Even though he’s off the ice, Saugus’ Mullins still helping out

HAVERHILL – Bobby Mullins isn’t on the ice for the North Shore squad in this week’s 39th annual Hockey Night In Boston Summer Showcase at the Valley Forum due toshoulder surgery performed in June.Mullins had a torn labrum and partially dislocated left shoulder repaired. Nevertheless, he’s on the North Shore bench this week lending a hand to help his club improve uponlast year’s Final Four showing.”I will be doing my part to help in any way possible,” Mullins said. He said his shoulder is feeling better but that he’s a couple of months away from resuming hockey activities. He will spend the summer doing whatever recovery work he can before embarking on physical therapy through the fall.The Saugus native, a key component on the St. Mary’s Division 1A squad two years ago, transferred to Buckingham, Browne & Nichols as a repeat junior. He made a seamless transition to the rigorous Independent School League, scoring 12 goals and 33 points while earning team MVP and all-ISL honors.”I give all the credit for the easy transition to my line mates Cam O’Neill and Jordy Abrams. It’s much easier to do well when you’re playing with skilled players. We worked very well together as a line and always found each other on the ice. I actually feel like they were the ones that made me look good on the ice and I was lucky to have them,” Mullins said.BB&N posted a 10-3-1 league record (16-8-3 overall) last winter but Mullins wants more this season.”The main goal is to have a banner season and win the Eberhart League. Last year we came one game short to (New England Small School champion) Brooks, but this year is our year to win,” Mullins said with confidence. “My fellow seniors and I have only one year of high school left and we want to make it one that we’ll remember.”He credited the BB&N coaching staff for improving his overall game.”The coaches worked with me the entire season always trying to correct minor errors. The biggest thing they worked on with me was my defensive game, trying to get me to play hard in all three zones. I felt they helped become a better player by adjusting me to the style of the ISL,” Mullins noted.He said his biggest strength is his ability to see the ice and make the correct decision with the puck and recognizes defense as the part of his game requiring the most attention.”I’ve always been more of an offensive player. This year I will be working with my coaches to become more of a three-zone player,” he said.Mullins has yet to make a college commitment and is committed an additional year of seasoning in the Junior ranks.”Even if I’m ready to play college hockey right after high school I’d still like to take a year to get better and stronger. It never hurts to get an extra year of training and skill,” hesaid. “I’m hoping to receive a Division 1 commitment by the end of this season and will be working hard every day to make that possible.”uNorth Shore got off to a rousing start last night, routing Western New York, 9-2. Six area players are on the roster, including forwards John Festa (Lynnfield/Phillips Andover), Ryan MacDonald (Lynn) and Connor Irving (Beverly HS); defensemen Nick Albano (Beverly HS) and Zach Ciampa (Islanders U16/Revere); and goalie Bailey MacBurnie (Beverly/Brewster Academy).North Shore faces Greater Boston this afternoon (3:30 p.m.) and has two games Sunday against Mass/NE Sophomores (12:30) and Middlesex/Merrimack (9:30)