Embedded Files
(From Stanstead College yearbook)
Senior Boys
I listened to a podcast shortly after convocation and the guest on the show spoke about how to assemble a sports team. He compared the process to building an orchestra. If you don't have people willing to play different instruments you will never get the sound you desire. Drummers need to drum, pianists need to play the piano, and so on. Too much of the same or too little variety will lead to a lack of success... a lack of sound. Our team this year had people willing to do their jobs, and we especially realized this over our last 20 or so games. A fun group to be around and a group I am proud of. Special thanks to the leadership group, best of luck to our many seniors as they move to their next step, and to all- keep shooting, keep skating and keep letting hockey take you to amazing places.
Prep Boys
A few highlights: the trip to Michigan; Northwood School tournament semi-finalists against Seminaire St-Joseph and eventual third place in Lake Placid: a strong performance in our own annual Neil Tournament, falling just short against John Rennie in overtime with 9 seconds left, numerous trips to Montreal and time spent on the bus for all our league games.
But more importantly, just the day to day. Every day we spent together in practice on and off the ice has been fun. We often had 25 or 28 players on ice for practice, and I can honestly say that our group worked incredibly hard to get better. This group competed consistently and pushed each other to progress and hold each other accountable. Of course there were numerous ups and downs, but that's all part of the journey. It was a real pleasure coming to the rink every day knowing that we would have fun in practice and get the best out of every boy. Thank you for your effort, your commitment to your team and each other.
Third Hockey
After moving from intramurals to bantam, this year we moved from bantam to thirds. We also moved to a new competitive league, composed of strong teams from the Montreal area who gave us a huge challenge. Our scats in this trial season were definitely not in our favour: 19 games, 7 wins 12 losses, but, as we repeated to our players all season (and here thanks to Mr. Varro for his coaching and commitment throughout the season), it is through adversity that you can evaluate the real value of each and every player and ultimately of a team. And we have to admit that one of the big challenges we had this year was to play as a team.
It was a tough season for our 20 players, and I want to thank all of them. Thanks to our twelve senior players who made us better: Captain Nicolas, assistant David, Kasuaki, Max Boehm, who left us too early, the twins Leo and Kevin, the two other Kevins, Meng and Hu, thanks to Logan, Joseph, Charles, and Lex. Thanks to our eight juniors and bantams: Presley, Trofim, Luca, William, Juan Pablo, Christopher, and our goalies, Big Lana and Howard. I hope that this experience, even if it was very demanding and difficult, will remain a positive memory for all of you, and I hope that you have learned something out of all of this.
(From the Stanstead College website, October 22nd)
VB Hockey: Training put to the test
With frost becoming a regular sight most mornings here in the Townships, it is clear that hockey season must be upon us. The varsity boys hockey team has been preparing for the start of the game schedule since the beginning of the school year.
Days have consisted of on-ice practices, off-ice workouts and the odd team building activity. It was clear that players and coaches alike were ready to see how the team would fare against an opponent after this month long “training camp.” Our practices are truly game-like. However, even with that there comes a time when you need to see your strengths and weaknesses against another team. To make a comparison, it would be like studying every night but never testing; at some point you need that test to see what you know, but also more importantly, you need to see what you don’t know.
Two weekends ago in Lake Placid, New York, the Spartans opened up the season with two games against a familiar foe in Northwood School. Last season Northwood made a deep run in the USA National 18U championships, and this year they once again did not disappoint and proved to be a skilled, hard-working and game-ready squad. The two-game set did not disappoint, with the two teams splitting the results. The first game ended in a 2-1 shootout win for the Spartans, while the Huskies from Northwood took home the second match by a score of 2-0. Following the second game, players scattered for Thanksgiving with many of our players who live a fair distance away joining their teammates to celebrate the holiday with some turkey dinner.
After returning from the break and with three more practices under our belt, we welcomed Trinity College School from Port Hope, Ontario for two games. TCS is a CAIS school with a great history, much like us here at Stanstead College. A revamped varsity boys hockey program – or in the case their “Big Side” team – has been working hard to put the best product on the ice. The Bears showed themselve to be a hard-working group who really never backed down despite a pretty constant attack from the hometown Spartans. The results were 5-3 and 11-2 wins for the Spartans.
With campus being a busy place with our senior girls hosting CAIS soccer, it was great to see so many people out at the rink on both Saturday and Sunday. As Mr. Spirk said at assembly on Friday, boarding schools are places where people should get out of their rooms and go and do things, support your roommates and your friends and have some fun. Not to be forgotten, when you come to the rink for a game, you can always count on some good snack from Resto Mario.
By the time, I sat down with my family for dinner on Sunday night after a successful home weekend, my mindset was beginning to switch to our upcoming week. On Wednesday, we will travel down to Burlington, Vermont for a midweek game against Rice Memorial, and then on Saturday we will be back home to take on Académie St-Louis from Quebec City.
