Spartans shrug off loss with lopsided win, seek deep playoff run

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:22:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

A season-opening loss to first-year Bedford not withstanding, Marc Noel maintains the highest expectations for his squad this season.

Indeed, the Pembroke Academy ice hockey coach returns nearly the entire lot of players from a squad that reached the playoffs last year.

“I think the returning core is solid, and considering my team this year is really no different from last year’s, minus (standout) Jordan McCray, of course, there’s really no reason why these guys can’t step it up a notch,” said Noel.

The next logical step is a trip to the Division III title game, a goal he said is well within reach.

The Spartans proved their resilience by bouncing back from the 2-1 Bedford setback on Dec. 17 and crushing Laconia on the road, 7-0, on Saturday, Dec. 20.

It certainly helped to have first-string goaltender Zach Gagnon, who missed the opener, back in net. Freshman forward Steve Gilpatrick filled in admirably and proved a reliable fallback, stopping 11 Bedford shots, but Noel said Gagnon’s senior experience provides the Spartans with a distinct advantage each time they take the ice.

Another senior, Doug Turnbull, earned honorable mention recognition on last year’s all-state squad, and Noel said he should be a shoe-in for first- or second- team distinction if he stays healthy and maintains the level of play he exhibited in 2007.

Jennifer Poulin, who scored PA’s lone goal against Bedford, is as good if not better than many of her male opponents and is being scouted by Division II and III colleges to play women’s hockey next year.

Junior forward Victor Ranfos is another key component in front of the net, while senior Billy Barnett and junior Jamison Syphers lock down the blue line.

Marc Racine and Corey Pinsonneault complete a solid senior class, and junior Joey Allen returns to the team after missing last season and is expected to contribute nightly.

Also seeing varsity ice time this year are junior Syd Parker and sophomores Ryan Mitchell and Lucas Connor.

Because Noel has less players, and less lines available, than many of his D-III foes, he said all the players must continue to play within the system if PA is to reach its full potential.

“I’m very happy to see them react to this system the way they have. I mean, they limited Bedford to 13 shots. If we can keep teams below 20 each time out and reinforce our goaltending effort, we have a real chance,” said Noel. “I’ve coached a lot of hockey teams through the years (including 10 years at the high school level), and this particular group of kids, in my opinion, wants to learn and wants to win more than any other group I’ve had. I’ve never seen a team play with this much heart.”

Hockey playoff picture - Streaking Spartans in postseason mix

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:52:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

EXETER – When Marc Noel took over as coach of the Pembroke Academy hockey team before last season, he told athletics director Susan Hutchinson that he’d need a few years to get the Spartans on track “in terms of discipline.” The playoffs, he said, weren’t even part of the conversation.

Today, one can’t speak of Pembroke without mentioning the P-word.

With a come-from-behind 7-4 win over Portsmouth on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Rinks at Exeter, the Spartans claimed their third straight win – and fifth in six games – to put themselves securely in position to claim their first postseason bid since 2002 with eight games to play, including their match at Kennett on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Against the Clippers, who are also vying for one of Division III’s top spots, Pembroke erased second-period deficits of 3-1 and 4-2 before exploding for four third period scores. V.J. Ranfos, J.R. Jarnigan and defenseman Ryan D’Entrement each scored twice, leading scorer Tyler Rumfelt assisted on four goals and do-it-all freshman Jamison Syphers scored once, the game’s equalizer early on a third-period power play.

With Torin Barker looking confident in net to the tune of six saves in 22-minutes, 36 seconds of scoreless relief, Pembroke provided Noel what he wanted: more goals, more scorers and more reason to believe it’s primed for the year’s second season.

“It’s all about their confidence,” Noel said. “Take little J.R. They look at him and he must weigh all of 80 pounds. But he’s got a heart and a lot of toughness. These guys did a nice job.”

Pembroke’s recent resurgence, though, has more than a few layers. In their last six games, the Spartans have averaged 5.67 goals per game while continuing to get help from a number of people.

Rumfelt is the team’s obvious offensive leader; the senior captain’s 28 points puts him squarely in the top 10 in the league in individual scoring. But Noel wanted other forwards to step up. Saturday, they and the defensemen did.

Also, Pembroke has benefited from, of all things, less practice. With his players’ academics dipping slightly and their health even more, Noel recently cut down the team’s 5:30 a.m. practices at Tri- Town Arena to two or three sessions per week. In turn, the Spartans are more rested when other teams aren’t, their third-period outburst a case in point.

Yet, one of the most subtle changes may prove to be the biggest. Noel recently “fabricated” a third line of Matt Sweeney, Corey Pinsonneault and the freshman Syphers, who’s usually a defenseman, which has helped give its team an unexpected spark on the offensive end. It’s also given everybody an extra few minutes of rest, except of course Syphers, “mature enough to handle everything I’m asking him to do,” Noel said.

Those factors have the Spartans at 6-4 entering their matchup with Kennett, who boasted a five-game win streak coming in.

“It’s really good when the other players step it up and score,” said Rumfelt, who leads the team and, as of Jan. 23, the league, with 20 goals. “Hopefully I can try and get away from the guys covering me. But as long as we’re winning, it doesn’t matter how many goals I score.”

Pembroke News : hockey

Spartans shrug off loss with lopsided win, seek deep playoff run

Hockey playoff picture - Streaking Spartans in postseason mix