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Boys’ hockey wins a pair in Week 4

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Make it two straight wins for the W-H boys’ hockey team. 

After it was knocked out of the Cashman Tournament by Rockland on Monday, Dec. 27, the Panthers bounced back with a shut out win over Rockland, 4-0, in the consolation game Wednesday, which it followed up with a 2-1 victory over Pembroke on Saturday. 

“We haven’t had the best start that we wanted,” said W-H head coach Rob Peters. “We had a lot of guys returning and we’d like to be a little better than where we’re at. The Silver Lake game, we just didn’t show up, didn’t have a great game and they answered the bell against Rockland and they answered the bell against Pembroke.”

Senior captain Erik Dean (29 saves) and the Panthers (3-2-1) killed a pair of late power plays to stave off the Titans.

Pembroke got on the board first just 2:40 in with a power-play goal before W-H junior Joe Culley knotted the score at 1-1 with 43.1 seconds remaining in the first period. Sophomore Luke Tropeano and junior Matt Solari picked up the assists. 

The trio then hooked up again with 10:37 left in the second when Culley once again took a feed from Tropeano and Solari and flicked it home for his second of the game and a 2-1 Panthers lead. 

“We’re getting our game going, we’re getting going in stride,” Peters said. “We’re going to keep moving and keep getting better every day.”

Elsewhere around W-H: 

Boys’ basketball (4-2) was in Florida for the Avon Park Tournament. Bob Rodgers’ club tipped off the tourney with a 58-57 victory over Haines City (Florida) on Monday, Dec. 27. Junior Cole Champingie led the way with 15 points, while senior captain Ryan Vallancourt tossed in 13. … On Tuesday, senior Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder registered a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as W-H fell to Cypress Creek (Florida), 71-66, in the second round. Vallancourt scored 19 points in the loss. … The Panthers capped their trip on a high note Wednesday with a dominating 68-27 victory over Hardee County. Vallancourt netted a team-high 13 points in the win. 

Girls’ basketball (6-0) couldn’t have asked for a better trip to Daytona Beach. On Tuesday, Dec. 28, the Panthers opened the Father Lopez Shootout with a 60-22 win over Episcopal School of Jacksonville (Florida). Senior captain Lauren Dunn drained four triples en route to an 18-point outing to pace W-H. … On Wednesday, all 10 Panthers scored in a 69-41 route of The Master’s Academy (Florida). Senior Anna Stone pumped in a game-high 16 points in the victory. … On Thursday, it was the other Stone twin — captain Meg Stone — who netted 16 points as the Panthers wrapped up their trip down south with a 64-21 win over the host, Father Lopez. 

Girls’ hockey (2-3) opened the week with a 3-2 loss to Billerica/Chelmsford on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Senior Caitlin Dilley and junior captain Shea Kelleher each had a goal and an assist. … The co-op bounced back for 5-4 overtime win over Canton on Thursday. Senior Lily Ulvila netted the winner. …. Then on Saturday, Kelleher netted a hat trick, but WH/SL fell to Hanover, 4-3.

Boys’ indoor track on Wednesday, Dec. 29, saw a pair of seniors — Jake Caterer and Nathan Tassey — qualify for the All-State Championship. Caterer did it with a 19-foot-6 long jump, while Tassey posted a time of 10:12.7 in the 2-mile run to qualify.

Girls’ indoor track was also back in action Wednesday, Dec. 29. The highlight? Senior captain Myah Kamperides ran the mile in 5:42.0 to qualify for the All-State Championship. She had already qualified in the 600-meter run and 2-mile run.

Wrestling (6-1) downed Cohasset, 55-24, on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Winners for the Panthers were: freshman Charlie Lussier (106 pounds via pin in 1:19), senior Joe Boss (113; forfeit), sophomore Graham McInnis (120 via pin in 4:29), classmate Austin Gamber (126 via pin in 1:51), junior Aidan Guiliani (132; 2-0), fellow junior Braden Kain (138; 8-0), freshman Cooper Lussier (152 via pin in 1:06), junior Rocco Hanaphy (160 via pin in :42), senior captain Rocco Ruffini (220 via pin in :37) and junior Maddox Colclough (285 via pin in 3:05).

