Bulldawgs’ McKinnon closing in on major milestone

WINTHROP – Bulldawgs girls? hockey captain Caroline McKinnon has produced 96 points in her high school career. She is headed to Salem State in the fall but, despite knocking on the door of 100 points, prefers to focus her attention toward the next game.
“I love hockey and I love playing with my teammates,” said McKinnon. “I’ve been playing since the fifth grade, and we’re lucky to have a coach who cares so much about us.”
McKinnon looks to hit the 100-point milestone on home ice, Larsen Rink, tonight against Austin Prep. Her penchant for putting points on the board has impressed all her teammates, but none perhaps more than sophomore goalie Gretchen Howard.
“It’s so interesting to watch her play on the other end of the ice when I’m in goal,” said Howard. “We’re all really proud of Caroline.”
Bulldawgs coach Anthony “Butch” Martucci credits McKinnon with so much of the team’s success.
“Caroline is a workhorse,” said Martucci. “She works hard at everything she does. She used to be more of a defensive forward, but she’s brought her game to a whole new level.”
McKinnon was on the team in sixth and seventh grade, but started contributing on the ice as an eighth-grader.
“I’ve known Caroline since she was a kid,” said Martucci. “She always seemed a little older, but her youth served her well. We always had her in a defensive role, and we never pushed offense with her.”
The program has produced two other 100-point players in Mackenzie Clark and Taylor Brown, but Martucci said, both were more offensive-minded players.”Caroline really was our defensive specialist in her first two seasons,” said Martucci. “She would take deep-zone faceoffs and play against the other team’s best line, which makes her accomplishment even more special. It’s not always the easiest thing to be asked to turn into an offensive player, but that’s what she was able to do.
“She has played with different linemates since she’s come here,” Martucci continued. “She’s never played with the same line, and that’s a testament to her and her ability to adapt and adjust to whoever she plays with. That’s really something that stands out about her as a hockey player and a person.”
McKinnon answered honestly when asked whether she preferred to score or pass to pick up a point.”You can’t get a goal without an assist,” she said. “So a point is a point. I’ll take both.”
While McKinnon was open to both options on picking up a point, she left no doubt about her favorite part of the game.”Winning,” she said with a smile. “I love winning.”