After all, it was just about a decade ago that the Spartans were fighting their way to the top of Division 3. Then, they did the same thing in Division 2. Now, they're a week of competitive games away from being serious contenders for a Division 1A (Super 8) selection in the upcoming state tournament.
But don't try to tell coach Mark Lee the rise has been meteoric.
"It's been a lot of hard work ... and by a lot of people," said Lee, en route, with his team, to last night's game at Gloucester. Lee was reflecting on his team's victory Monday over Archbishop Williams that not only gave it the Catholic Central League/Large championship, but left it unbeaten in a league that - almost annually - produces at least one Super 8 team (and very often two or three).
"We've been making a steady climb," says Lee. "Last year, we finished second (in the CCL/Large). This year, we had high hopes of winning it. To do that, and finish undefeated as well, puts the icing on the cake for us."
There's still work to do, however. St. Mary's, including Wednesday night's game, has six games left on its schedule, and three of them will be played next week against the Crème de la Crème of Division 1: Malden Catholic, Springfield Cathedral and Weymouth. And although Lee would - naturally - like to win all three, he feels the Spartans will really help themselves, with respect to the Super 8, with strong showings.
"I think," he says, "that we just need to prove that we belong on the same ice with them. I don't think we necessarily have to win - though you go into every game you play with that expectation - but the committee looks at strength of schedule and how you compete against those types of teams."
Lee can only hope that the Spartans compete the way they did last Saturday in Hingham, when they took the defending Super 8 champion Harbormen to the last minute before the wheels just fell off the wagon - in every way imaginable.
"We were up, 3-2, with 1:45 to go, when we got a penalty called on us," Lee said. "Ten seconds later, we get another penalty, so we're playing them two down.
"I'm not making excuses," he said, "but they score one goal with us two down, and then one of our kids tries to ice the puck, he fans on it, it lands on one of their sticks and they score.
Lee has seen the program through since taking over 24 years ago. And though the team has risen in the divisional ranks, it is still waiting for its first-ever state title.
"Every time we felt we were ready to make the jump (to the next division) we made it," Lee says, "and we, perhaps, left a couple of state titles on the ice in the process. But we just felt it was better, overall, to make the jumps when we did."
Although Lee acknowledges that the team doesn't have a "sniper," and that for it to succeed it needs the collective effort of all involved, he feels lucky to have one of the better goalies in the state in Donald Hesse.
"Last year, he led us to the Division 1 North final with a goals-against average of under two," he said. "This year, his GA average is 1.82 and he has five shutouts.
"I also have to give credit to my three captains - Cam Kennedy and James Perkins (both of Lynn) and Julian Yourawski (of Peabody). They are unbelievable on and off the ice."
These days, there's some pretty lofty peer pressure within the St. Mary's athletic department. The football team last fall went 10-1, the boys soccer squad made the Division 3 North final, both basketball teams are having successful seasons and have to be considered major players in their respective divisions; and - of course - the girls hockey team is riding a 91-game unbeaten streak.
"Is it a coincidence that all our teams are peaking? It's hard to say," Lee said "I do know that there's a great atmosphere at St. Mary's. And it always helps when your sports teams are winning. But this winter season ... it doesn't get much better than this."
