Globe North High School Hockey
St. Mary’s sets bar at Super 8
Captains leading Spartans to success
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff) February 10, 2011
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The St. Mary’s of Lynn boys’ hockey team has tasted success before. The Spartans advanced to the Division 1 North final last March before losing to Arlington Catholic, 2-1, the eventual state champion, and finishing 15-8-1 overall.
This season, St. Mary’s has set its sights on uncharted territory: a spot in the Super 8 tournament. And led by a group of seniors that demand hard work and a team-first attitude from every player on the squad, the Spartans (9-2-3) are making a strong case.
“Everything about this leadership and the senior group, it’s all about for the good of the team and the good of the program,’’ said St. Mary’s coach Mark Lee. “Every one of them leads by example and has had some success over their four years here, and they’re passing that on to the younger kids.’’
Those “younger’’ kids not only include the underclassmen on the varsity squad; earlier this season, a group of seniors held an informal clinic for youth hockey players in Lynn.
The visit served a dual purpose — work with the youngsters on improving their hockey skills while reminding the varsity players that the game should be fun. Two of the three captains at St. Mary’s, James Perkins and Cam Kennedy, reside in Lynn and volunteered to help out with the youth hockey clinic.
“I played Lynn youth hockey,’’ Perkins said. “It was real good because we grew up watching St. Mary’s play hockey, and I would have loved for them to do that when I was young, so it was fun.’’
For Kennedy, the clinic served as a reminder.
“It was great because especially in high school, you play 20 games and we have practice just about every day,’’ he said. “It gets kind of grueling and you kind of lose the fun sometimes. Definitely skating with them brings you back, that it’s just a game and you should always have fun with your buddies.’’
The Spartans are having fun so far. St. Mary’s has lost just twice: an 8-0 defeat to Malden Catholic, the top-ranked team in the state, and a 5-3 setback to defending Super 8 champion Hingham.
Their success starts with the three captains; Kennedy, Perkins, and senior forward Julian Yourawski. At 6-foot-1, Kennedy is an intimidating defenseman who also has a bit of firepower. Perkins (4 goals, 12 assists) is second on the team in scoring. According to Lee, when Perkins speaks, every player listens. The fastest of the trio, Yourawski is a pest on the ice, always getting in lanes and sacrificing his body for the sake of the team.
Together, the three form the core of the leadership, but all nine seniors have done their part.
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“This particular group is one of the more talented groups that I’ve had,’’ Lee said. “As far as attitude and discipline and leadership, it’s as good as any group of seniors that I’ve ever coached in my career. Their leadership is reflected in how we’ve been doing.
The strong veteran presence of the team was on display against Hingham. Although the game was back and forth, St. Mary’s was never rattled. Until the last few minutes, the Spartans answered each Harborman goal with one of their own.
In net, senior Donald Hesse, a three-year starter and a returning Catholic Central All-Star, is a calming presence.
“Usually your team in hockey goes as far as your goaltender will take them, which gives us a lot of confidence because we know we have a very good one in Donald,’’ Lee said. “The bigger the game, the better he plays. He loves to be that guy out there. In close situations, he seems to always come up with the big stop.’’
Lee noted that St. Mary’s is happy with where it is right now, but it is not quite satisfied. His captains are in agreement.
“Everybody in that locker room, you can see it,’’ Yourawski said. “Everybody has that drive to want to participate in that Super 8 tournament. We’re all going for it. We’re all just taking it one step at a time.’’
