The Little School that Can (1/24/08)

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HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY: The little school that can Trinity Catholic is small in numbers, big in wins By Matt Porter | January 24, 2008 He just retired, so John Devaney has a bit more time to devote to coaching the Trinity Catholic boys' hockey team. And tell stories. Devaney has seen it all, because he's the only hockey coach the tiny Newton school of 232 students has ever had. The program began 12 years ago, and has seen some record success this year. Despite having only 14 skaters - considered an excellent turnout for Trinity - the Falcons are 8-2-1, are undefeated in the Catholic Central Division 2, and have the league's top goalie and three leading scorers. Still, the 38-year coaching veteran can't help but laugh about how it all started in the team's inaugural season. "We had 20 uniforms, five coaches, and no players," said Devaney. This was more frightening than funny. So Devaney and his staff scoured the school, searching for potential players. "That was a fun year," Devaney remembered. "We had the 'No-Stop' line, because none of the kids could stop on their skates. And we actually won a few games that year." For a school as small as Trinity Catholic, turnout has always been the problem. They have the smallest enrollment of any school in Eastern Massachusetts that doesn't have a co-op hockey program. Statewide, only Saint Mary's of Westfield (152) draws from a smaller pool of students. The 14 skaters on this year's roster are down from 18 a year ago, and include Teresa Kerr, a senior forward. "She's on the team because she came out," said Devaney. "I've never cut anyone in 12 years, and I don't intend to." In seasons past, the Falcons have had a group of seven. They could join forces with another school to increase numbers, but have voted against it. "We didn't want to give up our name. It's a pride factor, we want our own identity. Also, we're in a good league, we practice at the Ryan Arena in Watertown, and it's kind of our home," said Devaney. The thing is, they've been doing just fine on their own. At 8-2-1, the Falcons are on pace to better last year's 12-6-2 season that ended in the first round of the Division 2 tournament. Junior defenseman Tim Foley leads Division 2 of the Catholic Central League with 23 points. He's been racking up assists feeding the puck to his brother, Matt, a senior captain who has 22 points, and junior Nick Bullens (21 points). Sophomore goalie Sean Moccia sports a league-best 2.20 goals-against average. "Our hockey program is a tremendous source of pride in the school," said athletic director Craig Genualdo, noting the turnout at games. "Hockey kids are so infectious with their spirit that the kids love it." But Devaney still fears one thing. "An injury would devastate us," he said, recounting tales of his squad being so banged up they looked like an "ice-pack brigade." If a key player gets hurt, the Falcons may not have a replacement. For example, Moccia has been so good in his two years in net, it hasn't mattered there's no backup goalie on the roster. But he sustained a concussion in a Jan. 2 game and missed the first two games of his varsity career. In his absence, defensemen Mike Marchionda and Sean Lydon filled in. While Marchionda took the team's first loss of the season, an 8-4 setback to powerful Latin Academy, Lydon was stellar in an 8-1 win over St. Clement. It was his second stint in net for the Falcons, the first being in the 2005-06 season. "He's actually 2-0 as our goalie," said Devaney, smiling. The bounces continue to go the Falcons' way, and they just have to look around to remind themselves how hope and luck can intertwine. "There's a saying on the back of our practice shirts: 'If you believe,' " said Devaney. "The kids voted on it. We put that there because we wanted the kids to believe in themselves. Even though we're small, and we don't have good numbers, we want them to believe that they can win." Perhaps their time will come in March, in the state tournament, where the entire school, and many outside its halls, will be rooting for them. And maybe Devaney will be able to tell the story of a little team that was very good.