New England Large School Champions!

boys

girls

boys

girls

all-gender

boys

girls

all-gender

The boys played their hearts out, it was beautiful hockey, truly wonderful to see.

Paul Tortorella '80 Head Coach

Danny Collins '25 celebrates one of his two championship game goals

A summary of the postseason from coach Paul Tortorella '80:

Coming off a thrilling come from behind victory at Exeter to end the regular season the team geared up the following Wednesday to face streaking Trinity-Pawling at the Harry. Senior netminder Chase Anderson got the starting nod. The opponents boasted two of the top scorers in the league, each averaging over two points a game. The first period was evenly played and with 30 seconds left on the clock a power play goal gave Andover the lead. After two periods it was still close on account of Anderson’s heroics. The team came out in third and scored four more goals to shut out the opponent, 6-0.

Next up Avon. The team boarded the bus Saturday morning and walked into the storied Avon arena. With relentless backchecking and forechecking, pristine passing, and scoring from six different players (Senior Rui Han had two), the team played outstanding hockey finishing the game 7-0. Anderson again was terrific in net making many difficult saves.

The next day the team arrived at UCONN for the finals vs another hot team, Westminster. Again the team showcased to nearly 4,000 fans (mostly on the live stream) their aggressive and relentless style of play. Led by Senior captain Grayden Robertson-Palmer, assistant captains Peyton Militello and Chas. Sabre, the boys followed suit and did not leave anything to chance. It was Danny Collins, the lone PG on the team, who scored 2 goals, the game-winner and the insurance goal. Anderson shut down the Westminster offense, their only goal coming late, going nearly three complete games without being scored on.

My assistants, Tedd Parker and Patrick Pothel, were instrumental in game planning and film-work. This wouldn’t have happened without their commitment to the boys. We also have the best equipment manager in the business, Corey Paolillo, and his assistant Randy Castillo whose help was immense. Our athletic trainer Mike Kuta, whose 45 years of service to Andover, retiring this June, was an inspiration to the whole the team. Our Athletic Director Lisa Joel, and her wonderful team of professionals in the athletic office and the ice rinks was by our side the entire year. Many, many alums, and their parents, supported us through the series. There is one alum, George Rider, a former Andover captain of the class of 1951, who upon waking in his hospital bed after a terrible bout of pneumonia, said, ‘How did the Andover boys’ hockey team do last night?’ and followed us through the playoffs and sent me emails before every game. But it was the boys on this team, from the freshmen to the graduating class, who did the really hard work, they played meaningful hockey, their bond was unbreakable, and I thank them for that.

Paul Tortorella '80 Head Coach