Despite Inexperience, Barlow Boys Hockey Hopes To Contend In SWC

The Joel Barlow High boys' hockey team will depend on a lot of new players as the Falcons look to contend in the South-West Conference and earn another entry in the Division III state tournament.

Barlow has 18 players on its roster - about the same as last year - but the level of experience those players have is much less than in seasons'  past.

Senior captains Adam Jacobs, Ryan McGowen and alternate captain Paul Camomilli will be leaned on heavily to guide the newcomers, especially early in the season.

Coach Pete Maxfield knows what to expect from his more experienced players, but acknowledges he won't know what the younger ones will bring to the table until the season begins.

Maxfield is entering his sixth season as head coach of the Falcons. They are coming off on 8-12-1 campaign which ended in the first round of the Division III State Tournament.

Maxfield has set two goals for this year's team. First, is to reach the South-West Conference playoffs, something the Falcons felt short of last season. Second, is to not only qualify for the state tournament, but to make some noise once they get there.

In order to attain those goals, many new players will need to step up and fill some gaping holes left from an impressive group of graduating seniors.

Among the key losses are former captains Joe Ventricelli and Trevor Hirst, along with alternate captains Lucas Kynoch and Charlie Goldburg.

Ventricelli and Kynoch were both named to the SWC All-Colonial Division team. Kynoch racked up 13 assists, the second best total for the Falcons.  Goldburg was a starting forward and led Barlow in both goals (22) and assists (17) earning him a spot on the All-Colonial Division team.[

Perhaps the biggest loss will be at goalie where the Falcons will be replacing last year's starter and backup.

Trevor Hirst started in goal and was named to the All-SWC Divsion II/III team. He only gave up 3.6 goals per game last season. Miles Anderson saw some time as backup and also graduated.

The Falcons also lost some valuable contributors in other ways. Junior Pat Callahan (back) and sophomore Alex Dolcimascolo (hip) are likely out for the season due to injury. Phil King, a senior forward, transferred to a private school.

Still, Maxfield has high hopes for some of the returning players.

Senior Gordon Loery will be the starting goaltender after seeing limited time last season. Fellow seniors Robbie Palazzo and Sam Weber will be in the rotation at forward. Palazzo played for the Falcons as a freshman while Weber is a newcomer.

A trio of junior forwards will comprise the team's first line, as  Mike Mattson, Kris Gontzes and Justin MacDougall are expected to be dynamic and score a lot of goals.

Jack Cartafalsa, also a junior forward, will be counted on to carry some of the scoring burden as well.

The sophomore class will make its presence felt on defense with defensemen Andrew Mallozzi and Chris Van Camp. Patrick Mimms, a newcomer to the team, will also see time on defense.

Tyler Valus will be the team's only freshman and is expected to see some ice as well.

With all the fresh faces, the Barlow enters the season with some questions. Maxfield will get his first look at this team in action Wednesday at 7:40 p.m, when the Falcons host to the Masuk Panthers at the Danbury Ice Arena.

Barlow won the SWC title in 2009.