Hillers Boys’ hockey eyes return to the tournament

Jack Lang is back for another season guarding the HHS goal.
FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILO

The Hopkinton High School boys hockey team earned a spot in the state tournament last season with a .500 record, but coach Scott Hayes is looking to eclipse last year’s success by having most of his roster back this winter.

We want to be a tournament team, but we also really take it one game at a time and don’t get ahead of ourselves, Hayes said. I want to focus on the next day, what do we have to worry about the next day? I believe that if we focus on success every day, it will lead us to where we want to go.

Hayes said the Hillers entered the new season fit, focused and excited. Despite graduating a dozen and a half seniors from last year’s roster, Hopkinton returns most of the players who saw significant roles last winter and added a pair of players who previously played junior hockey instead of competing at HHS.

Senior captain Joe Carrazza will help lead the team and provide a boost to the offense.

“He’s a quick forward and a good scorer,” Hayes said. He is truly one of the emotional leaders of our team. His play sets the tone for everyone else on the roster, so we rely on Joey’s leadership and scoring.

Another senior, Joe Scardino, is a heady player and a prototypical power forward, Hayes said.

“He can put the puck in the net and he’s an excellent skater and a very, very smart player,” the coach said. He is anchoring our center of excellence.

On the blue line, the Hillers rely on senior Drew Morse, a co-captain who is an all-time great. In addition to playing on the top defensive line, Morse can score on the power play and on the rush.

Drew is very important to us, Hayes said.

Senior goalie Jack Lang returns for a second year, and Hayes said the Hillers entered the season expecting another solid performance from the experienced netminder. Lang has Morse and senior Dylan Mansur to help him on the defensive end of the ice.

“Dylan is a very, very skilled defender,” Hayes said. We are looking for him to score some goals for us. He is on the power play unit and we can always count on him to handle the puck.

Mansur is one of two seniors to suit up for Hopkinton after playing junior hockey last winter. Senior Pavit Mehra is the other, and made an immediate impact for the Hillers, scoring two goals and adding an assist in each of the first three games of the year.

We expect him to put the puck in the net all season long, Hayes said.

Another new influence is freshman forward Cam MacPherson, who will line up with Mehra and Carrazza. He also scored in his first three varsity games and contributes by taking on and playing on the best power play unit.

“Any freshman that can come play right away is really a coach’s dream,” Hayes said.

Hayes hopes the experience and talent will help his team compete in the strong Tri-Valley League, where Norwood, Medfield and Westwood are the Hillers’ top competition.

“It’s such a good league and there’s a lot of equality,” Hayes said. You have to be ready on any given night.