SWAMPSCOTT — Drew Olivieri represented the Swampscott boys hockey team this past weekend at the Massachusetts-Connecticut Border Challenge All-Star game in West Haven, CT. Olivieri, who logged one assist, helped the Massachusetts All-Stars to an 8-5 win over the host squad.
“It was honestly a great opportunity for me,” Olivieri, a two-sport athlete who also plays baseball, said. “I got to play with a Division 1 state champion and a Division 3 North champion as my linemates. It was unreal. It was an unbelievable opportunity and I’m so thankful I got to be a part of it.”
Olivieri learned he had been selected to play in the All-Star game when his coach, Swampscott’s Gino Faia, told him the good news last month. The opportunity to represent the Big Blue among some of the region’s top hockey talents is one Olivieri won’t soon forget.
“It’s an awesome experience,” Olivieri, a center, said. “I’m so happy that I was able to represent this town in such a good way. I’ve always wanted to do that in some sort of way.
“It was great skill level,” Olivieri said. “There were some kids from the Super 8, some kids from Division 1, all over the place. It was an unreal skill level, something I don’t usually see.”
A Northeastern Conference All-Star, Olivieri was a crucial piece to Swampscott’s success this past season. Olivieri, an assistant captain, scored 20 goals and dished 26 assists (he ranked second on the team in both categories), helping Swampscott to a Division 3 North state tournament bid after an 8-8-3 regular season. Although the Big Blue were bounced from the postseason after a loss to Shawsheen in the opening round, Olivieri felt Swampscott had plenty to be proud about.
“Honestly I’m proud of my teammates,” Olivieri said. “I don’t think we were supposed to do a lot. We lost a lot of guys (from the 2017-2018 season). Making the tournament for us was huge, even though we were eliminated earlier than we wanted. I owe a huge thank you to my teammates. Zach Elwell was one of my linemates and he did a lot for our team. Our goalie, Victor Kratik, took a year off hockey and came back, and had an unbelievable year. He was a brick wall out there. I’m also thankful that I have one more year to play with Conor Donovan. If it wasn’t for Conor and Zach, it would’ve been very difficult for me to play in the All-Star game.”
Olivieri’s following in the footsteps of his older brother, Louis, who also played hockey and baseball at Swampscott. Louis Olivieri’s currently in his freshman baseball season as a catcher at Central Alabama Community College. Through 24 games, Olivieri’s batting .314 with a home run and 14 RBI.
“I don’t know if I’ve filled his shoes yet,” Olivieri said. “He was a great player in hockey and baseball. I’m still trying to fill his shoes and I’m still looking up to him. It’s going to be difficult to match his accomplishments.”
Olivieri said he leans on his older brother for advice.
“It’s great to be able to learn from him and take advice from him,” Olivieri said. “He gives me a lot and so do my parents (father Lou and mother Leigh). They give me a lot and I’m grateful for the roles they play for me in sports and life in general.”
With the spring season quickly approaching, Olivieri now shifts gears toward preparing for his junior baseball season. Swampscott’s aiming for a repeat trip to the Division 3 North state tournament.
“We’re looking pretty strong so far,” Olivieri, Swampscott’s starting second baseman, said. “I hope we have a good year. Our team has a lot of juniors who are returning. Hopefully that helps us a lot.
“We’re just taking it day by day and trying to win one game at a time,” Olivieri said. “We don’t want to look too far ahead. Our main goal is to win a state championship but we don’t want to look too far ahead. We’re just taking things day by day and trying to get better.”
