Former longtime Peabody boys hockey coach Mark Leonard remembers the joy simply as a lot as he remembers the frustration.
A loaded upcoming class was dominating the youth circuit 4 years in the past, successful event after event all through New England for Peabody Youth Hockey and Leonard’s North Shore Coyotes. Leonard, who helped construct that pipeline by way of his 24 years on the helm of the Tanners whereas president of that Peabody Youth Hockey program, couldn’t assist however be excited over what they might present his struggling varsity staff. They have been going to make a heck of a distinction for him as they dreamed of taking part in collectively at Peabody.
That is, till Peabody fired their longtime coach in 2019 after successful only one recreation over the prior two years. The alternative he patiently waited for was immediately thrown into critical doubt.
It didn’t take lengthy for him to seek out one other head teaching gig, touchdown on the 3-year-old program at Essex Tech throughout the city line in Danvers. The probably star-studded 2025 class that included his son, Brady Leonard, needed to play for Leonard over their hometown faculty. So, when the time got here two years later, they adopted him.
Since they did, the regional tech faculty has a 31-5-4 file, has achieved many program-firsts, and is 16-1-1 thus far this season.
“I’ve coached a lot of these kids since they were 8 years old … they’re a good class,” Leonard stated. “I got very fortunate to get the job at Essex Tech. I’m very grateful for it. I have nothing but great things to say. … I’ve had a ton of support from the school, and we’re only going to get better.”
One of the missions Leonard set out for when he took over was to depart a memorable stamp on the staff. The younger program was already on a speedy trajectory with two playoff appearances in three seasons earlier than he acquired there, however there’s no mistaking the heights Essex Tech has reached over the past 4 years.
Even earlier than sophomores Brady Leonard, Jayden Vargas, Anthony Bisenti, Mason Sutcliffe, Riley Sobezenski and Andrew McKenna, in addition to juniors Armani Booth and Brandon Cole, joined this system, the Hawks achieved a program-best, 11-win season and was six seconds away from the Commonwealth Athletic Conference for the primary time within the new coach’s first season. The COVID season didn’t have many video games, however Essex Tech received the video games it wanted to for the CAC title.
Last 12 months, bolstered by returning expertise and the jolt the then-freshman group offered, went even higher. Finishing at 15-4-3, the Hawks had received the fully-loaded CAC for the primary time, received their first Mass. Vocational State Tournament championship, and beat Bedford 1-0 in extra time within the first spherical of the Div. 3 state event for this system’s first playoff win.
“We’ve kind of taken a step each year,” Mark Leonard stated. “One of the biggest things I’ve seen as a coach is, you don’t get a lot of respect in the voke league. … Trust me, I hear the chirping out there. A lot of times it’s, ‘You guys suck, you’re just a tech school.’ That’s really kind of – our kids want to get away from that and I think they really have.”
Especially this 12 months.
For as a lot as there will be stated about its energy of schedule, Essex Tech is trying like a professional staff to fret about come this season’s event. Ranked at No. 9 within the newest MIAA Div. 3 energy rankings, the Hawks have been one of many final groups to stay undefeated at 14-0-1 earlier than Shawsheen lastly beat them earlier this month. That’s the longest unbeaten streak in program historical past, and a win on Sunday towards Lowell Catholic would safe a 3rd straight CAC title.
Offensively gifted, their 5.61 objectives per recreation ranks second throughout all divisions within the state getting into the weekend. Junior Logan Casey (15 objectives, 25 assists) and Brady Leonard (17 objectives, 21 assists) star on two totally different traces, aided by fellow main scorers Vargas (21 factors), Booth (21 factors), Chris Maher (19 factors) and Bisenti (17 factors). Eleven totally different gamers are in double-digits scoring factors, and senior goalie Kyle Mahan has allowed simply 1.59 objectives per recreation behind the protection.
Factor within the chemistry of this group, and the longtime coach believes this staff may make an additional run than final 12 months’s.
“We’re getting scoring from a lot of places, which is nice, it’s not just one or two kids doing all the scoring,” he stated. “The kids work hard, they show up every day, they work hard at practice, they’re a very tight-knit group. They all get along, they hang out together, they support each other. They’re fun to coach. … I think we can play with anybody. I really do. If we’re playing our game, we can play with anybody.”
Perhaps probably the most thrilling half for Leonard is the room this system has to continue to grow, with all of Essex Tech leaving the CAC for the Cape Ann League subsequent season.
Losing senior defender Cam Doherty will harm, as will the graduations of Ethan Long, Graffeo, Mahan, and Bryan Swaczyk. But these are the staff’s solely 5 seniors. All eight of the group’s present prime scorers shall be again.
As far as Leonard is anxious, that is nonetheless only the start.
Milestones
At least 14 skaters throughout girls and boys MIAA hockey have surpassed the century mark in factors, and 5 goalies have set spectacular marks in saves. Cam Fici (Belmont boys), Anthony Patete (East/West Bridgewater boys), Caroline Doherty (Hingham ladies) and David Noel (Minnechaug) joined the 100-point membership this week, whereas goalie Cam Tomaszycki (Taunton boys) picked up his 1,000th save and goalie Izzy Laskin (Cambridge ladies) secured her 2,000th.
Paul Magalhaes (Arlington Catholic), Drew Damiani (Lynnfield), Tommy Workman (Dracut/Tyngsboro) are different boys to interrupt 100 factors. Jen Birolini (Pembroke), Lexi Yost (Bishop Stang), Mikayla Brightman (Bishop Stang), Emma Holmes (Winthrop) and Julia Holmes (Winthrop) are ladies to do it. Maggie Lynch (Archbishop Williams) handed 200 factors this 12 months, as did Jenna Chaplain (St. Mary’s of Lynn) with 100 objectives. Bridget Gray (Belmont) additionally has 2,000 saves, whereas Mikal Franklin (Framingham) and Lila Chamoun (Milton) every surpassed 1,000.
Source: www.bostonherald.com