*Express weekly roundups include scores from Sunday to Sunday. 

Season Review: For boys’ hockey team, this season a ‘big push forward’

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Senior captain Kevin Willis was named a league all-star. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team started to click at the end of the season.

Time.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team wished they had more of it together this past winter. 

After a 1-8 start to the season, the Panthers won three out of four and finally seemed to be hitting their stride. But the only issue was, their shortened campaign was finished. 

“Unfortunately, right when we were starting to play really well and really jelling and figuring out our roster and who plays well with who, the season was over,” said first-year head coach Rob Peters. “It kind of ended too quickly for a team that was starting to play really well.”

The early struggles were expected. The Panthers, who went 4-9, boasted a roster that consisted of just six seniors. Not only that, but Marshfield and Hingham joined the Patriot League this year. 

“We knew that we were going to have a lot of growing pains to get through,” Peters said. “We knew that when you’re going through those growing pains — that rebuild — it’s tough to have the schedule that we did, but it is what it is. We always know we play in one of the toughest leagues in the state and I think we got through those growing pains.”

A reason they were able to get through those growing pains was because they didn’t let wins and losses affect their approach.

“The big story with our team is we didn’t look at the record,” Peters said. “Let’s look at every shift, every period, at every game and take it as it comes. If you’re not disciplined or allow yourself to get frustrated too easily then it could be a worse year.”

Peters lauded his senior captains, Jack Allen, Bobby Siders and Kevin Willis, for keeping the group on track. 

“Those are three guys that you just don’t get in your program very often,” Peters said. “They’re special individuals and chosen by their peers to be captains this year and they really stepped up.”

Especially in W-H’s 3-2 win over Plymouth North on Feb. 6, which was the start of their three-game winning streak. 

“We went down 2-1 in the third and they just kept going,” Peters said. “We were in the game, we were outshooting them. At that point, it was a turning part of the season. 

“The captains said, ‘Guys, we’re playing better, things are coming together, we’re outshooting them, these are the things we need to start seeing.’ And we came out in the third and we scored two late goals. If you don’t have that leadership, you don’t score those two goals.”

Willis was tabbed a Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star, along with sophomore sniper Matt Solari. 

Solari paced W-H with 12 goals to complement eight assists.  

“Matt leads by his play,” Peters said. “Every day he is working hard, every day he is asking questions, every day he is trying to make other guys better. He holds himself like a true professional at the rink. I’m excited to see what he has for the next two years of his career.”

Freshman Luke Tropeano (two goals, 10 assists) and sophomore Joe Culley (three goals, three assists) formed the rest of the Panthers’ young top line. 

“With two weeks left in the season, we ended up moving Joe Culley from defense to forward and he ended up playing with Matt Solari and Luke Tropeano,” Peters explained. “He ended up having four points in the last six games. That just comes with time in the season and unfortunately, we just didn’t have time. Once we started to get going we only had about a month and a half left.” 

Juniors John Ward (three goals, seven assists) and Bobby Hunter (two goals) also found the back of the net multiple times this season. 

In net, Siders, a 2019-20 league all-star, and junior Erik Dean formed a solid tandem. Siders had 32 stops in a 4-3 win over Pembroke in the opening round of the Patriot Cup. Dean stopped 46 shots in a loss to Hingham. 

“[This season] is a big push forward,” Peters said. “We saw the best of the best a lot. I think we’re on our way. We know where we gotta be and we gotta get there.”

Season Preview: Leadership is the key to momentum for boys’ hockey

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The senior captains. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Rob Peters enters his first year behind the bench of the boys’ hockey team.

Following its best season in at least 15 years, the momentum is strong for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team. 

Now it’s first-year head coach Rob Peters’ job to keep it going. 

