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College hockey

Five Falcons honored for sportsmanship

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The 2022-23 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Winter Sportsmanship Teams were announced by the league office on Wednesday, recognizing 27 MASCAC student-athletes.

Among the 27 conference student-athletes honored for their outstanding sportsmanship were five Fitchburg State student-athletes: senior Benjamin Sacramone (men’s indoor track), junior Erin Donelan (women’s indoor track), senior Joshua Miller (ice hockey), senior Mikal Garcia (men’s basketball) and sophomore Stephanie Hart (women’s basketball).

The MASCAC Sportsmanship Team is intended to recognize one student-athlete from each team, in every sport that best demonstrates the values of the MASCAC and its Sportsmanship Statement, regardless of their overall performance or statistics for the team.

A student-athlete from each institution is selected by their coach to be placed on the Sportsmanship Team.

Local roundup: Lunenburg bounced from Clark tourney

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The Lunenburg High boys basketball team bowed out of the Clark Tournament on Monday, falling 52-35 to David Prouty in a small school semifinal.

The fifth-seeded Blue Knights fall to 11-9, while No. 1 David Prouty improves to 20-0 and third-seeded Hopedale Saturday with the title game on the line.

Miles Seminatore paced Lunenburg’s effort with 12 points, while Jonny Deyo added seven and Max Meilleur had six.

David Prouty's Cameron Hoekstra grabs a rebound from Lunenburg's Max Meilleur during a Clark Tournament semifinal on Monday. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Alan Arsenault)
David Prouty’s Cameron Hoekstra grabs a rebound from Lunenburg’s Max Meilleur during a Clark Tournament semifinal on Monday. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Alan Arsenault)

The fact that the Blue Knights were playing at all on Monday came courtesy of a determined effort in their opening-round contest against No. 4 Sutton on Saturday. Lunenburg fell behind 20-1 in that game before rallying for a 47-42 victory in double overtime.

The Blue Knights were led by Vinny Dellasanta (16 points), Meilleur (14) and Seminatore (11) in Saturday’s win.

Fitchburg 58, Doherty 52: Behind 19 points from Elijah Jefferies, Red Raiders (13-5) advance to the semifinals of the CMADA Class A tournament. Omar Rodriguez added 12 points in the win.

St. Bernard’s 49, Bethany Christian 34: Chris Jean-Baptiste and Manny Vega each had 14 points for the Bernardians (10-9) in a CMADA Class D quarterfinal.

Girls basketball

Oakmont 62, Worcester Tech 27: Victoria Mays scored 14 points and Cali Laliberte added 13 for the Spartans (11-8) in a CMADA Class B quarterfinal victory.

Boys hockey

Oakmont 10, Worcester 4: Blake Riggins and Dylan LeBlanc each had hat tricks to lead the Spartans (7-13).

High school hockey all-stars named

The best and brightest local high school hockey players will take to the ice of the Wallace Civic Center Sunday for the 2022-23 Central Mass. All-Star Game.

The Coughlin Conference team, coach by St. Bernard’s Steve Sylvia and Gardner’s Scott Freniere, features a host of local talent. Ben Stout, Hunter Lammi and Nick Tomczak will represent the Bernardians, with Collin Majowicz and Chase Bergeron named honorable mentions.

Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley netminder Kyle McGrath made the team, as did Blue Knights teammates Tyler Fortier and Nick Fortier, while Dom Benner, Logan Martin and Garrett Hakey were honorable mentions.

Fitchburg/Monty Tech’s Wyatt Peters, Sam Jaramillo, Colin Hines and Cody Berkio made the cut, as did Oakmont Regional’s Nate Hylan, Blake Riggins and Jack Carney. Cooper Carignan and Parker Johnson were honorable mentions for Oakmont.

North Middlesex Regional’s Steve Trundle will coach the Roy Conference team, which will feature forwards Connor Lavery and Jimmy O’Keefe, defenseman Tyler Cunio and netminder Aaron Sacrelli from his Patriots side.

Gavin Petrucci and Sean Myers were honorable mentions from North Middlesex.

Leominster’s Will Parker and Brandon LeBlanc were named to the team, while Cody Larsen was an honorable mention. Nashoba Regional saw Joe Quinn, Ryan May, Dillan Lowe and Colin Ruschioni named to the Roy team and Ryan Balewicz and Dillon Kelleher earn honorable mentions.

Ceolin honored for big week

Fitchburg State senior Anthony Ceolin was named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Ice Hockey Player of the Week on Monday.

The fourth-year forward collected his first weekly honor on the year after posting eight points on four goals and four assists over two games for the Falcons. Ceolin tallied four goals and one helper in a 9-3 win over Westfield State on Thursday before adding three assists in a 5-3 setback to Worcester State on Saturday.

