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Before the blizzard hit on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 25, the Winchester High boys hockey team (8-5) was shutting out non-league Franklin at the Canton Ice House, 6-0.
At the time, it was the greatest number of goals that the team has scored in a single game this year until three days later when they blew away visiting Wilmington in Woburn on Jan. 28, 9-1.
The day before the game against the Wildcats, the latest power rankings were announced, and Coach Gino Khachadourian’s club was seeded 17th in Division 1 that includes 40 schools.
Leading up to that Franklin win, the Winchester boys won two out of three games after beginning the new year with three straight losses. They have seemingly survived the typical midseason blahs, and are now back on track with still 10 games left on the regular season schedule.
The Red & Black took down Middlesex League rivals Belmont (3-1, Jan. 17) and Watertown (3-2, Jan. 21) to set the tone for Franklin.
Khachadourian likes what he sees from his club as the calendar is about to flip to February to begin the all-important stretch run of the regular season.
“We’re playing consistent hockey, doing a lot of things right,” the coach said after the Belmont game. “They are committing to our structure at both ends of the ice to create more chances in order to put themselves in a position to succeed. The goals haven’t come as easily as we’d have liked, but even in the losses – most by one goal – it shows that we are still doing a good job defensively. We just need to generate more offense. If we keep on working and stay patient, while trusting in the process, the offense will come.”
The players took his words to heart. The goals are starting to come at a more rapid rate, and putting six up against a team like Franklin bodes well for the rest of the season.
“I really like the pace that we’re playing (at) right now,” added Khachadourian. “We’re now moving our feet, playing fast and putting pressure on teams. This group has (demonstrated) a lot of determination and resiliency, especially when things aren’t going our way. The chances are there, and if we continue to push the pace and compete, the (goals) will keep on coming. Right now, it’s important that we keep our focus on our next opponent to continue to build off our positive play.”
January wrap
The Red & Black started the new year with a 2-1 win over Arlington on Jan. 3, but then lost by the same score to Woburn on Jan. 7.
Senior captain Caiden Brady netted the lone Winchester goal from Axel Osborn. Senior Macklin O’Flynn was in net.
Three days later, non-league host Hingham, a perennial postseason juggernaut, pinned a 7-1 loss on the Winchester boys. Jack Burkhart and Liam Connelly assisted on Brady’s tally in this game. Junior Graham Emerick was between the pipes. The Harbormen are currently seeded third in the Division 1 power rankings with a 9-2-1 record.
On Jan. 14, Reading escaped past the locals, 2-1. Connelly got the lone goal in this game from Thomas Lisy and Brady. Emerick did his part to keep another game close on the scoreboard with some clutch saves.
But the tide started turning on Jan. 17, when the Red & Black tripped up the host Marauders, 3-1. Osborn, Brady and Ben Wright notched the goals. Eli Krogmeier, Xavier Poitras, Joe Vaccari, Lisy and Burkhart were credited with the assists. O’Flynn was back in net to help secure the victory.
Winchester followed up that win with a 3-2 triumph over host Watertown / Wayland in Watertown on Jan. 21. Leo Dagostino, Osborn and Brady accounted for the goals. Krogmeier led the team in assists with two. Joe Vaccari, Leo Dagostino, Osborn and Wright each setup one score. O’Flynn was in net.
There was the 4-1 hiccup against host Burlington on Jan. 24. Brady was credited with the Winchester goal from Burkhart and Connelly. Emerick was between the pipes.
Without rest, the Winchester boys were right back on the ice the next day to face Franklin after taking the long bus ride to Canton, where the game was being held.
Despite those obstacles, they ended up playing their best game of the year. Osborn led the offensive surge with two goals. Senior Gus Gustafson, Krogmeier, Brady and Joe Vaccari netted one each. Dagostino, Krogmeier, Connelly, Gustafson and junior Greg Winn collected one assist apiece, while Emerick completed the satisfying win with a shutout in goal.
The Winchester offense then produced nine more goals against Wilmington to account for its eighth win of the year on Jan. 28.
Wright was the leader in goals with two. Freshman Anthony Vaccari, senior Brett Daniels, Dagostino, Brady, Lisy, Osborn and Gust Gustafson chipped in with one each. Joe Vaccari was the assist leader with three. Osborn and Gustafson were next in line with two each. Junior Alan Wang, Anthony Vaccari, Wright, Connelly, Burkhart, Lisy and Daniels had one apiece. It was O’Flynn’s turn in net to help lead his teammates to another win.
The Red & Black closes out this month (Jan. 31, 12:40 p.m.) and begins a new one (Feb. 1, time TBA) this weekend in Arlington, as one of four teams in the annual Ed Burns Memorial Tournament. They will then go up against host Woburn on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News in November 2024.
