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Boys’ Hockey
Woodstock Academy senior Jacob Jurnovoy, left, is the hockey team captain this year. Kaiden Keddy, center, and Max Larkin will be the assistant captains. Photo by Mark Smolak/Woodstock Academy.
The expectations are lofty. But the Woodstock boys’ hockey team looks like it is capable of reaching some of those high hopes.
“We have the capability to be extremely good. We’re talented. We’re young. We just have to stay on message and if we do that, we’re going to have a great year,” said coach Mark Smolak.
Still, last season didn’t end as the Centaurs had hoped.
They lost to the Eastern Connecticut Eagles in the Nutmeg Conference championship game and then, after a good win over Trumbull in the first round of the Div. II state tournament, lost a heartbreaker in overtime to second-seeded Lyman Hall in the quarterfinals.
It has left a very hungry Centaurs team coming into the 2022-23 season.
Smolak takes over for Bisson who guided the Centaurs to a 15-7 record last season and has an experienced offensive until that is used to working with one another.
The top four point-getters for the Centaurs a year ago return with juniors Noah Sampson (19 goals, 23 assists) and Don Sousa (21,11); senior Max Larkin (5, 14) and sophomore Maxx Corradi (15,13).
Larkin will play on the second line with a pair of new linemates. Senior Andrew Newton will play center for Larkin with junior Troy Daviau on the left side.
The Centaurs are also strong in the net with sophomore Dante Sousa and senior Kaiden Keddy.
If there is a question mark, it’s behind the blue line. Chris Thibault, Brendan Hill and Shawn Wallace, all defensemen, have graduated.
Ryan Wallace, Sam Lescault and Keegan Covello are returning defensemen with junior Alex Gessner, sophomore Sam Desmond and freshmen Ian Sherman and Jack Larkin joining the group. Other varsity players for the Centaurs this season include junior Thomas Blevins, sophomores Seamus Coleman, Brady O’Brien, and Jayden Fuller and freshmen Brady
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Schedule: Wed., Dec. 14: vs. Eastern CT Eagles, 7; Sat., Dec. 17:at Branford, TBA; Mon., Dec. 19:vs. Suffield Co-Op, 5; Wed., Dec. 21:vs. Prout (RI), 3; Fri., Dec. 30 at Tri-Town, 7:50; Mon., Jan 2: vs. Burrillville, noon; Wed., Jan 4: vs. Moses Brown, 6:30; Sat., Jan 7:at Housatonic Co-Op, TBA; Wed., Jan 11: at North Haven, 8:30; Mon. Jan. 16: at Lincoln (R.I.), 1:30; Sat., Jan. 21: at Suffield Co-Op, 6:40; Wed., Jan. 25:at Eastern CT Eagles, 8:30; Sat., Jan. 28: vs. Bishop Hendricken, 6; Sat., Feb. 4: at Smithfield (RI), 2:30; Mon., Feb. 6:vs. Housatonic Co-Op, TBA; Sat., Feb. 11: vs. East Haven, 7; Wed., Feb. 15: vs. Lyman Hall, 6:30; Fri., Feb. 17: at North Branford, 7:45; Sat., Feb. 18: at Glastonbury, 7:30; Mon., Feb. 20: vs. Tri-Town, noon.
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