The Fitchburg State ice hockey team (12-10-3, 9-6-3 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it hosts Salem State in quarterfinal action of the MASCAC tournament, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Local notebook: Blue Knights race to another crown

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Another meet, another title.

The Lunenburg High girls track team captured the District E Division 2 Gerry Frew Invitational at Fitchburg High School  with 114.75 points on Saturday, easily outrunning second-place Littleton (77 points).

A quartet of Blue Knights were named district champions individually, with Abby Rodriquenz (1,000), Sarah Viveiros (shot put), Carli Stanford (300) and Lauren Long (2 mile) posting first-place finishes in their respective events.

Long also placed second as part of the 4×880 relay, along with Breanna Bajko, Olivia Coronella and Illiana Thomas, while Rodriquenz was the final runner in the second-place 4×440 relay with Rylan Arnold, Emma King and Karynna Long.

Arnold took second in the 600 for the Blue Knights and Liz Morton was the runner up in the high jump.

Karynna Long added a third-place showing in the 55m hurdles, while Emma King (300) and Alexa Jenkins (shot put) also had third-place finishes in their respective events. Jenkins also claimed sixth in the 55m dash.

Olivia Coronella (600), Kendra Eberhardt (1,000), Bajko (mile) and Lilia Baril  (high jump) had fourth-place finishes, while Thomas took fifth in the 2 mile. Anita White (300) and Lyla Dellasanta (55m hurdles) posted sixth-place finishes for the Blue Knights.

Wolves compete at Central/West meet

The Nashoba Regional girls co-op swim team took part in the Central/West Meet at Springfield College on Sunday, finishing 25th place with 14 points.

The 200 medley relay team of Campbell Phillips, Ariel Larrabee, Emma Reiner and Paige Mason finished 15th with a time of 2:08.54, while the 200 freestyle relay of Mason, Erin Coughlan, Reiner and Phillips took  15th with a time of 1:53.56.

Reiner placed 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:14.24, qualifing her for the Division 2 state meet next weekend at MIT. Phillips placed 17th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a season-best time of 1:15.91.

Macchioni snags MASCAC honor

Fitchburg State freshman goaltender Max Macchioni was named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week on Monday.

Fitchburg State freshman Max Macchioni has been named MASCAC Ice Hockey Goalie of the Week. (Courtesy Fitchburg State Athletics)
Fitchburg State freshman Max Macchioni has been named MASCAC Ice Hockey Goalie of the Week. (Courtesy Fitchburg State Athletics)

The first-year netminder earned his sixth weekly accolade of the year after totaling 26 saves with a 1.00 goals against average and a .963 save percentage in a 4-1 triumph over UMass Dartmouth on Thursday evening as the Falcons won their third straight contest.

In his first collegiate campaign, Macchioni is 7-5-3 with a 2.46 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.

The Fitchburg State ice hockey team (11-9-3, 8-5-3 MASCAC) returns to action Thursday when it welcomes Westfield State University to the Wallace Civic Center for a MASCAC contest starting at 6:30 p.m.

Local roundup: Falcons rally, but fall in OT

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It seemed like the goals weren’t going to come for Fitchburg State.

And for two periods Thursday night, Salem State held the visiting Falcons off the scoreboard.

But after the guests netted a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes and forced overtime, the well ran dry and the host Vikings were able to sink the Falcons in overtime, earning a 3-2 MASCAC victory.

Keagan O’Donoghue netted the winner 1:24 into OT.

Trailing 1-0 entering the third, Antoine Gignac pulled the Falcons even just 10 seconds into the third, scoring off a Joshua Miller assist. And 6:56 later, Cole Archambault put the guests ahead, with assists going to Brendan Walk and Michael Macchioni.

Salem State’s Erik Larsson opened the scoring six minutes into the game and then netted the equalizer for the Vikings with 1:48 left in regulation to force overtime.

Max Macchioni turned aside 42 shots for the Falcons (8-9-3, 6-5-3 MASCAC).

Women’s track and field

The Distance Medley relay team of seniors Abigail Murphy, Lilah McAndrew, Maria Burnett and freshman Skye Goba placed 1oth overall with a time of 13:17.23 at the  All-New England Championships.

With that time, the Falcons ran the fourth fastest time his school history with Goba running the mile, Murphy in the 1,200 meter leg, Burnett the 800 meter and McAndrew handling the 400 meter leg.

Girls basketball

Algonquin 52, Fitchburg 17: Ella Kitching posted six points for the Red Raiders (1-14) and Gianna Calderon added five.

Local roundup: Falcons pile up MASCAC honors

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Good news rolled into the Fitchburg State athletic offices on Tuesday and did so in bulk.

Four Fitchburg State track and field athletes earned weekly conference honors and 124 Falcon student-athletes were named to the MASCAC Fall/Winter All-Academic team.