“Really good group of guys, good leadership by our seniors, everything has been good so far,” said Peters, who takes over for Chris Googins, after he stepped down to spend time with his family.

W-H was hit hard by graduation, losing Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari (23 goals, 11 assists last season) and Chris Stoddard (nine goals, 28 assists last season). But the cupboard isn’t completely bare, as they do return sophomore standout Matt Solari (18 goals and 14 assists last season). Junior John Ward and freshman Luke Tropiano will join him on the first line. 

“We lost a lot of points up front,” Peters explained. “But Matt has gotten even bigger, stronger, he’s gonna be a great power forward for us. That top line is really jelling right now really well. I think they’re gonna be a really tough line to play against. They’re tough. They work hard.”

Peters said the first line and defense will power his club. Senior captains Jack Allen and Kevin Willis are back on the blue line, while fellow senior captain Bobby Siders, a league all-star last season, returns for his third year in net. 

“We’re gonna rely a lot on our backend,” Peters said. “Those guys have really stepped up nicely.” 

Junior goaltender Erik Dean and senior defenseman Josh Pike are also key returnees on the backend. Additionally, W-H had 11 freshmen try out for the team. 

“I’m just really excited where this club is right now,” Peters said. “They’re all jelling, coming together and they’re just a really good group of guys and I love coming to the rink every day.”

W-H sports on pause

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Sports at Whitman-Hanson Regional High are on pause until at least January 19.

Following the district’s decision to go full remote until January 19, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High athletic calendar will also be paused until then.

“Teams will continue to be engaged via zoom and other distanced activities,” tweeted athletic director Bob Rodgers. “Please wear your masks and stay safe during this time.”

“No one should be angry with anyone over the move to remote,” Rodgers added. “In our league, Marshfield, Plymouth North and Scituate are also in the same position and others are likely to follow. In addition, there are many other teams that are out because of quarantine.”

Both the boys’ and girls’ hockey teams as well as the boys’ basketball team had already opened their seasons. The girls’ basketball team still hasn’t played a game.

New boys’ hockey head coach Peters takes to radio airwaves

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The high school hockey season isn’t set to begin at Whitman-Hanson Regional High until mid-December, at the earliest.

New Panthers bench boss Rob Peters joined Four Deep Sports Talk Show on Saturday, Nov. 7 to talk W-H hockey and share his background in the game.

Take a listen:

A new bench boss: Rob Peters takes charge of boys’ hockey

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Rob Peters is the new boys’ hockey coach and he’s no stranger to the Patriot League.

Rob Peters knows firsthand what the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team is capable of after serving as an assistant coach for Scituate the last two seasons. 

Not only did the Panthers go 2-0 against the Sailors last year during league play, but they also ended their season in the Division 2 South quarterfinals. 

“They’re (Whitman-Hanson) well respected, very difficult,” Peters said. “It’s always a dog fight to play Whitman-Hanson.”

Fortunately for Peters, he doesn’t have to worry about playing the Panthers anymore, after they hired him as their next head coach last month. 

“It’s definitely exciting being back behind the bench head coaching and kind of build off of a great, respected program,” Peters said. “I’m definitely excited to be a part of that.”

Peters succeeds Chris Googins, who stepped down to spend more time with his family, and Peters knows he has some big shoes to fill. Googins took the program from a one-win season in 2015 (his first season back in his second stint behind the Panthers bench) to its best campaign in at least 15 years this past winter, going 17-6-1 and earning a trip to the South semifinals. Peters said his philosophy mirrors the program’s current style quite well. 

“I like to coach a very disciplined, defensive-minded-first team, so I like having kids with good characters,” Peters said. “That’s what I saw as an outsider and then when I started to go through the interview process and learn more about Whitman-Hanson and who they are as a school and a community, there’s a lot of similarities with how I live my everyday life. As I went through the interview process, it reassured me that it was going to be a good fit.”

Peters’ duties at Scituate included running the power play, coaching the forwards and leading film sessions. Additionally, he owns and operates his own hockey skill development company. He also worked in community development and branding for the New Jersey Devils organization. 