Throughout the year, I will use these posts to keep the Stanstead community as up to date as possible on the ongoing adventures of the varsity boys hockey team. Some posts will focus on the on-ice product, others will look at things that come up in practice, at school or on the road. As in the past, few times will individual players be mentioned. We see ourselves as a team, and because of this our success, failures, and learning will all be presented in that light. I look forward to a great year that will see us travel to many wonderful prep schools and can assure you I will do my best to make you feel like you are there with us whether you are reading from Canada, Finland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland, the United States of America or beyond.
(From the Stanstead College website, October 30th)
VB Hockey: Leaving on a jet plane
This coming Thursday at 6 am the varsity boys hockey team will take off from Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport in Montreal and head northwest for the state of hockey, Minnesota. More specifically the team is heading to New Hope, Minnesota to take part in the IIT Invitational tournament.
When we think of high school sport, much of what we think of may be football in Texas and “Friday Night Lights” or basketball in Indiana and Hoosiers, but when people in the hockey world think about high school sports in the United States, they think about Minnesota. The Minnesota State Hockey Championship game is the most viewed high school championship in the country. In 2016, 22,244 fans attended the State Championship at the XCEL Center, home of the Minnesota Wild, which set a record for the largest crowd to ever attend a hockey game in the state. Minnesota is often referred to as the “State of Hockey” within the USA. Working down from the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, the state is also the home to five Division 1 hockey teams, and high schools like Edina, Minnetonka, Grand Rapids and Wayzata are the four last schools to claim state supremacy. All told, about 250 schools and over 6,000 student-athletes play hockey within the Minnesota high school hockey league.
Within Minnesota high school hockey, teams play a regular season of 25 games plus playoffs and state championships. Prior to these seasons the best of the best from Minnesota play in the Elite League, a league set up to extend the season for these players and keep them at home in Minnesota.
This past weekend, the Elite League crowned its champion, and with that season concluded, it is now time for the Elite League IIT. The IIT is an 8-team invitational tournament that will see two all-star teams made up of Elite League players, Shattuck St. Mary’s, Culver Academy, Chicago Mission, Northwood School, Michigan Development Hockey League and finally our Spartans from Stanstead College.
For us as coaches this is an event that we look forward to. The energy from the fans, many of whom are simply there to see good hockey and have little rooting interest, the scouts and finally to the first class hospitality – this is an event with a special feeling. Our preparation began at the beginning of the school year and will continue this week with practices and study sessions so that when we fly we will be prepared for success.
This past week, the Spartans had two games, the first at the University of Vermont against Rice Memorial was a sloppy affair but we skated away with a 7-5 win. At home on Saturday at the Pat Burns Arena, we were able to secure a 9-2 victory over Académie St. Louis. ASL came out strong and held the lead after the first period, but the Spartans made some adjustments and focused on playing a more complete second and third period and were rewarded.
(From the Clarion, November edition)
Recent news in Spartan hockey
Varsity boys battled through injury and put up a fight against top contending American schools. With three forwards out of the lineup, the team brought Saturday's game into overtime, yet neither team could find the back of the net and settled with a 4-4 tie against the Cushing Penguins. After the Cushing game, some powerful words came from forward Jeremy Tremblay, “All of us played our hearts out in the third period but the outcome will be better if we hold that for 60 minutes… for 60 minutes.” The following day, the team came back from a 3-0 deficit to a number 1 ranked Dexter Southfield in the New England prep league. The young Spartan core seemed to be the Achilles heel in a fast-paced contest against an older Dexter roster. Varsity boys’ captain, Devon De Vries, spoke after the game saying “We went up against two very talented teams and held our own showing our Spartan character and competition level”. The team will play Dexter Southfield in the Cushing Academy invitational tournament in the new year seeking revenge.
Quebec City was the destination for the Prep boys last weekend. As they took on solid teams at the LHPS challenge. Finishing with a 1-2 record wasn't necessarily a disappointing outcome for them. Rather they took it as a learning experience and a great exposure opportunity. As rookie forward, Hayden Pimm says “It was great to see some opponents from outside our league as well as some older challenges”. After an undoubtedly unforgettable experience, the boys keep their heads high in hopes of a good response in games to come.
Last Saturday the Thirds team rallied against Vincent Massey falling in a large 9-3 deficit. Following that, later on the same day, they replied to the same team bringing the game to overtime but could not pot one before Vincent Massey could and lost 6-5. The team showed character to pop back from a 9-3 loss and put up a fight against the same team. A positive game from Thirds team came on Monday when they defeated their rivals from Coaticook College Rivier 7-2 in the battle of the border. Spotlight on Presley Langevin and Trofim Godochkin for a combined 16 points in the 3 games.
The girl Spartans had a wonderful experience in Minnesota. Their 1-2 record was not a representation of how the girls played throughout the best of three series against the best team in America, Shattucks St Mary’s. They dominated in shots and grade A scoring opportunities proving they can not only contend with the best but also be the best. This past weekend the girls beat Bishop's University at the Pat Burns Arena. Finally, the traditional Skate With Santa was held December 17th. Members of the prep, varsity girls and varsity boys teams skated with young players from the Border Minor Hockey League.