Junior Taban Manyok was named MASCAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week, while senior Eric Shimiyimana was selected as the Field Athlete of the Week and freshman Liam Bourassa was tabbed Rookie of the Week. In addition, Fitchburg State junior Makany Camara was named MASCAC Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.

Manyok collects his third consecutive weekly accolade after taking top honors in the 1,000 meter with a personal best and DIII New England qualifying time of 2:37.89 as well as finishing second in the mile with a time of 4:36.45 for the Green and Gold at the Wesleyan Indoor Invite on Saturday.

Shimiyimana picks up his fourth weekly honor of the season after placing second overall in the triple jump with a DIII New England qualifying mark of 13.45, while adding a third-place effort of 6.15 meters in the long jump. The fourth-year Falcon capped the day by finishing seventh in the 60 with a time of 7.64 seconds.

Bourassa earned his first weekly accolade after taking top honors in the shot put with a toss of 13.01 meters, while adding a seventh- place toss of 10.98 meters in the weight throw at the Wesleyan Indoor Invite.

Camara nets her second weekly honor on the year after finishing second in the high jump with a mark of 1.52 meters for the Green and Gold on Saturday.

The Fitchburg State indoor track teams return to action Saturday as they compete at the 2023 Panthers Invite at Plymouth State University.

In addition to showing off its athletic abilities, Fitchburg State saw its student-athletes excel in the classroom, with Falcons representing 124 of the 1,218 MASCAC academic honorees. To land a spot on the MASCAC All-Academic team, student-athletes must have achieved a 3.20 cumulative or semester-based grade point average during the Fall/Winter semester.

The Fitchburg State athletes named to the All-Academic team are below.

Men’s basketball: Aidan Finn, Clifford Fuakye, Dayne Allen, Frederick Siayor, Jordan Polanco, Joshua Okoroji-Schaeffer, Matthew Tanis, Mikal Garcia, Tajahn Joyner.

Women’s basketball: Amricyan Fernandez-Scherington, Ephemian Bailey, Juliana Davis, Lindsay McDonald, Morgan Genness, Rylie Harlow, Stephanie Hart.

Women’s cross country: Diana Marquez-Frias, Kathleen Messer.

Field hockey: Carley McCaie, Emma Ganley, Grace Kerr, Jenna Morse, Jessica Morse, Lena Kassel, Lena Spadafore, Olivia Narkevicius, Samantha Rozum, Sophia Piper, Sophia Yates, Joyce Arbia.

Football: Amzie Hinkley, Calvin Guillaume, Cameron Monette, Christopher Emslie, Dylan Cosner, Elijah McKnight, Frank Opoku, Giancarlo Marazzo-Henry, Jakob Lufkin, John McGarry, Keyshawn McCurdy, Logan Perez, Nicholas Notenboom.

Ice hockey: Anthony Ceolin, Antoine Gignac, Brendan Walk, Cameron Isabelle, Christian Halbig, Cole Archambeault, Egan Wolford, Gene Bouthiette, Hunter Fortin, Jack Johansen, Jack Saavedra, Jeremy Maillet, Joseph Gilbert, Joshua Miller, Matthew Radder, Michael Macchioni, Nolan Sargent, Oliver Cookson,
Rece Bergeman, Samuel Rennick, Toivo Kramer, Trenton Skaggs, Wyatt Wilmshurst.

Men’s indoor track: Chris Morales, Ryan Parisi, Zion Barber-Amado, Cole Donelan, Aidan Cattelan, Andrew Bedard, Benjamin Sacramone, Brady Madigan, Cameron Davis, Nathaniel Felix.

Women’s indoor track: Cassandra Israelson, Grace Casale, Makany Camara, Olivia Kephart, Trishannah Scott, Emily Russo, Abigail Murphy, Courtney Brouillet, Erin Donelan, Jenna Aubuchon, Lilah McAndrew, Maria Burnett, Marjorie Veliotis, Skye Goba, Sophie Geremia.

Men’s soccer: Bennet Jorgensen, Brian Doyle, Collin Robson, Edward Paiva, Francesco Campione, Juan Sambrano, Kenny Cherry, Luke Speers, Rizkhan Muhwezi.

Women’s soccer: Abaigeal Gilman, Adrianna Westcott, Alisha Praileau, Allison Gough, Charlotte Meixsell, Jessica St. George, Katie Moran, Kayleen McCormack, Kendra Peretzman, Madison Hippert, Regina Pallotta, Sera Gagnon, Sophia Moore, Taylor Rodriguez, Taylor Senecal, Zoe Chrisostomides.

Volleyball: Alissa Olmsted, Catherine Goodearl, Emily Gelinas, Meredith Taylor, Samantha Mirra, Shianne Harewood, Stephanie Sardella, Sariah Dyer.

Boys basketball

Fitchburg 55, Shrewsbury 31: Omar Rodriguez had 17 points to lead the Red Raiders to a road win, while Victor Kukta added 10 points in the victory.

