Marblehead hockey looking for a North title

If it’s true that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, the Marblehead High boys hockey team should be in good shape for tonight’s Division 3 North final matchup against Concord-Carlisle at Chelmsford (5:10).The Headers have survived a couple of near misses in their first three tournament games, so playing under pressure should be old hat. They defeated Swampscott, 3-2, in overtime in the first round. They sent Latin Academy packing in the quarterfinals, but not without a few anxious moments. Marblehead won that game, 4-3, in a shootout. The semifinal game against Trinity Catholic was also an adventure. Marblehead survived that one, 1-0, on a goal by sophomore Ellery Smith.”We’ve had some nail-biting games,” Marblehead coach Bob Jackson said. “It’s been interesting. I’m very happy for the boys. They’ve played extremely well and they’ve come together as a team.”It has been a while since a Marblehead hockey team made it this far in the state tournament – 23 years, to be exact. The 1985 squad made it to the Division 2 state finals and several players from that team (Scott Garfield, Rick Pickering, Tim Doyle, Scott Rickards and Ben Mattola) came to a potluck dinner put on by the hockey parents Thursday night to wish the team well.Jackson said Doyle told the players how much fun it’s been watching them this year and he told them the memories they’ll have of playing for the town of Marblehead will be with them forever.”He told them to relax and give it their best,” Jackson said.Concord-Carlisle has been a tough nut to crack this year. Jackson said the team averages a little over four goals per game and gives up a little under 1.7 per game.”They have three strong lines,” Jackson said, adding that it was Concord-Carlisle that knocked Marblehead out of the tournament two years ago.”We use that as a little bit of motivation,” he said.Jackson said his defense has been playing very well, giving up only five goals in the first three games. Goalie Aaron Reny has been a big factor in that regard.”He stood on his head against Swampscott and had some great saves against Trinity Catholic,” Jackson said.Senior Eric Fader is dressing for the game, but won’t be playing due to an injury. Another senior, Jackson Barber, has also come up big this year, he said.Marblehead started the season at 1-4 and was 3-8 at one point. The Headers fought back to 10-9 before losing to Swampscott in the last game of the regular season.Jackson’s first line includes Andrew Bates, Colby Bates and Jackson Barber. The second line features Anders Gundersen, Chris Donahue and Ellery Smith and the third line, all freshmen, includes Chris McLeod, Justin Levine and Alex Whitmore.Mike Cohn and Gundersen, who has been double-shifting, anchor the defense. The rest of the “D” includes freshmen Jake Kulevich and Ben Koopman, sophomore Jay King and freshman Hunter Whitmore, Alex’s twin brother. Freshman Ryan Dempsey and junior Tyler DeCotis also figure in the mix.Jackson’s coaching has plenty of years of experience. Tom Colby, who was head coach for three years, joins Mark Tarmey and Gary Conn on the bench. The latter two are also former head coaches. Pat Flynn coaches the goalies.