Published December 12, 2018

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — Jon Gardner is back for his seventh year as the head coach of the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team this winter. Last season, the Pioneers were edged, 2-1, by Wilmington in the opening round of the Division 2 North state tournament. With that defeat, the Pioneers finished at 12-5-3.

They came in third place in the Cape Ann League last season going 6-4-2.

Six players from that team graduated but 18 veterans came back when training camp opened on Nov. 26.

The captains are all seniors: George DeRoche (left wing), Jaret Simpson (defenseman) and Aidan Kelly (goalie). DeRoche was a CAL All-League player last year and he is the team’s top returning scorer with 40 points as he had 18 goals to go with 22 assists. Kelly was also on the CAL All-League squad as his goals-against average was 2.17.

The two assistant captains are Chris Flannery and Dan Mack. Flannery is a right winger while Mack is a defenseman.

GEORGE DeROCHE (10) is one of three senior captains ready to lead the Lynnfield boys’ hockey team. DeRoche was a CAL All-League player last year and the team’s top returning scorer as he netted 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

The other 12th-graders back are Mike Caruso (defenseman), Leo Quinn (defenseman), Will Garofoli (forward), Jeff Floramo (center), Rick Cassaletto (left wing) and Chris Fiorentino (left wing).

There are six juniors back: Jackson Hammersley (center), Ron Fuccillo (right wing), John Simonetti (center), Sam Pifko (left wing), Sean Robbins (right wing) and Anthony Magwood (goalie).

A new junior on the team is left winger, Rob Tashjian, a transfer from St. John’s Prep.

The lone 10th-grader back is goalie Jake Debendictis.

“We have a lot of depth and have a good amount of skill and speed,” said Gardner, as his team is one of the most experienced in the league this year.

It was a busy preseason for the team as they scrimmaged Danvers, Winchester, Norwood and Bishop Fenwick.

Last Saturday afternoon, they opened the 2018-2019 campaign as they hosted non-league Gloucester at McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.

In a game that was closer than the final would indicate, the Pioneers fell to the Fishermen, 4-1.

“It was 2-1 with five minutes left,” pointed out Gardner.

Gloucester scored first in the opening period but the Pioneers tied it early in the second as Pifko scored with Simonetti and Fiorentino both assisting.

The Fishermen got the eventual game-winning goal early in the third. They then tacked on two goals late with the final one coming on the empty net.

Gloucester outshot the Pioneers on goal, 22-21, as Kelly made 19 saves.

Lynnfield will play a 20-game regular-season schedule.

Gardner feels that the league is wide open.

“The league is really loaded this year,” he stated. “Masconomet is the slight favorite.”

This Saturday at noon, the Pioneers host Pentucket at McVann-O’Keefe.