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Tigers Eager to Hit the Ice in 2021

The Hand boys’ ice hockey team entered its 2020 season with unfinished business and will begin the 2021 campaign with more work to be done.

Last year, the Tigers’ goal was to win a Division II state title after having advanced to the semifinals of the Division III State Tournament during the previous season. However, Hand’s 2020 campaign was canceled in the middle of states as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If all goes according to plan, the 2021 winter season will get underway as early as Monday, Feb. 8. Teams will play a maximum of 12 regular-season games with all contests played in conference, after which there will be league tournaments held in place of state tournaments.

While it will certainly be a different type of season, Head Coach Brian Gonsalves is eager to see his veteran team hit the ice and compete this winter.

“We have eight seniors right now set to lead this team. I consider all of them as leaders,” said Gonsalves. “I see all of them leaving their footprint behind for the underclassmen. They changed everything that Daniel Hand was all about. This year will be about how they transition their success to the underclassmen.”

The Tigers are being led by four senior captains in forwards Tatum Fitzmaurice and Teddy Licari, defender John Gagliardi, and goalkeeper Eric Dillner. Fitzmaurice, who also served as a captain last year, finished second in the state in points scored with 30 goals and 37 assists on his way to earning All-Conference and All-State First Team honors. He was also named the Division II Player of the Year.

Gagliardi scored six goals and handed out 19 assists as a captain last season. Licari had four goals with 19 assists for Coach Gonsalves’s squad.

Dillner was also a top performer for Hand in his junior year. The goalie posted a 1.55 goals-against average, while picking up 17 wins in net.

“All of these senior captains mean so much to the team and have turned Hand into the program it is today,” said Gonsalves, whose club finished at 18-3-1 last season. “I can’t say enough about Eric, who hopped in net as a freshman having never played goalie before. Now, he’s one of the best goalies in the state. John is a rock on defense for us, and Teddy is one of the best centers in the state. He wins the draw very well and keeps his line in check.”

The other athletes in Hand’s senior class are Ethan Massey, Logan Massey, Dominic Montesi, and Josh Ruotolo.

Coach Gonsalves feels confident that the Tigers can produce another solid season in 2021. Most important, he hopes that every team in the state stays healthy, so they can all finish a full season.

“The goal is to complete the season,” Gonsalves said. “We need to be grateful for what we have, because it can be gone in the blink of an eye.”

Gonsalves felt that Hand looked a little rusty when the team held its tryouts last week. However, Gonsalves knows that’s something many teams in the state are dealing with as they strive to find their stride on the ice.

“There was definitely a little rust, because we haven’t been able to play,” Gonsalves said. “Across the state, it’s going to take some time for these kids to adjust.”

Coach Gonsalves was concerned how his athletes would react when they heard word that there would be no state tournament this year. However, once the Tigers’ players came to terms with the situation, Gonsalves saw a change in mentality across the board.

“It was the first round of states that everything got shut down. The guys were itching all year to get to that championship game. It was unfortunate when it got shut down,” said Gonsalves, whose team notched a 7-0 win versus Guilford in the first round of states last year. “This year, when we got the confirmation that we weren’t going to have a state tournament, I was worried about how the kids would react. They have stayed positive and have reminded me to be grateful for what you have.”

Hand’s roster for the 2021 season includes senior captains Eric Dillner, Tatum Fitzmaurice, John Gagliardi, and Teddy Licari; seniors Ethan Massey, Logan Massey, Dominic Montesi, and Josh Ruotolo; juniors JJ Barber, Beckham Hughes, Marcus Padula, Jeff Pinover, and Kevin Sandor; sophomores Spiro Maniatis, Ryan Pfaff, Alex Schiano, and Charlie Wira; and freshmen Jimmy DeAngelis, Ian Lehman, Jack Orlando, Alex Osterman, Trip Rizzo, and Owen Scarice.