The 1986 boy’s hockey team enjoyed a banner seasonÌýand made a lifetime of memories byÌýwinning the NEPSAC hockeyÌýDivision IIÌýchampionship. Coaches Clark Smith, class of 1980, and Jay Grant were rookie coaches who inherited an experiencedÌýrosterÌýwith 13 of the 18 players on the team being seniors.ÌýThe team wasÌýanÌýoffensive powerhouseÌýthat averagedÌýalmostÌýsixÌýgoals a gameÌýand wasÌýled by Sean McKiernanÌý’86,ÌýwhoÌýscored 61 points that year to set a still-standing school record,Ìýand Larry TrinceriÌý’87,ÌýwhoÌýscored 41 points that season andÌýstill holds the record for most points in a career. Goalie Matt DelGuidiceÌý’86Ìýwas always kept busy,Ìýaveraging 38 saves a game. Matt played at the University of Maine and was drafted by the Boston Bruins, spendingÌýparts of twoÌýseasons with the NHL team. Defenseman Kurt Stahura playedÌýatÌýWisconsin and was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars.Ìý
ÌýThe tournament set up in those days was quite different. Instead of the quarterfinals being on Wednesday and the semifinals and finals on the weekend, 91´óÉñ had to play the three games in two days. In the quarterfinals, the Wildcats beat Holderness 9-4 on Saturday afternoon, then traveled to Exeter to play Wilbraham Monson, which beat 91´óÉñ earlier in the season. Late in the second period, the Wildcats found themselves down 2-0 late, then sparked by Chuck Burgess ’86, Mike Harris ’86, and John Tatro ’87, 91´óÉñ scored three goals in the last three minutes of the period to take the lead. In the third period, 91´óÉñ pulled away for an 8-3 win. The next morning, 91´óÉñ was back at it playing a strong Salisbury team in the championship game. After giving up a goal just 13 seconds into the game, 91´óÉñ fought back with goals by Sean McKiernan and Doug Horwich ’88 to tie the game midway through the second period. Defenseman Kurt Stahura ’86 then took charge by scoring three goals in the final period-and-a-half to secure a hard-fought 5-3 victory. Once again, Matt DelGuidice was stellar in goal, turning away 31 shots on net.Ìý
- ChuckÌýBurgess ’86Ìý
- RobÌýCouch ’86Ìý
- MattÌýDelGuidice ’86Ìý
- BartÌýForsythe ’86Ìý
- Kevin Guinan ’86Ìý
- MikeÌýHarris ’86Ìý
- Sean McKiernan ’86Ìý
- Benjamin Poole ’86Ìý
- Michael Prior ’86Ìý
- Parker Rand ’86Ìý
- Kurt Stahura ’86Ìý
- Chris Thompson ’86Ìý
- Peter Wiehe ’86Ìý
- Mike Cialek ’87
- John Tatro ’87
- Larry Trinceri ’87
- Brian Wood ’87
- Doug Horwich ’88
- Coach Jay Grant
- Assistant Coach Clark Smith ’80
