The Lynnfield hockey team had one of its best seasons in recent memory this past year, and the players and coaches for the Pioneers were rewarded for their efforts over the weekend when the Cape Ann League announced that a number of players from the team took home awards and all-star recognition.
Leading the way was the duo of senior Chase Carney and junior Drew Damiani, who along with Hamilton-Wenham’s Zack Walles were all named CAL co-MVPs.
Carney — the captain and first-line center on this year’s Lynnfield team — had a massive season on the offensive end for the Pioneers, leading the team in goals with 32 and adding 31 assists for a whopping 63 points in just 24 games. Damiani, an assistant captain and first-pairing defenseman, scored 18 goals and led the team with 32 assists for a total of 50 points.
But Carney and Damiani weren’t the only two Pioneers to take home hardware, as Lynnfield head coach Jon Gardner was named CAL co-Coach of the Year alongside Hamilton-Wenham’s Bob Ryan. Gardner helped lead the Pioneers to a 19-4-1 record in 2021-22, bringing Lynnfield all the way to the Division 3 state semifinal game.
Carney and Damiani were both named to the All-CAL team for their efforts, as was Aidan Burke. A senior forward and assistant captain who played right wing on Carney’s line all season long, Burke finished a stellar year with 15 goals and 28 assists for 43 total points.
There was only one all-star list from the league this year — the All-CAL list — and the rest of the players selected were Ian Pelletier and Brodie Marcotte (Amesbury); Zack Walles, Seamus Heney and Will Stidsen (Hamilton-Wenham); Jon Groth, Jamie Brooks and Max Puleo (Newburyport); Matt Ryan and Andrew Daley, Sr. (North Reading); Ben Guertin (Pentucket); Aiden Arnold and Jack Crompton, Jr. (Rockport); and Cole Daniels (Triton).
