Shortened Seasons To Provide Stanley Cup Hopes For the Bs
By Jack Morretti, Grade 8 / Swampscott Middle School
On September 15, 2012, Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the National Hockey League, came out with a statement that the NHL would undergo a lockout because of labor disputes in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). All games scheduled up to January 14th, 2013, were cancelled; this added up to 41.5% of the original season. This included the famous Winter Classic and the all-star game and skills competition. The biggest problem in the CBA was that the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) received 57% of all produced revenue. The owners wanted to reduce that number from 57% to 46% in order to get themselves money. With no end to the lockout in sight, the players knew they needed to find other leagues and other teams to play in. Many of the more elite players in the league, including Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, found a new home in the Continental Hockey League, while others found teams all across Europe and North America. The Bruins Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron found a new team in Switzerland in which they won the league title.
Finally after 16 continuous hours of negotiating on January 6th, 2013, they made a deal!
With the Boston Bruins new additions they look to take home the cup back to Boston. Chris Bourque, the son of former Bruins star and Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, looks to make a huge difference to the Bruins bringing energy and the unique playing style back to his hometown. Also for the new players is the Bruins 2011 first round draft pick, Dougie Hamilton, on the blue line. In the second game of the season Bruins announcer, Jack Edwards, made a reference to his playing style being like former Bruin great Bobby Orr. With the oldest player being the seasoned veteran captain Chara at 35 years of age, the younger but experienced Bruins team has come out of the gates flying and off to a great start! This shortened season may leave us back in Boston :Cue in the Duck Boats!”
Rising Stars of the Boston Bruins
By Elizabeth Weeks, Grade 8 / St. Pius V School
There were many questions surrounding the Bruins during the prolonged offseason. Questions like “Will Tuukka Rask fill Tim Thomas’ role?” and “Will Nathan Horton make a comeback after being out for a whole year?”
Even in the first game of the NHL season, those two questions were answered. Rask definitely took the role of being the *1 goalie seriously. The goalie’s form may get fans to sit on the edge of their seats, but it’s aggressive as well. Rask has shown that he can play the puck well and that he is a force to be reckoned with. Now through almost half of the shortened season, Rask has been on the top of his game for every game he’s played. The goaltending duo of Rask and Anton Khudobin brings hope to the Bruins nation of another Stanley Cup soon.
Another questionable part of the Bruins roster was the condition of Nathan Horton. Horton sustained a concussion in June, 2011, and again in January, 2012. The right winger was said to be ready to play in 2013, and he is. Milan Lucic, David Krejci, and Nathan Horton are the Bruin’s top line, and they’ve reestablished that title this season. Horton came back and made his presence known. Whether he hits someone in the offensive zone or rushes into the offensive zone, Horton is always doing his job right. The Bruins struggled without him last year, and they are glad he’s back. Horton has proved some NHL reporters wrong by making a major comeback and not slumping like some predicted.
She shoots, She Scores!
By Alanna Burke, Grade 8 / Swampscott Middle School
On a cool Sunday morning in the middle of January, a team of young hockey players struggle to catch their breath after a tough shift, their breaths crystallizing in the freezing cold air.
A coach stands by, shouting words of encouragement and advice. What separates these players from the crowd of tired morning skaters? Ponytails poke out from underneath helmets, pink tape wrapped around hockey sticks, and painted nails reach down to tie skates.
Girls’ hockey is an ever-growing force in the United States, expanding rapidly in the past few decades. In the previous twenty years, hockey enthusiasts across North America have witnessed this explosion of participation in girls’ hockey.
According to USA Hockey, the number of girls registered in the 1992-93 season with their program was a miniscule 10,000 players. By the 2010-11 season, that number was topping 65,000. Where there had previously been the sole option of cutting their hair and dressing like a boy, or dealing with the prejudice some had formed against them, girls now have the option to play freely on a co-ed team or an all-girls team.
Many players, coaches, and fans have acknowledged the change not only in the quantity of girls’ teams in recent years, but the quality too. Many high schools in New England have been adding female ice hockey teams to their list of team sport options, in some cases combining towns in order to obtain the correct amount of players.
An example of this is the Marblehead/Swampscott team who, last year, had one Swampscott player among multiple Marblehead and Manchester/Essex participants. The development in hockey leagues has also ignited new accommodations for girl players, including competitive tournaments, additional locker rooms, and all girl hockey training camps.
Perhaps the most well-known women’s worldwide hockey tournament took place in Nagano, Japan, in 1998, the first ever women’s Olympic hockey tournament, in which the Americans won the gold medal. As a future high school player myself and a current Lynnfield player, I can personally tell you how exciting it is to know that ice hockey for girls like me is being embraced and supported all across the U.S.
Michael Oher and ‘The Blind Side’
By Colton Ritchie, Grade 5 / Swampscott Middle School
When the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl on February 3, 2013, Michael Oher, the offensive tackle from the University of Mississippi, made his dreams come true. Oher was a homeless boy from Memphis, Tennessee, who moved from foster home to foster home through his teenage years. His first dream came true in his senior year of high school when a local family adopted him. Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy had two children attending the same high school. When they heard about Michael not having a family or a place to live, they got involved. They paid for tutors to help Michael catch up with his school work. He became a success from hard work on the football field. The author, Michael Lewis, wrote a book about Michael Oher called The Blind Side. It became an Academy Award movie in 2009. Oher was drafted to the Baltimore Ravens that year and plays on the team today. Winning the 47th Super Bowl was one of the most important moments of his life. He probably would not have had the chance to play professional football unless a caring family adopted him.
