St. Mary’s, Lynn Jets hold poignant hockey banquets

Both the St. Mary’s boys and Lynn Jets hockey teams held their banquets this past week, and there was plenty of emotion to go around at both.For St. Mary’s, the emotion came in a series of awards named for important contributors to the hockey team. And for the Jets, the coaches, players and parents sat quietly as A.J. Melanson, son of Jets coach Al Melanson, delivered an emotional message from his father thanking all the people who have supported him and prayed for him as he struggles to recover from the near-fatal heart attack he suffered in February.”He has his good days, and he has his bad days,” A.J. Melanson said. “But he appreciates all of your support and all of your prayers, and – though he didn’t say this, I am – we hope those prayers continue.”Saturday, at the Porthole, Mike Reddy presented Corey Lee with an award named for his son, Patrick, who died in January 2007 in an auto accident while returning to Bridgton Academy from Massachusetts. Reddy and Lee were friends.Reddy also spoke glowingly of Spartan coach Mark Lee.”He’s one of the big reasons that Patrick turned into a man while he was at St. Mary’s,” Reddy said.Also honored with a prestigious memorial award were Anthony Struppa, who received the Martha Ferrari Award, named for the mother of Lynn police officers (and former St. Mary’s players) Bob and Tim Ferrari (as well as Lynn City Councilor Paula Mackin and marathon runner Leann Foessler); and Zack Borowski, who was presented with the Rick Gill Award.Other St. Mary’s award winners were as follows:Casey Goll, JV unsung hero; Brian Gauthier, JV Coaches Award; Derek Stella, JV MVP.Varsity awards went to Cam Kennedy, Donald Hesse, Cam Higgins, Mark Nazzaro, Casey Goll, Matt Milloy, Joe Grabeau and Brian Gauthier.Also: Kyle Martin, Spartan Potential; James Perkins, Rookie of the Year; Corey Bartlett, Most Improved; Frank McCormack, Unsung Hero; Jesse Powers, Comeback of the Year; Mike Maccario, Mr. Hustle; George Carey, Most Dedicated; Dan Yetman, Ironman; Derek Vecchia, Seventh Player; Tommy Adams, Coaches Award; Shaun Velez, Dan “Buff” Bastarache; John Baldwin, Hobey Baker; Justin Gridley, Connelly Award; and Ryan Fitzsimmons, MVP.LYNN JETSThe Jets, the first-year team comprised of players from both Classical and English, held their banquet Tuesday night at Prince in Saugus.Assistant coach Joe Conlon emceed the event, with assistants Joe Gunning, Ron Gaudet and Jim Bransfield also in attendance.Award winners included: Bucky Surette, Rookie of the Year; Eric Bransfield and Billy McDaniel, Jet Engine; Jack Carter (English) and Terry Finnigan (Classical), Student-Athletes; Matt Lunden, Most Improved; Dave Stevens, MVP; and Liam Bransfield, Coaches Award.Next year, players from Lynn Tech will also be skating for the Jets.