It's the most wonderful time of the year. That's right, hockey season. While most New Englanders are bracing themselves for relentlessly dropping temperatures, holiday travel, and vitamin D deficiency caused by these gray winter days. The Natick boy's hockey team and second year coach Karl Infanger are back on the ice, prepping themselves for a run at a conference title, and a chance to play in the MIAA state tournament.
Of course, it won't be all sugarplums and candy canes this season. The 2010 to 2011 boys hockey team, like every team that has preceded them, will have to deal with the same challenges every high school program faces. They lost several key playmakers to graduation. They face some of the fiercest competition in division 1 through an unrelenting schedule. Add to that, the myriad of other obstacles like injuries, and a few bad bounces and it's enough to shake any team's confidence.
"It's the nature of the beast," says coach Infanger. "I have a senior led team who were all part of the program last year, but the hard part is that I lost 10 seniors from last season."
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Despite the loss of a few main cogs from last year, there is significant potential here. The Natick squad has a solid foundation of upper classmen led by their trio of captains, John Bishop, Ryan Nee, and Tyler Kaplan. Their defense is anchored by goaltender Derek Kwok, one of the best goalies in division 1 ice hockey who coach Infanger simply calls "the real deal". They have all the ingredients for a successful season. When playing at their best, this is a well-disciplined, hard working team. It has become the M.O. of Natick teams coached by Infanger.
"One of the things you will see when you come to one of our games is a very physical, quick team," adds Infanger. "A team that is not going to be intimidated, and is not going to be afraid to throw around their bodies a little bit."
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They can hang with the big boys of the league, as seen by their early season scrimmage with Billerica. Their roster is filled with line after line of strong, experienced forwards. The coaching staff has these boys primed for another great season of Natick high school hockey. Mix in the unwavering support from the fans, and it sounds like a recipe for a solid season.
Winter may be the time of year for shoveling driveways, flu shots, and astronomical heating bills. However, tis the season for hockey as well, and that's a pretty sweet trade-off.
For more information about the Natick High School hockey teams, visit www.natickhighhockey.com/.