North Middlesex 67, Westboro 55: Brian Morse led four Patriots in double figures with 17 points. Mike Reardon added 12 and Jake Steinmann and Cade Callahan each had 10.

Girls basketball

Shrewsbury 56, Fitchburg 30: Shamarie Rodriguez led the Red Raiders (1-13) with 12 points. Ella Kitchin added eight points in the loss.

The Lunenburg High girls basketball team was defeated by Tyngsboro on Tuesday. (Courtesy Tyngsboro Athletics)
The Lunenburg High girls basketball team was defeated by Tyngsboro on Tuesday. (Courtesy Tyngsboro Athletics)

Westboro 62, North Middlesex 41:  The loss drops the Patriots to 4-9.

Marlboro 58, Oakmont 54: Victoria Mays scored 14 points to lead the Spartans (5-7).

Tyngsboro 55, Lunenburg 40: The Blue Knights drop to 1-11 with the loss.

Thibeault gets back to his roots

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FITCHBURG — Jake Thibeault looked around the Wallace Civic Center Saturday afternoon with the eyes of world-weary traveler returning home.

It’s not so much what one would expect from a 19-year-old, but with all Thibeault has seen and gone through in the past year and a half, returning to Fitchburg once more brought about the feeling of going full circle. Having suffered a serious spinal injury playing hockey over Labor Day weekend in 2021, Thibeault’s time at rinks has changed drastically.

Currently unable to walk, Thibeault undergoes daily physical therapy with the goal of one day getting on his feet again.

Thibeault watches the Babson College hockey team almost daily, but there’s something different about returning to his roots, which he did on Saturday for the second annual “Hockey Day in the ‘Burg.”

“I’m at a rink just about every day, but I’m not here very much anymore so it’s nice to get back here,” Thibeault said. “It brings back a lot of memories. I grew up here, skated here. … I know a lot of the coaches around here and their teams.

“Just being here and seeing people I haven’t seen since last year, it truly is an awesome day.”

“Hockey Day in the ‘Burg” saw three teams with connections to Thibeault come together for a tripleheader on the ice, with all proceeds going to the Thibeault Family Rehabilitation Trust. Hundreds of fans turned out for the first game of the day alone, a MASCAC tilt between Fitchburg State and Plymouth State.

Fitchburg State head coach Dean Fuller is a longtime friend of the Thibeault family, having known Jake since his youth hockey days. Along with Littleton/Bromfield head coach Kevin Lizotte, Fuller has been one of Thibeault’s biggest supporters since the teen’s accident on the ice.

Jake Thibeault greets attendees at Wallace Civic Center during the Hockey Day in the 'Burg fundraiser on Saturday. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Alan Arsenault)
Jake Thibeault greets attendees at Wallace Civic Center during the Hockey Day in the ‘Burg fundraiser on Saturday. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Alan Arsenault)

“We had a lot of people here today. Supporting Jake is the most important thing we can do right now,” Fuller said following his team’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Panthers.

Thibeault is appreciative of everyone who has sent messages of support or made donations. But with Fuller, he says the impact made is even more meaningful.

“Not a lot of people know this, but (the Friday of Labor Day weekend in 2021), coach Fuller came to watch me play, just as a friend. I talked to him Friday afternoon and Saturday I was in the hospital,” Thibeault said. “He was pretty much the last coach I talked to (before the incident) and I think it was meant to be. He’s had a huge impact on me and has been one of my biggest supporters.”

Saturday’s event also saw Milton Academy, where Thibeault played prep hockey, hosting St. George’s and Fitchburg/Monty Tech — Thibeault’s high school program — playing crosstown rival St. Bernard’s. By day’s end, well over one thousand spectators had walked through the doors at the Wallace Civic Center.

“This is fantastic. We just want the whole day to go perfect for the kid. He deserves to have something nice like this for him,” Wallace Civic Center facilities operator Joshua Aho said. “You don’t hear him complain about all he has to do. And I know he looks forward to this.”

Now a freshman at Babson College, Thibeault has been embraced by the hockey team there. Far from where he started his hockey journey, he’s found his latest family on the ice.

“From Day One, I moved onto campus and within 30 minutes I had 10 guys from the team in my room coming to see me,” Thibeault said. “A big reason why I wanted to go there, even before I got hurt, is how much of a brotherhood the team is. You hear about that an its something you want to be part of.”

But for one day, Thibeault was back where his love for the sport began. And as it had last year in its inaugural edition, “Hockey Day in the ‘Burg’s” impact on him and his family was much greater than just the financial benefits.

“Emotionally, all these people here today have made an impact on me. It’s truly beyond words,” Thibeault said. “I say that a lot, but in the moment, there’s really no way to describe what all this means to me. I’ll always appreciate everything everyone has done for me.”