18
Rutland Herald Winter Sports Guide 2018-2019
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY PREVIEW
Raiders teams look for youthful payday
By Bob Fredette
Staff Writer
T
he Rutland High School boys
and girls hockey teams are, in
essence, one year apart.
The Raiders boys gave their young
skaters a big dose of playing time last
year and this season coach Chris Adams
is hoping to see it pay off.
Raiders girls coach Dirk Steupert
has a big freshman class skating onto
the home ice at Spartan Arena this
winter. Seven ninth-grade skaters will be
joining only seven skaters who return
from a program that won a Division I
state title and has been to two semis in
the past three years. But that doesn’t
mean Rutland should be counted out
in 2018-19.
THE BOYS
Rutland has exited the Division I
tournament in the fi rst round the past
fi ve years but numbers and experience
suggest the Raiders are ready to drive a
Zamboni over that trend.
Rutland has 25 players out and other
than goalie Glen Mandel, the entire
squad returns, along with seven players
who were not on the roster last season.
“I think we’ve got a great opportunity
to have a good year,” says Adams as he
begins his fi rst full year as head coach.
“Our key is playing by committee and our
strength is depth through the lineup.”
That lineup includes only six seniors.
“Kids who were thrust into tough
roles now know how to handle things.
I have high hopes for the year as long
as we can stay healthy and keep our
composure,” Adams said.
Shailer Evans played behind Mandel
and now it’s his turn in net as a senior.
Adams said sophomore Augie Louras
“has a bright future” and classmate
McGuire Baker, a newcomer, is helping
ALBERT J. MARRO / STAFF PHOTO
Rutland High School goalie Shailer Evans makes a save during a recent practice in Spartan Arena.
create a spirited competition between
the pipes.
Adams and his staff were still creating
line combinations late in the second
week of practices but the Raiders feel
certain they can count on scoring
punch from Noah Crossman, Ben
Simpson, Eric Brewer, Ryan Melen,
Ethan Coarse and Dillon Moore.
Matt Creed, Joel Muscatello and
Toby Jakubowski are also prepping for
minutes up front.
“All these guys are having a great
tryout,” Adams said.
The Raiders’ best depth might be at
defense, where a group of eight is led
by Bradley Maniery, Eren Cetin, Joe
Gides and Drew Patterson.
“I look down the bench in the past
and see my assistant Mike Anderson
with four guys he was moving in and
out and now we have a solid eight,”
Adams said.
“Both up front and on the defense
you can tell the kids’ game has
improved.”
Friday’s scrimmage against CVU
(under regular game conditions) was
the fi rst for Rutland, which will have its
opener at Woodstock on Wednesday
and will play its home opener on Dec.
22 against Stowe.
THE GIRLS
With stars like Emma Mazzariello,
player of the year Meghan Hamilton
and fi ve others graduated, is it woe to
the Raiders?
Steupert doesn’t think so.
“I was very fortunate this year,” he
said. “I’ve got eight freshmen and they
are all hockey players. I have never
had (a freshman class) that big. I was
anticipating fi ve.”
Steupert’s newbies have all been
on skates since the beginning of
grade school, including goalie Kristen
Pariseau.
“I am very pleased with the way they’ve
been working in practice and have been
accepted by the upperclassmen,” he
said. “I think they are good players and
they work hard ... I am asking an awful
lot of them because they are going to
play. They’ll be skating against seniors
from St. Albans to Burr and Burton and
the game is a lot faster.”
The Raiders have good leaders
to guide the freshmen by word and
example, like Maggie Schillinger, Ella
Beraldi, Brianna Beauchamp and
starting goalie Amy Howard.
Goalie Emily Hathaway, defense-
man Ella Lowkes and forwards Sera
Hockey continued on page 19