It’s a different kind of year for the Woodstock Academy Centaurs boys' hockey team.
The defending Division III state champions no longer have the likes of Ryan Black, Nate DeLuca, or Will Liscomb.
“They were the type of kids that if you needed a goal in a pinch, you put them on the ice. You could pretty much count on them, if not to score, than to generate more scoring chances,” coach Mike Starr said.
It’s hard to replace the 54 goals and 35 assists that Black amassed last year alone. He finished with 129 goals and 100 assists in his three years at The Academy. DeLuca added 40 goals last season and 124 for his career.
But there are answers. Doug Newton saw action as a freshman, playing on a line with Liscomb and DeLuca and gained a lot of experience. The same can be said for junior Avery Riva and Pat Delaney who played on the same line as Black a year ago and Jake Starr who also saw playing time as a freshman.
“I think we’re going to be OK. We have kids who are coming back who understand the system and they will be able to show the younger kids the system. I think we’re going to surprise some people this year. I don’t think we’re as lost as people might think we are,” Starr said.
The offense will be more spread out thus Starr said he needs his first two lines to contribute. “One advantage we have over last year is that I think we have more depth on our team as far as hockey players go and that is just increasing every year as a program,” Starr said.
The veteran coach was expecting about 25 or so players to try out for the team. Instead, the Centaurs had 35 come out.
The defense is also a source for optimism this season as Starr has the core group back. Gunnar Moore is one who will not return. Moore went to Atlanta to play Junior hockey. “That was a bit of a surprise, a bit of a shock,” Starr said. “That was 27 points off the top.”
But Ethan Thorpe, who was a forward, seized on the opportunity and asked to move back behind the blue line this season. So far, Thorpe has thrived in his new position.
“He’s a smart hockey player, understands the game and moves the puck really well. Can he replace Gunnar completely? I don’t know if anyone can replace Gunnar completely,” Starr said.
But it is the player behind the defense where the biggest concern lies. Who takes over for Cal Wilcox in the net? Senior Carson Hadley and junior Dylan Shea are battling to replace Wilcox.
As of Dec. 13, that competition was still being waged. Wilcox, who is playing Junior Hockey, had 22 wins last season, eight of them by shutout, a 1.42 goals against average and a .952 save percentage. In his three years in goal, Wilcox recorded 45 wins. “It’s a specialized position,” Starr said.
In the seven years Starr has been at the helm of the Centaurs, he feels like he has been “blessed” with great goaltending.
Bailey and Tucker Johns were in place early and for the last three years, it has been Wilcox.
“It’s never been a position where we had to have a competition to see who would start. It was always pretty clear. Man, it has to be the hardest to replace. You have to trust your goaltender. Right? Cal anchored the net and talked to the players, we could hear him. The communication from your goalie to your players – because the goalie can see everything coming at him – is crucial. We have to see where our goalies are on that,” Starr said.
One consequence of winning the state championship is that the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference moved Woodstock Academy up to Division II.
While it may sound more difficult, Starr said it may not be the case. Other than playing each team in their conference once per season, the rest of the schedule is pretty much at the discretion of the program.
Starr said the Centaurs did try to schedule some better teams, such as N. Haven and the East Haven cooperative, and Watertown-Pomperaug is a conference foe that will serve to toughen them up for the more demanding state tournament that they will face.
The first goal is pretty simple: Get the first win. “Any time we play a Division III team, we have to beat that team. The long-term goal is to make the playoffs. There are 21 teams in Division II, only 16 make it. There is no guarantee we make it. We’ve also asked the kids to set personal goals and try to achieve it,” Starr said. “If their season goal is for us to make the state championship, let’s work at it.”
Centaurs fall in season opener
WESTFIELD,, Mass. — The defending Division III Western Massachusetts champion, dominated from start-to-finish, according to The Woodstock Academy coach Mike Starr, and scored a 5-1 victory over the Centaurs at the Jahn Ice Rink in Pomfret Dec. 16. The Bombers outshot the Centaurs, 29-18. Ryan Wojciechowski had the only goal for the Centaurs in the second period. The Centaurs return to the ice at 8 p.m. Dec. 22 to face the Tri-Town cooperative at the Enfield Twin Rinks.
2017-18 Boys Ice Hockey schedule
Fri., Dec. 22:       at Tri-Town      (at Enfield Twin Rinks)       8 p.m.
Weds., Dec. 27:  at Sheehan    (at Choate-Rosemary Hall) 6:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 30:     vs. East Haven co-op     (at Jahn Ice Rink)               3 p.m.
Weds., Jan. 3:    at St. Mary’s (Mass.)      (at Amelia Rink, Westfield, Mass.) 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 6:        vs. Eastern CT Eagles   (at Jahn Ice Rink)               8:15 p.m.
Weds., Jan. 10:  at North Haven               (at Northford Ice Pavilion)  8 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 13:      at E.O. Smith-Tolland    (at UConn)                          1:45 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 15:    Housatonic co-op           (at Jahn Ice Rink)               11 a.m.
Weds., Jan. 17:   Redhawks co-op           (at Norwich Ice Rink)          5 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 20:      vs. Tri-Town co-op         (at Jahn Ice Rink)               8:15 p.m.
Thurs., Jan. 25:  at Bolton co-op               (at Bolton Ice Palace)        3:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 27:       vs. SGWL co-op            (at Jahn Ice Rink)               8:15 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 3:        at Watertown co-op       (at Taft-Mays Rink)            7:30 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 6:      at South Hadley (Mass.) (at Fitzpatrick Rink, Holyoke) 6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 10:     vs. Redhawks co-op       (at Jahn Ice Rink)              8:15 p.m.
Weds., Feb. 14:  at East Haven co-op      (at DiLungo Rink)              7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 17:     vs. E.O.Smith-Tolland    (at Jahn Ice Rink)              8:15 p.m.
Mon.,Feb. 19:    vs. Watertown co-op       (at Jahn Ice Rink)              7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 23:      at Housatonic co-op       (at Hotchkiss School)         8:15 p.m.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director

