The Lynnfield hockey team is on Cloud Nine as it passes the halfway point in the season this week, riding a red-hot offense to an 11-2-0 record and a hold of first place in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division with eight games to go.
And while their record and place in the standings is certainly something to be proud of to this point, Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner knows there’s still plenty to work on.
“The offense has really been clicking and that’s been a great boost for us, but we need to sure up the other parts of our game,” said Gardner. “Scoring can come and go, but if we can be a sound defensive team with good goaltending, that’s what’s going to help put us over the top.”
Still, there’s no denying that the Pioneers have a potent offensive attack. Led by senior captain Chase Carney, who currently has 22 goals on the season and is averaging nearly three points per game. He is flanked by wingers Aidan Burke (seven goals, 14 assists) and Will Steadman (seven goals, five assists) on the first line. Tyler Scoppetuolo, who plays left wing on the second line, also sits at double digits in total points (six goals, five assists).
On the back end in the first defensive pairing, Drew Damiani is having the season of his career to this point with seven goals and an eye-popping 23 assists.
The most recent example of Lynnfield’s strong play came Friday night, when the Pioneers — who were ranked as the No. 4 team in Division 3 by the latest MIAA power rankings — picked up a 2-1 victory over Newburyport in a critical CAL matchup.
Scoppetuolo scored the game-winning goal with two minutes to play, while Steadman scored the other goal in the win for the Pioneers and Burke picked up two assists. Damiani and Carney each had one assist.
Defensively, the Pioneers have gotten solid contributions both from starting goaltender Phinneas Mitchener and backup Evan Fitzmeyer — both of whom are seniors. Mitchener is 8-2-0 in net this season, while Fitzmeyer is 3-0-0.
But no matter how well Lynnfield has been playing to this point in the season, none of it will matter if the Pioneers don’t continue it through their next stretch of games. Over the next week, Lynnfield will play critical CAL games against North Reading and Pentucket. Throw in tough non-league games against Medford and Masconomet in that time as well, and this stretch just might define the Pioneers’ season.
“Once we get to those league games, it’s going to be about who wants to win the CAL,” said Gardner. “The guys have had that as a big-picture goal all season, so that’s going to be a crucial stretch for us.”
The Pioneers are back in action Saturday (12) against North Reading for Senior Day at McVann-O’Keefe Memorial Rink.