Kobe Bryant: So Amazing!
By Maanik George, Grade 5 / Swampscott Middle School
Kobe Bryant is an amazing basketball player. He was born on August 23, 1978. He plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has played the same position on the same team for his whole career. He joined the NBA directly from high school. Kobe has won five NBA championships. He is a 15 time All Star, a 14 time member of the All-NBA team, and a 12 time member of the all- defensive team. He also ranks third and fifth for the all-time post-season and all-time regular scoring lists. Kobe Bryant is truly an amazing player.
Lacrosse
By Adam Zamarsky, Grade 5 / Swampscott Middle School
Lacrosse is growing very, very fast! In my research I found that lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. for kids 13 and up. When I started lacrosse in 2010, my team was two times smaller than now. There was an explosive growth from 2001 to 2010. In fact, it tripled by the end of the decade! From 2001 to 2010 the participation was up 218.1 %. Unlike football and hockey, lacrosse is played by boys and girls. The cause may be that college teams are starting to make morae summer camps that makes lacrosse even more fun to participate in. One other cause may be that lacrosse is a fun way to stay in shape. Lacrosse is a great sport, so I’m not surprised
The Time I Won First Place
By Emma Harkness, Grade 4 / St. Pius V School
It was February 4, 2012, when I went to a gymnastics meet. It also happened to be my birthday! The meet turned out pretty well. I got a 9.1 on vault, a 7.5 on bars, an 8.6 on beam, and an 8.6 on floor. I was really happy with my scores. I thought that I was not going to place, but I came in first place on vault, first on beam, first on floor, but I did not place on bars. My favorite events are floor and vault. I was really happy with my scores! And I came in 1st in All-Around with a total of 33.8. I had a great time!
Wrestling — Is It Real Or Fake?
By Jonathan Flores, Grade 6 / Johnson School, Nahant
Most people say wrestling is fake; some say it’s real. Well, it’s both! This article is about how wrestling is real and fake at the same time. It’s real for the wrestler’s- size athleticism and how strong the wrestlers are. Wrestling is fake. The scripts, costumes, and showmanship are just for show. Whacking each other with chairs, tables, sledgehammers, and bells is fake because when they hit each other with these weapons, they just get up. If you were actually to get hit, you wouldn’t simply be able to get up. The question is: Do you think wrestling is real or fake?
Red Sox News
By Liam Faulkner, Grade 8 / Swampscott Middle School
This offseason the Boston Red Sox have made several new additions to their roster. They were looking to sign a new first baseman, outfielder, and a couple of pitchers. The Red Sox lucked out by signing first baseman Mike Napoli to a one year deal worth five million, but with bonuses that could rise up to 13 million dollars. The Sox also acquired two new outfielders: Shane Victorino for a 3 year deal worth 39 million dollars and Johnny Gomes for a 2 year deal worth 10 million dollars. The Sox also added catcher David Ross for 2 years at 6.2 million dollars. The last two additions that the Sox have made is adding two new pitchers; Ryan Dempster for 2 years at 26.5 million dollars and Koji Uehara for 1 year worth 4.25 million dollars. Those two pitchers were signed looking to aid the Sox’s struggling bullpen. The Sox also re-signed slugger David Ortiz.
Red Sox New Hope
By David Hunter, Grade 7 / Sacred Heart School
The Boston Red Sox hope to have a turn-around season after their poor 69-93 record last year. Ellsbury, Middlebrooks, Bailey, and Dice-K were among the injured. Gonzalez, Crawford, Beckett, and Punto were traded to the Dodgers to make cap room for Boston. The team missed a playoff berth for the second straight season.
The Red Sox are showing potential for this upcoming year. They acquired Hanrahan from the Pirates, Victorino from LA, Napoli from the Rangers, and picked up Dempster. Middlebrooks and Ellsbury will return from injuries, and the Sox speedy outfield and big hitting line up will be restored. There is still a lot of cap room to get a decent pitcher to go along with Lester, Buchholz, and Doubront. John Farrell is the new manager and is ready to lead the team to a fantastic year. Spirits are high in Boston.
Watch out baseball, the Sox are back!
Basketball Mishap
By Zachary Westin, Grade 5 / Lynn Woods School
During a school basketball practice one of our best and nicest players was injured! He sprained his finger. We were all worried sick. He is one of my best friends, and I couldn’t bear to play without him. Our coach said, “Well, we’ll just have to deal with it.” I was very nervous about the upcoming game.
The game came. The score was 27-26. Brickett was winning. I crossed my fingers. The ball spun from his hand. The swish of the net made me get up and cheer! 28-27! Lynn Woods had won by a shot from its injured player!
Lynn Woods Wolves
By Becky Lynn Patterson, Grade 5 / Lynn Woods School
I am on the Lynn Woods Wolves girls’ basketball team. There are fourteen girls on the team. We practice every other week, maybe even more. We have won most of our games this year. We usually have one or two games a week. Family, friends, and students come to our games. Not only is it fun, but we learn the rules of the game and sportsmanship. So far, basketball has been my favorite sport. Go Wolves!
