2011 - 2012

Varsity Final Record
16 - 6 - 0

Prior Game
March 2, 2012
Danvers 0
North Andover 1

Next Game
December 2012

2011 - 2012
JV Final Record
8 - 4 - 3

January 14 2012

HIGH FLYIN' FALCONS LOOK FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN TODAY VS. SALEM

Having not tasted defeat since two days after Christmas, the Danvers High hockey team shoots for its seventh consecutive victory this afternoon when they host the Salem Witches at the Richard H. Rockett Arena in Salem.

Danvers (8-2 overall) will be playing for the third time in less than four days this afternoon, but should have a decided advantage against a Salem team (1-8) that has struggled to both keep the puck out of their net and score goals consistently.

Still, Falcons' head coach Kevin Brown takes nothing for granted. He and his coaching staff don't want their players viewing this particular contest any differently than they would another team.The message remains the same: come to the rink focused and prepared, ready to play your best hockey, and let hard work dictate the outcome.

"We have to take care of business first and foremost -- that's winning the game," said Brown. "If we get into a position later in the game where we might be ahead and maybe could get some of our other players into the game (that might not normally see much ice time), that would be nice. But we're not worried about that -- until we take care of business, we'll stick with what's been working for us."

The Blue-and-White have found a number of different ways to win games so far in 2011-12, and the last few days have been no different. They used terrific defense and a workmanlike effort to grind down host Marblehead, 3-1, on Wednesday night, then hit the road and won a shootout with host Shawsheen, 6-5, up in Billerica.

"We feel we can win a bunch of different ways," acknowledged Brown, whose team has scored 39 goals through 10 games. "The way we won (Thursday) night was different than night before, which in turn was different than how we (recently) beat Gloucester.

"The kids realize that no matter the situation, we have the ability and structure to come back in any game. This way, if we're in a position down the road similar to one we've experienced (earlier in the year), the players know they've been there before and can handle themselves."

Brown was looking for his second line to step it up offensively two nights ago, and Rob Buchanan responded. The junior forward scored a hat trick to power the scoring against a tough Shawsheen club. "It was good to see Rob and his linemates (Tyler Dustin and Jack Doyle) respond to the challenge and play so well," said Brown.

The team's leading scorer, junior captain Joe Strangie (13 goals and 12 assists) had a pair of goals, including the game-winner to snap a 5-5 tie with 3:13 to play.

Third liner Kevin Hodgkins also came up big with his first career goal, a third period strike that gave him and his linemates (Paul D'Orlando and Jay Calcagno) a shot of confidence, said Brown.

It was the second night in a row that a Falcon forward had scored his first career goal; sophomore forward Matt Flynn had sniped a shot from between the circles in the win over Marblehead on Wednesday. Junior A.J. Couto and captain J.D. Hodgkins also scored in that contest, who freshman defenseman Mike Disciullo contributed his first career point on an assist.

Senior goalie Seth Kamens returned to action against Marblehead after missing time to do a concussion and allowed just one goal in 12 shots. Fellow senior Steve Wilkinson, who started in Kamens' absence (going 5-0), earned the 'W' against Shawsheen.

This afternoon the team's third senior goalkeeper, Zac Ingraham, gets his first career start. He should be up for the challenge against the Witches, who do have some offensive weapons in players such as Paul DiMarino, Sam Petri, Spencer Bergholtz and Matt LeBlanc.

Following today's matchup, the Falcons play just twice in the next 18 days: next Saturday at Revere (5:10 p.m.), then not again until Wednesday, Feb. 1 back at Salem State against the Lynn Jets (6:20 p.m.).