Bruins recognize area players for sportsmanship

BOSTON – Hockey season may be over, but the honors keep rolling in for several local high school players who were recognized at Thursday night’s Boston Bruins-Toronto Maple Leafs game for their commitment to sportsmanship.Lynn Tech junior goalie James Wall, St. Mary’s senior defenseman Anthony Struppa, Marblehead High sophomore forward/defenseman Anders Gunderson and Marblehead High (girls) senior forward Tori Snow were selected by their respective leagues to receive the 2008 Boston Bruins Ice Hockey Sportsmanship Award. The players were recognized during the second intermission of the Bruins game.Tech coach Tim Serino (who resigned at the end of the season) said the Commonwealth Conference selected its winner at its all-star meeting and Wall received all but one vote (the coach of the other nominee voted for his own player).”He’s a great kid,” Serino said. “He started for me in the eighth grade when we didn’t have a goalie. In the ninth grade, when we had three goalies, he was willing to play forward. He brought two bags to some games just in case the other goalie got hurt. He’s always concerned about the team. He gets along well with all his teammates and every time there was a project to do in the lockerroom, he was right there.””I was very surprised when my dad called and told me I didn’t make all stars, but I had gotten the sportsmanship award,” Wall said.Struppa also put the team ahead of himself this season. The senior captain and four-year starter played forward his entire hockey career, but when St. Mary’s coach Mark Lee needed someone to fill a spot on defense, he stepped right up.”He went back and played the entire season on defense and did a great job,” Lee said. “He’s a very unselfish player who leads by example, on and off the ice. He’s always listening and always wanting to learn. We’re very proud of the fact he’s representing the Catholic Central League.”Struppa said it took a little while to get comfortable on defense, but once he did, he enjoyed it.”It was tough, but I liked it a lot too,” he said, adding it’s kind of sad seeing the hockey season come to an end and knowing he won’t be playing competitively again. Struppa, who also plays baseball, is going to the University of Lowell, but he won’t be playing any sports.”It (playing hockey and just being at St. Mary’s) was a very good experience,” he said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”Snow is finishing up a very impressive athletic career at Marblehead High. She had 18 goals and 18 assists to help the Magicians reach the semifinlShe’s a three-sport athlete who also plays field hockey and lacrosse.”She’s the type of player who just wants the team to do well,” Marblehead High hockey coach Emily Hudak said. “She puts the team above herself. Ultimately, she wants everyone to jel at the same time.”Hudak said Snow was on the ice all the time, killing penalties and generally doing whatever needed to be done. She often got the job of matching up against the other team’s best player.”We’re going to miss her next year. I wish her well. It’s an honor (to have one of your players represent the league),” Hudak said.”It’s really exciting. I was kind of shocked to get the award,” Snow said.For Gunderson, the Sportsmanship Award is the culmination of a very successful season. The sophomore played forward and defense for the Magicians, who made it all the way to the Division 3 state semifinals before losing to Scituate. He and his teammates also received the NEC Team Sportsmanship Award.”The season couldn’t have ended any better,” Gunderson said. “It was a perfect way to cap it off.”Marblehead High coach Bob Jackson said Gunderson was the ideal player to receive the award.”He’s a team player and he works very hard on the ice and in the classroom,” Jackson said.Although only a sophomore, Gunderson was the second leading scorer for the Headers. He also killed penalties.Wall, Struppa, Snow and Gunderson were among 38 hockey players from across the state to receive the award.