The Rockport hockey team is hoping to take another step up the ladder when Shawsheen visits the Talbot Rink Saturday (8:00 p.m.).
In the four years that Derek Papalegis has been at the helm the Vikings have steadily climbed the ranks of Division 3 North. With a win Saturday the Vikings can climb to the top of the ladder as they will clinch at least a share of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference title and make the jump from perennial Division 3 North tournament team, to bona fide contender to win the section.
"We have our hands full," Papalegis said. "Shawsheen has been dominant in this league and they our always a contender in Division 3. It's a program that we want to emulate, I want our guys to be seen as a top team in Division 3, but until we knock them off they are the top dog."
In Shawsheen, the Vikings (11-3) are facing a perennial powerhouse that has gone 40-0-1 in its last 41 Commonwealth Athletic Conference games, the one tie coming at the hands of Rockport last season. The Rams come into Saturday's clash sporting a 7-3-2 record, but that mark is a bit deceiving as they play an incredibly tough out of conference schedule against teams in higher divisions such as Danvers, North Quincy and Matignon.
"We have tried to beef up our non-league schedule in the last few years but ours is still nothing compared to theirs in terms of difficulty," Papalegis said. "They may have a few losses but that schedule makes them better in the long run."
On the ice Shawsheen is powered by one of the top lines in Division 3. Joe Sodergren and Mike DiGiorgio, two of Shawsheen's 18 seniors, were Commonwealth Athletic Conference Co-MVP's in 2011 and lead the Rams in scoring with 30 and 24 points respectively. Linemate Tom Price is not far behind with 23 points on the year.
"We need to find a way to slow down their top line," Papalegis said. "They are experienced and they can score, but we have had a good week of practice working on how to play them and how to correct some mistakes we have made against them in the past. "
The Vikings have put a scare into Shawsheen the last two times they met as the teams were tied through two periods earlier this season and tied through two and a half periods when the teams met late last season. Shawsheen, however, came away with the win in each contest.
While Shawsheen can put up points, they can also allow some goals and scoring just so happens to be the Vikings biggest strength. The top line of Conor Douglass, Mike Tupper and Jake O'Maley lead the offense but unlike years past, the offensive production does not stop there.
Over the past three seasons Rockport has had three solid lines, but never three lines that can put the puck in the net the way they do this season. Junior Josh Guertin has established himself as a strong offensive player this season as has newcomer Sophomore John Tucker and senior captain Beau Gauthier. Rockport's scoring depth this season has made them a much more balanced team offensively and a far more dangerous team as opponents can't just put its entire defensive effort into stopping one line.
"Last year it was Tupper, Conor and Cam (Smith) doing all the scoring with everybody else way behind in points," Papalegis said. "This year guys like Josh Guertin and Beau Gauthier have really stepped up. We get goals across the board now which makes us a lot tougher to defend."
Rockport has had a full week to prepare for Shawsheen and Papalegis says the week of practice has been good as the team knows what's at stake and has treated practice accordingly.
"We got a couple of nice hard skates in early in the week because we know it's going to be a tough battle for the entire 45 minutes Saturday," Papalegis said. "We are very familiar with Shawsheen and the kids are amped up to play this game. Given how the games went the last two times this should be a good one."
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