St. Mary’s boys hockey ready to face Springfield Cathedral

Yesterday afternoon, as many people on the North Shore were watching the Boston Bruins play the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park, the St. Mary’s boys hockey team was practicing for a game of its own – a nonleague home matchup today against Springfield Cathedral (6).”It was a little bit of a sacrifice,” Spartans coach Mark Lee said.The Spartans’ opponent today seems like the sort of foe that demands a little extra effort in practice. Springfield Cathedral won the Division 1 state championship last season.”We look forward to challenges,” Lee said. “It’s a big game for us. It should tell us a lot about where we’re at. They’re good in every aspect, from the goaltender out.”St. Mary’s (4-1) has already received a bit of a momentum boost going into its game today. In the consolation game of the Kasabuski Classic earlier this week, the Spartans defeated Wakefield, the team that eliminated St. Mary’s from the state tournament last year. Still, when the puck drops this evening, it sounds like the Spartans will be focused more on the present than on the past.”To be successful against this team, it will take any player in a St. Mary’s uniform,” Lee said.The coach will look for continued success from a trio of captains – junior James Perkins, senior Casey Goll and junior Cam Kennedy – as well as from senior Corey Bartlett. Perkins, Kennedy and Bartlett are all Lynners; Goll is from Winthrop. The team is also getting back senior Matt Molloy, who has missed the first five games after a preseason suspension.”We’re happy to have him back,” Lee said. “He’s going to give us a little more depth.”When St. Mary’s played Springfield Cathedral last season, the Spartans lost a close game on the road, 3-2. St. Mary’s is the host this year.”We like to think any time we’re at home, it’s an advantage for us,” Lee said. “We have a history of being successful in Lynn. We’re very happy with the support of the school and the student body.”