Hockey fans who enjoy watching games with a lot of scoring will enjoy this year’s Whaler boys hockey team, who held their first varsity practice on Tuesday as they prepare for the upcoming winter season. Head coach Scott Corbett said he believes he has three very strong forward lines that will give opponents issues all season long.
“We have the talent to play with anybody,” he said. “What it comes down to is getting this group to come together and play for each other. If we can get them playing with that heart every game and an unselfish style of play, they can go a long way. With our offensive skill and leadership, the sky is the limit and we could make a very deep state tournament run.”
The Whalers forward groups aren’t just talented, they are very experienced, especially down the middle of the ice at center.
Senior captain Hudson Perry will anchor the first line, while Cosmo Tedeschi and Camden Knapp will center the middle six lines. Each of these three players had a significant role in the Whaler’s top nine forward group last year, a group that finished the season with a 12-3-1 record and averaged 3.31 goals per game.
“Hudson will be one of the most skilled players on the Cape and Islands this year, but we need to keep him healthy,” Corbett said. “Cosmo is our do everything guy. He goes to the dirty areas, he is physical, and gives us a net presence. Camden is a very good two-way player.”
On the wings the Whalers have a pair of snipers in seniors Cole Evens and Riley Williams.
“Cole has gotten bigger, he has gotten stronger, and he has a fantastic shot,” Corbett said. “Riley is probably our biggest kid and he has a great shot too, so we need to make sure we are utilizing him. I look at Jack Billings too, who is one of our two juniors, as someone who will also have a major role on this team. He is a talented kid.”
The biggest challenge for this team Corbett’s eyes is replacing James Culkins, who held the starting job for the Whalers since he was in eighth grade and now after five seasons, is continuing his hockey career at Mass Maritime after graduating last June.
“James wasn’t just good, he was great,” Corbett said. “He was solid. He was always in there and when he did get a rest we usually had a goalie with some experience like Bodie (Corbett) who could go in there and give James the breaks when he needed them. James was so good for us for so many years. That is hard to follow.”
Griffin Starr will be the new Whaler goaltender this season. The sophomore is a big-bodied goalie with plenty of upside and a strong work ethic, Corbett said, but still has a lot to learn.
“He is very sound positionally,” Corbett said. “Pucks hit him and he is very good, but it is a lot of pressure. There are also some things he needs to learn like the speed of the varsity game and communication since he is only a sophomore. But if Griffin comes up big for us this year I think we could have a really good run.”
The defense core for the Whalers is returning five of their top six defenseman from last season. Evan Belanger is the other senior captain on the team and will be asked to play heavy minutes alongside sophomore Michael Culkins, who Corbett believes has the potential to become a special player for his team.
“Evan is the kid who every parent wants their daughter going out with,” Corbett said. “He is an unbelievable kid and an unbelievable leader. When the kids voted him as one of the two captains I was so happy to see that. He plays a really good two-way game too and has a lot more offensive talent than he gives himself credit for.”
“Then I look at Michael and he is just going to get better and better. He is going to be playing a lot of minutes. Then we have Hunter (Strojny), Finn (Kelly), and Porter (Corbett) coming back who all had experience playing last year and got a solid amount of minutes. So we are going to be in good shape at that end of the ice as well.”
Corbett said the first two games of the season will be beneficial for his team in the long run. They kick their season off with a road game against the Sandwich Blue Knights on Thursday, Dec. 9 at Gallo Arena in Bourne. Then they host the Norwell Clippers on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m.
“Going to Sandwich is great because they always play us tough, especially at Gallo Arena,” Corbett said. “They lost a lot of kids but have a big program. That is a good first game for us to play in before we host Norwell. That Norwell game is going to be tough. They are really, really good. They have at least two or three kids returning for this season who were on prep school teams last year, two of which played for Tabor Academy. They have a ton of talent and after we beat them 1-0 last year, they’ll want some revenge. They are a perennial contender and we get them twice this year. It is a big game for us to see where we are but also for our young kids to get them ready for the season.”
Some younger forwards who Corbett believes could play a role for his team on the wings in their top nine forward group are Colby O’Keefe, Brayden Knapp, and Ryan Davis. Each of these three players were on the junior varsity team last year, but gradually developed their games and dressed for an occasional game for the varsity squad.
“Then I look at someone like Shane Hanlon who has improved a lot and looks like he is going to be playing a role for us,” Corbett said. “Then Curren Hatch, I mean, he used to be a goalie and now he is around every puck as a forward. He continues to get better and is our other junior aside from Billings.”
Corbett said playing Barnstable later on in the season on Jan. 26 will be a test to show him how his team has grown from opening night.
“Then of course you have those Vineyard games,” Corbett said. “Those trips are always fun and we want to go over to the Vineyard and keep that winning streak alive. I am excited for this season. There is a lot of work to do, but there is a lot of leadership in this room and a lot of talent. These guys know what is in front of them and the opportunity they have to make a deep run, now it is time to go get it.”