Nelson Ralph Vose,
National Guard
SEBASTIAN, Fla. — Nelson Ralph Vose, 76, of Sebastian died Dec. 12, 2017, at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, Fla., after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was born Aug. 26, 1941, in Putnam, son of the late Ralph D. and Adrienne (Gatineau) Vose. 
In 1963, Nelson served as first lieutenant company commander for the National Guard in Putnam and Danielson.  From 1963-1965, Nelson assisted his father and uncle at the family-owned business, Modern Lumber.  Next, in 1965, Nelson began a career at Pratt & Whitney as an aviation technician.  In 1969, he became a field representative for Pratt & Whitney and accepted an assignment in 1970 in Wichita, Kan.  In 1974, he was assigned to be the first Pratt & Whitney representative in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he dedicated 13 years of service to Pratt & Whitney.  From Brazil, Nelson continued his career with Pratt and was based in Singapore for 12 years, where he served as the local on-site resident manager.  He ultimately retired in 1999, holding the title of general manager for Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support for airlines in the Asia-Pacific Region, accumulating at total of 35 years of service. 
He leaves his wife, Barbara (Spielman) of 55 years; his eldest son, David G. Vose and his wife Kathy (Rondeau); grandchild, Ryan Vose, all of Tolland; youngest son, Mark E. Vose and his spouse (Donald Canalejo) of Key West, Fla. He was predeceased by his sister, Karen A. Vose in 2016.    
A final private family service will be held in Sebastian and burial will be held at Sebastian City Cemetery.

Richard H. Jaquish
POMFRET CENTER — Richard “Dick” H. Jaquish, 76, of Brayman Hollow Rd. died peacefully Dec. 9, 2017.  He was the husband of Julie (Pierce) Jaquish for 47 years.
Born in 1941 in Burlington, Vt., he was the son of the late Harold and Pearl (Stone) Jaquish Boldosser and stepson to the late John Boldosser.
Dick was a graduate of the University of Montreal and Assumption College.  He also attended the University of Louvain, Belgium.  He was a guidance counselor for the Putnam Public School District for many years, a grant writer and yearbook advisor at Putnam High School, as well as CCD teacher at Most Holy Trinity.
He spearheaded the Career Education movement in northeastern Connecticut and presented at many national conferences.
He shared his love of history by working as a docent at Old Sturbridge Village.
He was a member of the Foresters, enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing cards.  He was always smiling and had a kind word to share.
He leaves two daughters, Joanne Dursin (Andre) of Wakefield, R.I., and Erica Beeman (Brent) of Springfield, Ill.; his sister, Cheryl Cyr (Allen) of Lakewood, Colo.; and his step-sister, Gerilyn “Geri” Pawlaczyk (James) of Westland, Mich.; two grandchildren, Abigail Beeman and Theo Dursin; his mother in-law, Elizabeth Pierce, five brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 16 in St. Philip the Apostle Church, Ashford.
Donations: Weston Priory, 58 Priory Hill Rd, Weston, VT 05161.  Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.
Richard Tillman Allen
EASTFORD — Richard Tillman Allen died Dec. 11 at home. He was born in 1950 in Oxford, Mass. He was raised there.
He met his wife Faith Basto Green and moved to Eastford with her in 1993. He went to East Coast Aerotech to prepare himself for a career at East Hartford based Pratt & Whitney Aircraft as a “class A mechanic” assembling aircraft engines. He retired from there after more than 30 years.
While at Pratt his passion for speed and fast cars turned into another business opportunity — Fox Automotive on Fox Road in Putnam. A special bond was formed when he helped raise his nephews Michael and Jimmy Sullivan who currently live in Massachusetts.  If he wasn’t working on cars or watching the NHRA drag racing, he was going to the next Beach Boys concert.
He was predeceased by his parents Anne and Tillman Allen, uncle John and sister Nancy. He leaves his wife Faith Allen of Eastford; stepchildren Angela Barlow of Putnam, Kenneth Green of Eastford, David Green (Sharon) of Casselberry, Fla.; two nephews James Sullivan, Colleen and Michael Sullivan and five great nieces, nephews, and five grandchildren.
Luddy-Peterson Funeral Home & Crematory, New Britain. Donations: Eastford Independent Fire Co. #1, 6 Westford Road, Eastford, CT 06242.

