St. Mary’s boys hockey ready for Year Two in Division 1

The St. Mary’s hockey team was a newcomer to Division 1 last season, but the Spartans certainly didn’t play that way.Showing that they belonged with the big boys in the Catholic Central League’s Large division, the Spartans finished second behind Super 8 qualifier Austin Prep and took home titles in the Saugus Federal Credit Union Holiday Hockey Classic and the Newburyport Bank Ice Hockey Classic.St. Mary’s finished 12-7-2 overall following a 4-3 loss to Winchester in the Division 1 North quarterfinals. But the Spartans now have to replace nearly 120 points in offense, as the entire first line of Jackie Bartlett, Jim Mamos and Pat Ferguson is gone.Mamos and Ferguson graduated, while Bartlett transferred to Buckingham, Browne and Nichols to play prep school hockey.But the cupboard isn’t exactly bare for coach Mark Lee, who had 51 players turn out for the first day of practice.”For a small school, it’s a great turnout,” Lee said. “And the talent level is very good, so we’re excited.”Despite the loss of their top four scorers, when you add in Mark Moran’s loss to graduation, the Spartans still have a bevy of talented scorers to rely on when the season begins on Dec. 8 against North Reading.Leading the returnees is senior captain Corey Lee (8-9-17 last season), along with junior John Baldwin (6-10-16), who skated on the second line last season. The Spartans, however, also have added a pair of very talented transfers.Lynn native Tommy Adams was a star at Classical for two seasons before transferring to Winchendon last season. But he returns to try to help shoulder the load.The other newcomer is one very familiar to North Shore hockey fans, and Spartan fans especially.At Gloucester, Zak Borowski eclipsed the 100-point mark in just over two full seasons and was a member of the Fishermen’s 2005-06 Division 2 state championship team. Last year, Borowski had 16 goals and 47 points, ranking fifth in the area during the regular season before missing the postseason because of disciplinary issues.”Tommy is a good player who will help the offense,” Lee said. “And Borowski is a game-breaker. He can be the difference between winning and losing a game. And I think he’s here because he saw a program he admired.”The Spartans also hope to get good production from a pair of freshmen in James Perkins and Kyle Martin, along with sophomore Corey Bartlett and junior George Carey, who will miss the first week of practice with a hip flexor injury.As good as the St. Mary’s offense has a chance to be, the defense also has the potential to be very strong.Tri-captain Anthony Struppa moves from forward to defense to help shore up a unit that lost Matt Locke and Bobby Adam to prep schools. Senior Ryan Fitzsimons is a three-year starter who saw plenty of ice time last season.Junior Derek Vecchia is the other tri-captain, joining older brother Nick in wearing the captain’s ‘C’ at St. Mary’s while senior Shaun Velez also has plenty of experience.In goal, the Spartans have a pair of experienced netminders in Dan Yetman and Frank McCormack, who both saw action at times last season.”I really think that we are going to have competitive varsity and junior varsity teams,” Lee said.The Spartans’ schedule includes return trips to the Saugus and Newburyport tournaments and a second trip to Gloucester in as many seasons as well as a home-and-home series with Central Mass. power Springfield Cathedral and a game against Malden Catholic.