The reigning Central Massachusetts Athletic Directors Association Class C champion Tigers returned to the ice for the 2023–2024 season, picking up where they left off. Although they’ve lost a few key players from last year’s varsity team, the Tigers, a co-op boys ice hockey program with players from Bromfield, Parker, and Littleton high schools, have 16 returning players on this year’s 22-player roster.
The current season kicked off with a home game against the Division 3 Danvers High School Falcons Saturday, Dec. 9. The play for each team was tentative through much of the first period until Littleton’s Gavin Werling, a sophomore returning for his second varsity season, scored the Tigers’ first goal, giving them a 1-0 lead to end the first period. But when the teams returned to the ice for the second period, the Falcons quickly gained and held the lead, ultimately resulting in a 5-1 loss for the Tigers. The final score reflected a trend seen last year when the Division 4 Tigers struggled to maintain leads and win games against teams from higher divisions.
The Tigers returned to the ice Wednesday, Dec. 13, to play the Leominster Blue Devils in a nonconference game. Through faster skating, better puck control, and more physical play, the Tigers quickly took control of the game, ending the first period with a 5-0 lead. With the win not in jeopardy, Harvard’s Kevin Lizotte, in his fifth year as head coach, was able to give increased playing time to some of the younger players on the team. The game concluded in a dominating 9-0 Tigers’ win, highlighted by Littleton’s Ethan King with four points (two goals and two assists), Harvard’s Fin Piekos with three points (two goals and an assist), and Littleton’s freshman Ryan Pittorino, scoring his first varsity goal.
Continuing the Wednesday, Saturday rhythm of the high school hockey season, the Tigers traveled to Gardner Saturday, Dec. 16, to play their first Coughlin Conference game against the Oakmont Spartans. Historically, games between the Spartans and Tigers have been spirited contests, and this year’s first matchup lived up to that with a back-and-forth first period that included a lot of physical play.
Down a goal after the first period, the Tigers were awarded a five-minute power play in the second after a Spartans’ player dangerously body checked Harvard’s Liam Glew into the boards. The Tigers—and the Glew brothers in particular—took full advantage with Liam Glew scoring to tie the game, quickly followed by a second goal by Conor Glew to give the Tigers the lead. The physical play continued for the rest of the second period, and both teams took penalties. But the Tigers ended the period with a 4-2 lead after Liam Glew’s second goal and Harvard’s Zach Lizotte’s winning shot with a minute left in the period.
The third period saw fewer penalties, and the Tigers were able to add two more goals by Harvard’s Fin Piekos and Conor Glew, leading to a 6-2 victory.
The Tigers’ next game is a matinee matchup against conference opponent Fitchburg/Monty Tech Red Raiders Saturday, Dec. 23, 3 p.m. at the Groton School’s O’Brien Arena.
Brian Piekos is an ice hockey parent.