(From the Stanstead College website, January 27th)
VB Hockey: Connecting with Cole
Last spring myself, Mr. Poliziani, Mr. Rioux and my son Gabriel drove to the Videotron Centre in Quebec City for the QMJHL Draft. The expectation was that Cole Huckins, then Grade 10, would be selected in the first round. Sure enough, with the 16th overall pick, Acadie-Bathurst selected “Cole Huckins from Stanstead College.”
It was a very cool experience to see this event play out, even better based on one of our players being selected so high and wanting us all to be a part of his day. Two rounds later, we were able to have the same experience with Bodie Nobes, also then Grade 10, when he was selected by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Over the summer Cole made the decision to join Le Titan as a 16-year-old rookie and he has had a great season to date. This past week, many of us Spartans were able to see Cole in action as Acadie-Bathurst made their way to the Townships for games in Victoriaville and Sherbrooke. They also had a practice here at Stanstead College, which in its own was a pretty cool experience for all of us here.
It was great to see Cole the hockey player both in practice and at the game in Sherbrooke. All told, about 25 members of our school community made the trip to the game on Friday night, with even more coming to the Pat Burns Arena to see a little bit of Cole at practice.
It was even better to see Cole the person. Not only was I Cole’s coach but I was also his advisor. I rarely write at all about anything that has to do with individual players, but in this case I am making an exception. I have stayed in touch with Cole since he left for the QMJHL. We have texted at times and even had the odd phone call. In September I had to explain to my son that Cole was going to be playing hockey for another team. He did not understand what I meant because he is only 3, but he did understand that he missed Cole… and many of the other students from last year.
When Cole was on his way here last week, he wrote me to say he wanted to say hello, not just to me but to Gabe as well. Lets just say that this little chat on Wednesday made Gabe a Titan fan, and ever since, he has worn his “Cole Shirt” with pride and a smile.
This relationship, like many others that I see between faculty children and current and former students is one of the hidden values of being a boarding school teacher. It takes a village to raise children and so many of the students here become a part of our children’s village.
Cole was at Stanstead College for two years, and in my time here, he was the first 9th grader to play on the varsity team. In many ways, he grew up here, and at the end of last year he was ready to continue that development in a new place, but because Stanstead is such a special place, it was a difficult decision and he continues to remain connected to many of us here. Cole will be a Spartan for life.
Sticking on the theme of the individual, I will give a little shout out to Grade 10 defencemen Ryan Hopkins from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, who was mentioned recently as a major player to watch in this year’s QMJHL draft. As a program, we do our best to present our players with all the best junior, major junior and NCAA options and this type of press shows that we are doing well at this goal. It also speaks to Ryan’s talent of course.
As a team, we have had our struggles and successes this year. Over the last seven days we have gained some valuable momentum that will help us on the road to the nationals.
(From the Stanstead College website, January 29th)
Athlete of the week: Ryan Johnson
Ryan has always been a talented, coachable and dependable member of the prep U16 hockey team, but this week’s Athlete of the Week really hit his stride over the past week and a half.
With back-to-back-to-back outstanding performances at the Northwood School Tournament in Lake Placid, then at Lower Canada College and then again at Kimball Union, the Grade 11 student from Santa Fe, Texas is playing with impressive confidence and consistency. With an improved defensive game and a natural knack for the net, Ryan has become a two-way stalwart that his coaches and teammates depend on for production on both ends of the ice. Congratulations, Ryan, for being named Athlete of the Week!
(From the Stanstead College website, April 30th)
Matthew Thompson named VB Hockey head coach
Stanstead College is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Thompson as head coach of the varsity boys hockey team.
Mr. Thompson joined the Stanstead College community in 2012 and has been assistant coach of the varsity boys team since 2013. The native of Pickering, Ontario is a graduate of Laurentian and Lakehead Universities, where he obtained degrees in history and education. Before Stanstead, Mr. Thompson taught and worked at Appleby College as an assistant goalie coach.
Before beginning his teaching career, Mr. Thompson played for the Manitoulin Islanders in the NOJHL and attended St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School, where he was a two-time Senior Athlete of the Year. He was also the SMCSS Brian English Award Winner, presented to a top student-athlete who best demonstrates good sportsmanship and a caring attitude. These are qualities that Mr. Thompson has carried with him during his time at Stanstead.
“Over the past seven seasons, Mr. Thompson has demonstrated outstanding professionalism and dedication to the varsity boys hockey team,” said James Rioux, Stanstead’s Director of Hockey Operations. “He has certainly earned this opportunity to take over the team himself.”
Mr. Rioux remarked on Mr. Thompson’s cool and collected temperament and close relationship with his players, consistently working the phones and email and possessing a strong pool of contacts to help advance players to the next level.
“Most importantly, Mr. Thompson is a prep-school guy through and through who completely understands the ethos of our school,” said Mr. Rioux. “He is an eternally positive person with an upbeat and friendly disposition. He understands the challenges ahead and possesses the wisdom to coach our team within those realities.”
In addition to coaching varsity boys hockey, Mr. Thompson will continue to teach Geography and serve as the head of the Stanstead College Humanities Department. The 32-year-old lives in Stanstead with his wife Ashley and almost-4-year-old son Gabriel.
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