Despite loss in semis, ‘Canes are on the rise

Matt Metcalf
Posted 3/24/15

The Warwick Vets boys’ hockey team got swept in the Division III semifinals by top-seeded West Warwick/Exeter-West Greenwich over the weekend.

But, although the losses are still fresh in their …

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Despite loss in semis, ‘Canes are on the rise

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The Warwick Vets boys’ hockey team got swept in the Division III semifinals by top-seeded West Warwick/Exeter-West Greenwich over the weekend.

But, although the losses are still fresh in their minds and they may not think about it now, this season meant a great deal to a program that badly needed to get back on the right track.

Vets went 9-9 during the regular season this year, notching seven more wins than a season ago.

And, even more importantly, Vets put together its season this year with a largely inexperienced roster, with many of its main contributors being freshmen and sophomores.

The ‘Canes will lose three key seniors – Colby Howard, Tyler Dipetrillo and Oliver Pinheiro – to graduation, but Vets has now set itself up for success for the foreseeable future.

Vets’ roster got its first taste of playoff experience in recent weeks, making the postseason for the first time in five years.

Head coach Mike Boyajian felt following game one of the ‘Canes’ quarterfinal series against Mt. Hope, that one way to make a statement within the league was to sweep that first series.

Following a 9-6 game-one win, Vets did just that a night later, slamming the door on the Huskies with an 8-3 win to complete the sweep at Portsmouth Abbey.

In the semifinals, Vets was facing an uphill battle against the division’s top team in WWEWG, but it put up a good fight, dropping game one, 7-2, before giving the top-seed all it could handle in game two, falling 7-6.

With all it accomplished this season and with all of the experience that Vets accrued, it has to be one of the favorites to win the division going into next season.

The ‘Canes will bring back the entirety of their core forward group, many of whom were freshmen and sophomores this season. They’ll look to rely on D.J. Kowalik, Collin Csoszor, Jake Mitchell, Noah Kane, Brandon Major and Dylan Tindle come next season – the team’s top-six forwards for this year’s resurgent season.

Vets will lose Pinheiro and Dipetrillo at the blue line, but it will bring back some experience in the back end, as well. Next season, the ‘Canes will return sophomores Greg Fontaine and Tim Chaffee and freshman Andrew Canning – players who will provide experience throughout the defensive core.

In goal, the ‘Canes will lose Howard, but freshman Josh Belleville, who got some time this season, will be back for his sophomore season next year.

In comparison to all that Vets has returning, WWEWG will graduate eight seniors, including its two top scorers in Anthony Ventura III and Thomas Pecchia, while second-seeded Ponaganset will graduate two of its top four scorers, as well.

Vets must improve on the defensive end to be a legitimate contender next year – allowing 23 goals in four playoff games – but it will arguably have the top offense in D-III right out of the gates.

Anything short of a championship for a team that dedicates months to achieve that goal is surely disappointing, but it looks as if this season will serve as a building block for even more success in the coming years.

Last season, it was hard to imagine some light at the end of the tunnel for Vets’ hockey program.

Now, the future looks bright for the ‘Canes.

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