[ad_1]
The phone rang, and Nancy OConnell picked it up. “TD Garden” flashed back at him. What is this? A telemarketer, probably. But you can never know.
Hi, he said.
And at the other end: Hi, this is Don Sweeney from the Bruins.
The five members of the OConnell family are big Bruins fans. But what was this? Did team leader Sweeney Bruins stay to pick up tickets over the phone?
Not really. The Sweeneys message was straightforward. And wonderful. The youngest of Nancy’s and Kevin OConnell’s three children, Kerry, was chosen as the winner of the John Carlton Memorial Trophy, which Bruins presented each year to the state’s best female high school hockey player. There is also a boys version. Just ask star Bruins defender Charlie Coyle, who won it while playing on Weymouth High.
I almost don’t believe it. I was honored and speechless, Kerryn said after taking the phone from her mother.
OConnell, who has set scoring records at the Algonquin Regional High, will next play hockey at Division I Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Algonquin girls hockey coach Mike Hodge can describe OConnell in short and short form, short being Nobody’s better.
Hodge has been in Algonquin for 10 years. I knew who he was when he was in fifth or sixth grade. I watched him play in high school. He came out of hockey as a freshman. He made an impression right away.
It was just a temptation for the future, full of confessions. He has talent in the pot, Hodge said. Although hockey was the OConnell’s No. 1 sport, she also excelled in lacrosse and field hockey, driving again in honor of: Daily News’s female athlete for 2020-21.
In the study, OConnell’s athletic ability is a familiar ring no matter who you talk to.
Hardworking, said Hodge. He did not take turns. That was one of his goals. He wanted to check better and do things that don’t show up in the Scoreboard.
He apparently drove, said his father and first coach Kevin.
The biggest thing I take away is his competitiveness, said former Algonquin field coach Dan Welty. Kerryn was always positive; We can do this! shed to say. He was very humble, respectful of teachers and classmates, a bit of the opposite of performing on the field.
No wall flowers there.
How did OConnell get this far? Indeed, it was her driving, said Nancy OConnell. Hockey has always been his first love since he could barely see over the boards. He just took us along to drive.
I had a lot of leaders to look for, OConnell said, referring to his freshman hockey. He got a quick introduction to the victories. We reached the state semifinals. Participation in it (as freshmen) was special.
His group of ground sand had just gotten into the semis. There was something on fire, and OConnell liked it.
He scored 21 goals as a hockey freshman. Prior to his second year, OConnell attended a national U-15 development camp in Minnesota. It increased self-confidence. It was intense and insanely fun.
He took everything he learned back to his second year at Algonquin. He pumped 29 goals and gave 13 assists. A year broke out for me, he called it. The second 29-goal season was repeated next year, before he made 18 times older, COVID-19 limited Algonquin Tomahawks to 12 games.
One team in particular is happy when OConnells hits college. Against Powerlifter Longmeadow, he recorded 10 goals in two games, five and five! My line clicked well, he said. It was amazing how they found me. I never imagined Id scored five goals in the game. So just to make sure he did it twice. By career: 97 goals and 32 assists.
OConnell’s older siblings, Julianne, 25, and Justin, 23, also played three sports in Algonquin. Weve ran just fine with the kids, said their father. It’s over. I’m going to miss it. I’m still going to drive past the fields.
But Kerryns University’s career is ahead, and Fairfield isn’t exactly driving what the OConnells haven’t done before because Julianne attended Fairfield University.
Kerryn ponders her freshman season as she had her hands full trying to keep up with the seniors. Even before that, his parents walked him in a snow suit and took him to Westboroughs North Star Arena, where his brother played. The aura of all quickly struck Kerryn. My parents said I was demanding to try it.
He never looked back and could never thank his parents enough. My passion for the three sports drove me to make my family proud, he said.
At 9 a.m. playing Minuteman Flames at Marlboroughs ’palace-like New England Sports Center, OConnell equalized the winner of the championship in the fourth overtime. The best day of my life, he recalled at the time.
He played club hockey in the fall at Boston Jr. Eagles. I was pushed into every workout, every game. At five-feet-8, he could push back.
OConnell began mapping the college route during the second year. Applications, recruitment forms, all those grunge matters. It didn’t bother him a bit. I like busy, he explained. It’s hard to get him to sleep, said his father.
His five-year-old, 8, 11, stage-ladder forward, leagues, seasons, a kind of eye in mind, at least for his father. It looked like he was on ice all year, he said.
More coming of course. Kerryns University will begin in September. We were looking forward to it, said her mother, Nancy, who works at the health office at Southboroughs Fay School.
Mike Hodge will never forget OConnell. It’s impossible. Ask him to scale Mount Everest instead. Hodge can reel OConnell to highlight the reel on his head, like a favorite movie. Like the day, Algonquin rose 2-1 against Lincoln-Sudbury. The LS binds it with 10 seconds left. Kerryn said we didn’t lose this game. He scored the goal to win it, said Hodge. Beep.
OConnell was on the edge. Like all wings, shed crazy and paint in bundles, Hodge added. When he gets it scary.
I’m pretty loose before the game, not very serious, said OConnell. I’m listening to music. This year I started having a Strawberry-Banana Smoothie before the game. They are pretty good.
What wasn’t so good was the sliced and diced older season of the pandemic. OConnell took a practical approach. We were lucky enough to play any kind of hockey. I was grateful for the opportunity.
Grateful for many things. His parents, siblings, teammates, coaches. Oh, and the call failed.
Lenny Megliola is available at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @lennymegs.
|
Sources 2/ https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/sports/2021/07/19/algonquins-kerryn-oconnell-named-daily-news-top-female-athlete/7977831002/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
[ad_2]