Seniors Look to Lead Mystic Valley Hockey

The Mystic Valley Regional hockey team finished with just a pair of wins last season. But that's understandable considering it was the first year of the school's hockey program.

Eight seniors return to the squad this season, including defenders Nick Krasco and Zach Hamhoomis. Head coach Bill Keefe will be looking to these two players to take more of a leadership role this season. 

"Mystic Valley hopes to build upon the experience gained from its first varsity season and strengthen its overall game," said Keefe in an e-mail to Malden Patch. "The team's successes will be tied to their performance."

Krasco, who is also one of the team's captains, will be an important piece of the Eagle defense, and showed he can make an impact last season when he was named a Commonwealth Conference All Star. 

Other key returners for the Eagles will be seniors Ryan Cerrato and Brennan Bushee along with junior Evan Conley of Medford, sophomores Dean Cunio of Medford and Marc Toomajian and freshman Brandon Kelso, who played last season as an eighth-grader. 

Cerrato will be replacing Anthony Genualdo in goal this year, and Keefe said he's happy with what he's seen so far. 

"Cerrato worked hard in the offseason and has looked good in the early going," said Keefe.

But while there will be a strong nucleus of seniors returning, there will also be several young newcomers, including  freshman Dylan Barrett and eighth grader Nathan Gerard.

Up front, the Eagles lost one of the league's leading scorers in Kirk Toomajian. But senior Evan Dolber, also one of the league's top goal-scorers, will be at the center of the offense once again, along with sophomore Kyle Hanson, who missed much of last season with an injury. 

"When at his best, (Dolber) can control a game," said Keefe. "(And Hanson's) return should provide a spark."

Mystic Valley will lace up for its first game of the year on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at Minuteman.

"The keys to the season for Mystic Valley are going to be intangibles," said Keefe. "Effort, heart, intensity, toughness and focus. To move forward, the Eagles need to bring those things every shift, every night."