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Playing Up No Problem for Valley Jr. Warriors

By Tom Robinson - Special to USAHockey.com, 03/25/16, 1:45PM MDT

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Lawrence-based 14U squad rolls into nationals with strong defense

Playing up one year has not been a problem to date for the Valley Jr. Warriors, who will represent the Massachusetts District at the Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 14U National Championships March 31-April 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The program’s 2002 Elite team won the district’s national-bound 14U tournament in November. Unlike the older teams representing the Massachusetts District at youth and girls’ Tier I and Tier II nationals, the 14U teams stay together all winter because they don’t have most of their players committed to high school seasons yet.

The Warriors continued their success through the Elite 9 League Championship, putting together four straight shutouts, including the league final.

“I think skating and skill-wise, we’ll be as good as anyone,” said head coach Steve MacAdams, who has taken the Warriors’ 1997 birth-year team to nationals on the Tier I 12U, 14U and 16U level, but has never been to a Tier II national event. “What will factor is in the strength and maturity of the other teams.

“It’s only a one-year age difference, but that’s a big year at this age.”

The Lawrence-based team, made up entirely of seventh- and eighth-graders has often been impressive defensively while averaging just over four goals per game on offense.

Valley allowed just six goals while going 5-0 in the state tournament for national-bound teams.

The Warriors will bring a 47-8-1 record to nationals, including 29-2-1 while playing within their own age and winning the last 17 games of the Elite 9 Hockey League 2002 Division.

Jack Pascucci, Tom Barbati and Tyler Godfrey lead a defensive corps that also includes Jack Gilligan and Kyle Collins. Matt Gover is in goal where Shane D’Agostino also gets time. Patrick Moran and David Sacco have been the two top scoring threats among forwards.

TIER I 14U

The Boston Junior Eagles dominated the district tournament, winning the final 6-0 over the Valley Jr. Warriors.

The Junior Eagles outscored opponents, 30-2, while going 5-0 in the tournament.

They also played together all winter and will take a 46-14-9 record to Anchorage, Alaska for Tier I nationals.

TIER II 16U

Playing together strictly in September, October and the first half of November, the Boston Junior Terriers built a 23-4-4 record.

The Junior Terriers fought through a tough district tournament to earn their spot at nationals. They escaped a pair of one-goal games in pool play then won two elimination games, including beating the East Coast Wizards, 3-1, in the district final.

The Junior Terriers are headed to Wayne, New Jersey for their national tournament March 31-April 4.

TIER II 18U

The Weymouth Wildcats put together six shutouts during a 12-game winning streak playing as a fall team.

The district champions will go on to nationals in Amherst, New York, March 31-April 4.

Like the 16U champion Junior Terriers, the Wildcats broke up in the fall to go play for their respective high school teams and have joined back together to get ready for the national tournament.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.


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