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By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
After coming one win shy of a berth in the state tournament, Dover-Sherborn/Weston High School boys hockey enters the 2019-2020 season looking for a bounce-back.
“I think like any team, we want to get back to playing in the tournament,” said head coach Tom Bourque about his Raiders heading into the year. “We missed it last year by a game and we were obviously disappointed, so our goal this year is to make the tournament and go as far as we possibly can.”
With no captains officially being named, DS will look towards its core of upperclassmen to lead the charge to begin the season. Among the several big names returning for DS/Weston this season is 2018-2019 leading scorer and forward Cooper Griffin.
“Cooper was our leading scorer last year,” said Bourque. “He is definitely going to be a guy we look towards for leadership.”
Two other names to watch our for are juniors Billy Rooney and Standish Carothers.
“Our junior class should play a big leadership role,” said Bourque. “Billy Rooney will be big for us on defense. Standish [Carothers] is coming back after missing all of last year with a concussion, so that should be huge as well.”
Weston’s Blaise Trodden is another player that Bourque expects to play a pivotal role for this year’s group.
“Blaise is vocal in the locker room and the kids respect him,” said Bourque. “He’s a third-line grinder type of guy, but he’ll definitely be in the mix in terms of leadership.”
In goal, DS will turn to the services of junior Ethan Blanchard.
“Ethan was our backup last year,” said Bourque. “He’ll probably get the bulk of the work this season, splitting some time with a new guy we have coming in from Finland. It should be a good competition for the starting job but I have to imagine Ethan is our guy to start the year.”
DS/Weston will begin their quest to the state tournament on December 12 against East Boston at Chase Arena in Natick.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