“I think I’ll be able to add a little more versatility and a little more skill development [to W-H],” Peters said. 

A question for any new W-H boys’ hockey coach should be: How do you keep the program relevant?

“I want to try and have a little more input with their youth program,” Peters said. “I want to really get them excited to play for Whitman-Hanson hockey — kind of build from the bottom up.”

“Year after year, players change but the systems, the character, and everything that comes with the game mentally stays. If we create a family atmosphere, I think we can overcome anything.”

And the Panthers’ are going to have to overcome the graduation of a few key forwards in Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari (23 goals, 11 assists) and Chris Stoddard (nine goals, 28 assists). However, they will return a league all-star in net, Bobby Siders, and freshman forward standout Matt Solari (18 goals, 14 assists). 

“I want to make the playoffs — that’s a big goal,” Peters said. “They had a really big year last year. We lost some key forwards but I think we are still going to have a great roster and character. I’m excited to see what these guys got. I want to get back in the playoffs — where they were last year.”

Googins steps down as W-H boys’ hockey coach

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Whitman-Hanson Regional High is looking for a boys’ hockey coach.

After the program’s best run in at least 15 years, Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey head coach Chris Googins has stepped down.

“This is a huge loss for our school, but I get it,” said W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers. “Not only is Chris a tremendous coach, he is an even better father. His youngest son is playing hockey in college and he simply did not want to miss the opportunity to share that journey with him.”

Googins served six seasons as the boys’ hockey coach in the early 2000s before departing to take over the head coaching responsibilities at Framingham State University. He returned to W-H in 2016, as the Panthers skated to a one-win campaign. This past season, they won 17 games and earned a berth in the Div. 2 South semifinals. 

“Coach Googins touched all the bases as a high school coach,” Rodgers said. “ He taught his players so much more than just hockey and in his final lesson to the boys he showed them that family always comes first. We are fortunate that he will remain with our school in his current teaching position.”

Season Review: Boys’ hockey team stayed on-message

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The Panthers celebrate a goal against Scituate. / Photo by: Sue Moss

It was a special season on the ice for the boys’ hockey team.

If you can get a team to collectively buy into the same message, usually good things will follow. 

So, to see his Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team go on the program’s longest postseason run in at least 15 years didn’t take head coach Chris Googins by surprise one bit. The Panthers posted a 17-6-1 record and went all the way to the Div. 2 South semifinals, where they fell to eventual co-state champion Canton. 

“They really just stayed true to what their goal was and that was just trying to do their part to make the program better,” said the 10th-year head coach. “They didn’t care who got the points or the glory, they were just more interested in the program moving ahead. It does take a core group of kids to help establish a culture to have some relative success.”

It started with seniors Eddie Collins, Calvin Cooper, John Hagan, Adam Solari, Chris Stoddard, and Reed Watson, all of whom were four-year players who won just one game their freshman year.

“It can’t be mentioned enough of what a great character-driven core of seniors these have been,” Googins said. “None of them have left. They’ve always tried to push each other. I know there’s three kids who have letters on their jerseys, but anyone of them I would be comfortable calling a captain.”

Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari and Stoddard keyed the offense. Adam Solari led the team with 23 goals to go with 11 assists, while Stoddard had a team-high 28 helpers to complement nine goals.

“They’re two different types of players and I think that’s why they had such a good year together,” Googins said. “Chris is more of a pass-first type of a kid and Adam is a shoot-first type of kid and it’s a great formula. They really did not care who scored, it was always about the end result.”

Freshman Matt Solari was the other piece of the Panthers’ top line and made quite the first impression, finding the back of the net 18 times with 14 assists. 

“He’s very fortunate that he played in three postseason games, three tournament games,” Googins said. “We’ve got other important kids coming back along with Matty who played significant time in the tournament.”

No one played more significant time in the tournament than junior goaltender Bobby Siders, who oftentimes stood on his head. A Patriot League All-Star, Siders recorded 26 saves in a 2-0 shutout victory over Scituate in the quarterfinals.

