Jackson Daignault ’18

The Staples boys’ hockey team, only two seasons removed from competing in a state championship game, is hungry for more.
In the 2015-2016 season, the Wreckers played the state championship game at Yale’s Hockey stadium, otherwise known as “The Whale.” The Wreckers hope to get back there this season.
“The team expectation is nothing short of winning a ring,” captain Sam New ’18 said. “We’ve got a taste of what a state championship game is like [and] now we’ve got the feast.”
This season will be different for the Wreckers; they will return back to the Division III conference after a year playing in Division II. This will be an adjustment for the Wreckers who were unable to qualify for playoffs in Division II.
While this switch may seem beneficial for the Wreckers, captain Brian Gray ’18 recognizes that they still have to work hard. “We are still going to play many of the same teams we played last year,” Gray said. “We still need to play at a very high level if we want to be successful.”
The Wreckers will no longer have a Co-Op with Weston and Shelton, due to an increase in Staples players. With the loss of so many Weston and Shelton players from last year, the Wreckers are working hard on their team comradery this offseason. “A lot of us are playing on a club team together to build chemistry and get ready to play together this season,” Zack Bloom ’18, the captain goalie, said.
The Wreckers will be benefitted by the growth of head coach Chris Avena in his second season. Players like Bloom believe that having a year under his belt will be beneficial for the program. “He’s much more confident in his coaching ability this year,” Bloom said.
Many believed last season to be a rebuilding year for the Wreckers. “Last year we had a lot of guys trying out new positions in order to recover from the loss of the seniors from the year before,” Casten Ernberg ’18 said.
Gray echoed the growing pains the Wreckers dealt with last year. “I think last year taught us that we can’t be complacent,” Gray said. “It reminded us of the huge amount of work that goes into getting to the Whale like we did two years ago.”
The team is engaging in rigorous off-season training to make it back to the playoffs. “We’re in the gym two times a week,” Bloom said. “Everyone is far more focused than last year.”
While the Wreckers believe they will rebound this season, Gray admits there is still work to be done. “There’s a lot of stuff we can improve upon,” Gray said. “The biggest areas are probably our defensive zone coverage and getting quality shots on goal.”
Ernberg seconded the need for a better defense. “Now that our guys are more seasoned and experienced in high school game situations, we are looking to load up our defense with two or three strong lines,” Ernberg said.
While the Wreckers aim to get back to the glory of “The Whale” at Yale University, one thing is for sure in Bloom’s eyes: “This is a very big season for Staples Hockey.”