play, and we'll get it done."
POSTGAME
The Eagles completed their mission with their best period of the game, pelting Austin Prep with 18 shots and getting two more goals. Backup goalie Jared Hynes notes, "I hope we can score a couple here [in the 3rd] so I can get in." And Hynes gets his wish with 8:12 remaining (much to the crowd's delight) and keeps the shutout intact.
In the late stages of the contest and with their afternoon's work done, Letarte and Kurker share a laugh on the bench. They're the Prep's two most important players, team captains and on-ice leaders, and they seem to relish this moment, even if it's only fleeting satisfaction on having reached one of what they hope will be many goals this winter.
The postgame locker room scene is, as to be expected, festive. There's lots of laughter and smiles, pats on the back and reliving a job well done. A sheet cake is brought into the room to commemorate the team's accomplishment.
"Great effort today. Nice job, boys!" Hanson says.
"What you guys have done lately is come out strong, take the lead and take other teams out of it. Right now, you instill fear in teams. I love the way you're working together as a team."
"The jacket, please," Hanson beckons, and a royal blue satin hockey jacket, once belonging to Hennessey when he played for the Eagles in the 1981-82 season, is presented to the head coach. Much like the Bruins did last year during their run to the Stanley Cup, the old school jacket — one similar to what Bobby Carpenter probably wore around the Prep campus more than 30 years ago — is given out to a deserving Eagle after each win. On this day, it goes to Brandano.
"Put it on, put it on!" his teammates chant, and he does so over his hockey jersey amidst applause.
Then the post-game music begins cranking, the players start eating their cake. When Hanson's 4-year-old son, Owen, comes into the room to be with his father — and the players cheer even louder. If there were an unofficial mascot of the 2011-12 St. John's Prep hockey team, Owen Hanson would be it.
"All in all, a good day," Hanson says outside the room before getting ready to make the drive home. "We've still got a lot of work to do, but we're on the right path.
"This was really good to see."
