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Headers eager to prove this season was no fluke

Thursday, March, 13 By Mike Grenier and Phil Stacey

WORCESTER | The assumption after the Marblehead High hockey team lost to Scituate, 8-2, in the Division 3 state semifinal last night was that the Headers will be back here next season and do better.

It's not an unreasonable line of thinking. Marblehead is graduating just two seniors, Eric Fader and Jackson Barber. The team has exceptional young talent, including eight freshmen, good coaching and strong chemistry.

But next year is, well, next year. The Headers have to do it again from scratch. They can't think the wins will come easily and automatically.

"The future is really good for the program," Barber said after last night's game. "The team has more potential than we had this year. But the kids have to prove it all over again. The young kids have to show that this season wasn't a fluke."

The other senior, Fader, hated to see the season end the way it did. But he, too, is extremely high on the Headers for next year and probably beyond.

"This was by far the best season we've had | it was so much (fun)," said Fader. "With the kids they have coming back, I can almost guarantee that Marblehead will be a power for a long time."

The Scituate players were also impressed with the Headers despite the blowout score. The Sailors could see a little of themselves in Marblehead.

"They have a lot of potential," said Pat Duggan, who had a pair of goals for the Sailors, said of the Headers. "They just need more experience like we've already got."
Despite the final score, last night can be seen as a step in the right direction for Marblehead.

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Scituate coach Mike Breen said he didn't have a chance to research Marblehead the old-fashioned way | by scouting them | so he used the modern tool known as the Internet.

"I didn't have much on them, so I read about them online. What is it, The Salem News?" Breen said with a smile. "I read everything I could about them in The Salem News."

Breen believes Marblehead will be a major player in Division 3 next year.
"You look at the final score (8-2). I hope we're not on the other end of that next year," said Breen.

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Whoever was spinning the music at the DCU Center last night had a clever sense of humor.

When Scituate's Jamie Pratt was sent to the penalty box for hooking midway through the first period, AC/DC's 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' came blaring over the sound system. A second period infraction against the Sailors had the DJ dialing up the old Judas Priest head banger, 'Breaking The Law'. Others sent to the sin bin were serenaded with tunes such as 'I Did It' by the Dave Matthews Band and 'Bad Boys', the theme from the TV show 'Cops'.

Also, when Marblehead's Ellery Smith was felled by a Scituate hit late in the second period and had to be helped off the ice, on came Kenny Loggins' 'I'm All Right'.

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With two assists last night, junior right wing Andrew Bates cemented his spot atop Marblehead's scoring list for the season, finishing with 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points. He'll take three-year totals of 28-26-54 into his senior year next winter.

Sophomore Anders Gundersen had a goal and an assist last night to move him into second place with nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points. He also had the best plus/minus on the team at plus-10.

Freshman Ben Koopman's goal, the last scored by a Header in 2007-08, was his second of the season. He had 10 assists to go along with those two scores in a fine first season of varsity hockey.

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If there's one area the Scituate coaches would like to see their team improve upon before Sunday's Division 3 state final, it's staying out of the penalty box. The Sailors committed seven penalties last night, leaning to six power plays for Marblehead (all in the first two periods).

Three times, the Headers were the recipients of 5-on-3 man advantages. In all, they were up two men for a grand total of 2 minutes and 38 seconds last night, scoring twice during this scenario.

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Sophomore goaltender Jamie Murray wasn't called on to make many big saves for Scituate, not with his team racing out to a quick 4-0 lead. But he did flash the pads nicely for his best save with about two-and-a-half minutes to play, when he turned away Eric Fader's breakaway attempt with his right pad.

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Scituate continues to honor the memory of fallen teammate Tim Mahoney, who died in a car accident earlier this season. His name was announced among the starters last night (as it has been since he passed away), and the Sailors have dedicated their season to him.

"It's evident they're a team on a mission," said Marblehead head coach Bobby Jackson.

Breen said afterwards that his team was trying to score a ninth goal in the late stages of the game | a tribute to Mahoney, who wore No. 9 for the Sailors.

"I hope (Marblehead) doesn't think I'm a jerk for trying for it," said Breen. "We weren't trying to pile it on; we just wanted to do it for Tim."

Pat Mahoney, Tim's brother, had three assists in playing a terrific two-way game.

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There was no screaming or crying coming out of the Marblehead locker room afterwards; Jackson and his coaches kept it positive.

"(Assistant) coaches (Tom) Colby and (Mark) Tarmey really emphasized all of the positive things we've done these last few weeks," Jackson said afterwards. "One loss can't take away all of the terrific things this team has done during the season and the playoffs.

"When we (the coaching staff) came here five years ago, Marblehead had only been to the playoffs three times in the previous 15 years. Now we've been four of the last five years, and we're continually building. We're heading in the right direction."

Additional stories:

• Headers can learn from this experience
• The magic ends for Marblehead