“Bobby is a hockey player,” Googins said. “He knows when we need a whistle and he knows when to deflect a puck in a certain corner. He’s constantly communicating. He really has been the backbone of this team. He’s going to continue and hopefully elevate his game because we are losing some production.”

Junior blueliners Jack Allen and Kevin Willis should once again form a strong nucleus in front of Siders next winter. 

“They know the system, they communicate very well with each other,” Googins said. “Looking for much bigger and better things from all of them.

“The bottom line is the heart, the desire, the work ethic, that’s there. But now there has to be a little more sport-specific training and it comes down to skating. You have to be able to skate at a higher level and make quick decisions. That starts in the weight room and working on legs.

Googins said he believes this season could be a turning point for his program, which had struggled to gain traction in the past. 

“Moving forward, the new normal is to get to this level annually and try to see if you can get some good opportunities and move forward,” Googins said. “We talk a lot about the word complacency and we try not to let it infect our team and I’m hoping getting into the tournament and trying to go deep is kind of the new normal. 

“There’s a lot of good programs at Whitman-Hanson and these kids all see it and want to try to get their program to where they’re contenders every year.”

Solari brothers a dynamic pair for W-H boys’ hockey

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Brothers Matt (left) and Adam Solari. / Photos by: Sue Moss

Brothers Adam and Matt Solari have flourished since joining forces on the Panthers’ first line.

Separated by three years, brothers Adam and Matt Solari had never taken the ice competitively together prior to this season.

You’d never know it.

The brothers form two-thirds (along with senior captain Chris Stoddard) of a dynamic top line for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey, which after recording its best regular season in at least 15 years with a 15-5-1 record, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament, following an 8-2 win over Wareham/Carver on Tuesday.

Adam, a senior alternate captain, struck for a goal in the first-round victory, while Matt, a freshman, lit the lamp twice. Adam registered the assist on Matt’s first postseason goal. The two have wrought havoc on opponents together all year. Adam tallied 20 goals and 11 assists during the regular season en route to being named a Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star. Matt scored 14 times and recorded 14 assists.

“A lot of times, when lines in hockey have success, the ones that sustain themselves are because they stay unselfish, and I think that’s so evident with those guys,” said W-H boys’ hockey head coach Chris Googins. “They have different skill sets, but I think Matt is a great F1, which is the first forechecker, and he’ll find Adam the puck. Adam is a gifted goal scorer, and I think when Adam gets loose, he’ll try to find Matt. They use their skill set very well to find each other.”

However, they didn’t join forces until the sixth game of the season, when Googins bumped Matt up a line, as he searched for some offense.

“We shook it up and they’ve been together ever since,” the coach explained.

While the two had never suited up together until this winter, they still had plenty of practice with each other over the years.

“In the driveway, we would always play together,” Matt said.

Added Adam: “Especially when our friends came over, all we did was play hockey.”

Matt is the only freshman on the team.

“He’s a physical kid, he can skate well and he’s got a good hockey IQ,” Googins said. “That’s something you really can’t teach in three or four months or in a season. You have to have that, and he does.

“He is only going to get better. He is going to make the underclassmen and the upperclassmen work harder. He’s just going to elevate his other teammates’ play.”

Despite being a freshman, the younger Solari has aimed to be on the varsity team for the last few years.

“I always came to his (Adam’s) game,” Matt said. “I would see who was leaving to see if I could make the team.”

Adam admitted that he’s a little jealous of his younger brother.

“I wish I could have done that as a freshman,” he said with a laugh. “It’s wicked cool to see him lighting it up, though.”

But Matt gives his older brother a ton of credit for his success.

“He absolutely makes me a better player,” Matt said. “He does. He gives me advice, a lot of the time. Growing up, I would watch what he did and try to replicate it.”

Their athletic bond doesn’t end at the rink, though.

“He plays lacrosse too, which is pretty cool,” Adam said.