Gene E. Fafard Jr.
THOMPSON — Gene E. Fafard Jr., 51, of Thompson died unexpectedly Dec. 14, 2017, at W. W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. He was the husband of Danielle (Parmentier) Fafard of 18 years.
He was born Aug. 12, 1966, in Putnam, son of the late Gene E. and Irene (Gagnon) Fafard.
Gene and his wife were devoted Harley Davidson Riders and took many trips through the countryside. Gene affected many lives with his upbeat personality. He enjoyed making everyone laugh and smile. He loved joking with and teasing the people he cared about most.
Gene was a strong and successful businessman as the owner, operator and CEO of Thompson Fence Company. Gene was a very hard worker and self taught in every area of his business.
He leaves his children Halie Danielson, partner Brandon Keene, Logan Danielson, partner Emily Mead, Joshua Fafard of Danielson, and Tyler Fafard of Putnam; siblings: Cherie and Randy Jenkins of Grand Prairie, Texas, Christine and Kip Blanton of Grand Prairie, Louis and Karen Fafard of Putnam; nieces and nephews.
A graveside service was Dec. 18  at Munyan Cemetery, Putnam. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 48 Grove St., Putnam.

John Thomas ‘JT’ Moore
POMFRET — John Thomas Moore (JT), 67, of Pomfret died peacefully Dec. 3, 2017, at home after a six-month battle with cancer.
Born in 1950 in Lancaster, Penn., JT was the son of Irene Brubaker Moore and Floyd Moore. Along with his siblings, he was active throughout his early years in the family poultry business, Moore Farms Inc., and played an active role as a member of 4-H Club.  JT developed a love for baseball at an early age. He was a loyal Philadelphia Phillies fan attending many games as a young boy, and later, after his move to Boston, he switched his allegiance to the Red Sox. 
JT attended Manheim Township Junior and Senior High School in Neffsville, Penn. He graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with a bachelor’s and later received an MBA cum laude from Boston University School of Management.
He started his career as a service manager at the Filenes Division of Federated Department Stores in Boston. This was punctuated by a stint as a flight attendant on Pan American Airlines international flights. He worked for almost 20 years at Brandeis University as director of Administrative Coordination and Planning followed by nine years as a senior project administrator at Management Sciences for Health, a Boston-based international development non-profit organization.
In his mid-fifties, JT chose to pursue his lifelong interest in antiques and began a modest business as a dealer. He was able to bring a discerning eye to a broad and varied range of antiques. He was a frequent presence at antiques auctions where he was constantly expanding his collections, which were more often acquired for his personal enjoyment than for resale.
JT was most at home in the kitchen where he was an assured and confident cook.  It gave him great pleasure to feed and entertain his friends, and his ease and skill made everybody happy and comfortable. His delight in entertaining blended nicely with his acquisitions of antique china, silver and linens, which he used without hesitation when he entertained. It was in this milieu that his generous, optimistic and fun-loving spirit shined.
 He supported arts and conservation efforts and held a serious and informed appreciation of classical music. He maintained a subscription to the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 40 years. He also supported his alma mater Middlebury College for which he held tremendous respect. His experience there afforded many happy memories and lifelong friendships. 
He leaves his loving husband and partner of 30 years, Robert Paladino; and his two dogs, Otis and Amos, who provided constant joy and amusement. He also leaves four siblings: Charles Moore of Reno, Nev.; Floyd Moore of Pittsburg, Joseph Moore and sister in law Judith Moore of Denver, and Grace Mattes and brother-in-law James Mattes of Doylestown, Penn.; four nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Pomfret School Clark Chapel. More details will be available through Gilman and Valade Funeral Home at www.GilmanAndValade.com. Donations: Boston Symphony Orchestra, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA, 02115; or through the BSO Friends Office at 617-638-9276 or online at BSO.org.

