Published in the March 21, 2018 edition

JOE MACK

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — Five members of the Lynnfield High boys hockey team recently received postseason honors from the Cape Ann League coaches. Joe Mack, Aidan Kelly and George DeRoche were all named to the Cape Ann League All-Conference team. It is the first time on the squad for all three players.

Mack, a senior co-captain, had 25 points as the defenseman had 10 goals and 15 assists. Kelly, a junior goalie, went 12-5-3 in net with a goals-against average of 1.95. DeRoche led the team in points with 40 as the junior forward had 18 goals and 22 assists.

AIDAN KELLY

Two Pioneers made the CAL All-Star team, including senior co-captains Cooper Marengi and Tyler Murphy, who are both forwards. Murphy had 19 points with 11 goals and eight assists while Marengi had 16 points with six goals and 10 assists.

“The honor was well deserved for all of them,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner.

It was another solid season for the Pioneers even though they lost, 2-1, to Wilmington in the first round of the Division 2 North state tournament on Feb. 27 at the Ryan Arena in Watertown to finish 12-5-3 overall.

Lynnfield came in third place in the league behind Newburyport and Masconomet going 6-4-2 in league play.

GEORGE DeROCHE

“We set a lot of goals for ourselves heading into the season and we reached most of them,” said Gardner, who just completed his sixth year at the helm. “We wanted to be 60-40 in goals for and goals against, never lose-back-to back games and we accomplished both of those feats,”

Lynnfield will lose six seniors to graduation. Along with Mack, Marengi and Murphy, the Pioneers will also lose Rob Brandano (forward), Kyle Nekoroski (forward) and Zack Rothwell (defenseman).

“The seniors were instrumental in getting our program back on track,” said Gardner.

The good news for the Pioneers is that they are slated to return 18 veterans next winter.

“If the kids do the offseason work, we should be able to make a good run next year,” stated Gardner. “We ran into a tough matchup with Wilmington this year in the first round.”