Pretty cool for them, but a nightmare for the rest of the Patriot League.

The Panthers return to the ice for the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Feb. 29.

“We don’t want to come up short again this year,” Adam said.

Said Matt: “I think it would be awesome if we could go to the Garden. That would be awesome.”

Season Preview: Senior-laden boys’ hockey team returns the bulk of its core

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Goalie Bobby Siders in the Panthers’ season opener against Pembroke. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The boys’ hockey team is looking to be even better than last season’s tournament team.

There seems to be a different feeling surrounding the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team entering this season than in years past.

The Panthers are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2013 and return a bulk of their core, putting them in prime position to make another run to the postseason.

“The goal is to try to be as competitive — if not even more competitive — than the previous year,” said head coach Chris Googins, who enters his 10th season overall leading the Panthers. “So, let’s try to close out some of those games that we maybe couldn’t close out or couldn’t play three periods, let‘s try to do that and I think good things will happen. Overall, you need to play your 16th game like your third game. Just be consistent.”

The Panthers welcome back five of their top six forwards, all three goaltenders and a some key defensemen, which should help them with that consistency.

Senior Chris Stoddard will don the C on his jersey and center the first line this season, on the heels a 23-point (13 goals, 10 assists) junior campaign.

“He played a high level in the offseason and had a really good fall,” Googins said. “He’s just elevated his game to another level, in regards to his hockey IQ — his decision making. I expect big things out of him.”

The Panthers’ leading scorer with 10 goals and 14 assists last winter, senior assistant captain Adam Solari is also back in the fold on the first line.

“Another kid who worked so hard in the offseason and still has a very bright and optimistic senior year,” Googins said. “I think he can have a breakout year.”

Senior Eddie Collins rounds out the top line at left wing.

“He had a great offseason,” Googins said. “I expect big things from him, too.”

Googins pointed to his club’s depth last season and his ability to roll out three lines as a key reason it was able to sustain its level of play. He said he fully expects to be able to do the same this season with a third line likely featuring juniors Zach Either and Josh Pike along with freshman Matt Solari.

The second line will be made up of senior Calvin Cooper centering classmate John Hagan and sophomore John Ward, the Panthers’ only top six forward who is not a senior.

“They could be the difference, if they can just really show off some of their offensive abilities and take care of business in their own end,” Googins said. “I think we could really be in good shape. There’s some talent there.”

There’s also some talent in net, where they return both junior Bobby Siders and sophomore Erik Dean. Siders saw a majority of the action last winter and flourished, holding Division 1 state champion Duxbury to three goals over six periods of action and winning consecutive do-or-die games down the stretch. But Googins said he’s like what he’s seen from Dean early on, and the job between the pipes may be fluid throughout the year.

“I’m not ruling out every other game or maybe the hot hand staying in there,” Googins said. “Either one could happen.”

Senior assistant captain Reed Watson, juniors Jack Allen, Mike Savicke, Kevin Willis and sophomore Sean Doucette form a strong nucleus on the blue line.

“Having a good core at each position will hopefully make us competitive every night,” Googins said. “I don’t think we have a major weakness on our team. I think we have a good, solid base at every position.”

Googins said the Panthers’ strength this winter is their leadership.

“Even though there’s three captains, I consider there to be at least five to seven captains,” Googins said. “There’s a number of kids I could lean on to take a role on the team and run with it.”

As for departures, the graduations of Patriot League All-Stars Ed Scriven (11 goals, 12 assists last season) and Owen Manning (six goals, 14 assists last season) leave some holes.

“Along with their solid numbers and the minutes, they were just tremendously great competitors and leaders,” Googins said.

W-H is back in action Saturday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. against Patriot League foe Duxbury at The Bog Ice Arena in Kingston.

“I want to see them adapt to the new systems, but at the same token, we have to play three periods, you can’t play two,” Googins said. “There’s no give-me night in the Patriot League. You might not win every game, but you have to say that you went out there and tried 45 minutes.”