Rhea R.R. McCarthy,
Vietnam war vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — Rhea Roseland Roy McCarthy died Dec. 14, 2017.
She would not want you to take time from your busy day to read this description of her life as she would describe herself as just an ordinary person.  She was anything but.
Rhea was a private, humble, kind, stoic, open-minded, and generous woman who will be remembered for telling you she was “fine” throughout her three-year battle with cancer and thanking every nurse, family member, and friend that visited, tucked her in, or provided her with words of encouragement or chocolate.
She was born April 17, 1942, in NYC to William and Marie Roy, the youngest of three sisters.  Her family lived for a short time in Putnam, and eventually settled in Webster.  After graduating from St. Louis, she attended nursing school at Memorial Hospital in Worcester.
Her passion for helping others lead her to enlist in the U.S. Army in order to care for soldiers and civilians as an operating room nurse during the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam war.  Rhea continued to serve in the U.S. Army and eventually retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2002.
Rhea spent her career as an OR nurse at Hubbard Regional Hospital in Webster and eventually retired from Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.
Rhea married Kenneth McCarthy of Canadaigua, N.Y.  Although they parted ways, their friendship lasted their lifetimes.  Rhea spent most of her life living in N. Grosvenordale where she raised their two children, Kimberlee and Christopher.  
After retirement, she continued serving others: She participated in three mission trips in Africa volunteering as an OR nurse with Mercy Ships.  She also traveled to Vietnam twice and provided basic health care at a local clinic with a volunteer organization, Vets with a Mission.
You could also find Rhea attending church services, making meatloaf at the local food pantry, having breakfast with friends, working in the yard, feeding the birds, upcycling, watching something on the History Channel.
She leaves her children, her sisters Ruth and Roni, her best friend Tina.
A Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 23 at St. Anthony’s in Dudley. Burial with military honors follows. Donations: Mercy Ships, ASPCA, Maryknoll, the Wildlife Federation OR volunteer at a local organization OR do one random act of kindness today. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

Edward Szlyk, DDS,
Navy vet
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. — Edward P. Szlyk, DDS, 79, of Lighthouse Point, died on Nov. 16, 2017, after a battle with leukemia.  He was born Oct. 27, 1938, in Worcester, son of Edward S. and Martha (Piasta) Szlyk.
Dr Szlyk graduated from North High School in Worcester, Class of 1957.  He then attended Assumption College and was the first student to be accepted into Dental School after only three years of premed studies.  He attended Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1964..
He then entered the  U.S. Navy where he received training in general anesthesia at Bethesda Naval Hospital. 
He began his dental practice in 1966 in Webster and then moved his practice to Village Street in Dudley. He retired in 1999 and moved to Florida with his wife in 2000.
He leaves his wife of 26 years Janice (Lavoie) Szlyk; one daughter Margaret (Maggie) Schelegel (Randy) of Brooklyn; two sons Timothy and his partner Robert DiSanto of Asbury Park, N.J., and Michael and his partner Jackie Germaine of Dudley; three grandsons and one great-grandchildren; stepdaughter Jessica Paire of Barrington, R.I.; sister Dorothy Perron (Roland) of Worcester. He was predeceased by his stepson John Paire.  A celebration of life service was  Dec. 16 at Bartel Funeral Home, Dudley.

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Holiday Games
The Putnam Rotary Club collected games for TEEG and the Putnam Family Resource Center and Dec. 12 was “Christmas.” Left to right: Rick Place, club president; Rotarian Paul Pikora; Shannon Haney, parent educator at the resource center; Rotarian Rachael Johnston; and Rotarian Elizabeth Zachow. Kneeling: Jennifer Strong, community program manager at TEEG. Johnston said about 90 games were collected. Rotary has been doing holiday games collection for about three years and has been helping TEEG and resource center for five or six Christmases. Linda Lemmon photo.