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

February 1, 2012

FALCONS RETURN TO ACTION TONIGHT VS. LYNN LOOKING FOR 9TH STRAIGHT WIN

Having been off for the last 11 days, the Danvers High hockey team returns to the ice tonight wearing their home whites at the Richard H. Rockett Arena, where they'll host the Lynn Jets in a Northeastern Conference matchup.

The Falcons (10-2 overall) went a perfect 6-0 in January, shutting out two opponents while allowing just a single goal to three others. They also averaged better than four goals a game in those half-dozen contests while limiting their opponents' shots against and burying chances that they were given offensively.

More importantly, Danvers has already reached one of its major team goals, qualifying for the Division 2 North state tournament that begins at the end of this month -- the first North Shore hockey team to do so. It marks the 23rd time the last 24 years that the Blue-and-White have earned themselves a ticket to the postseason dance.

But if you think the Falcons will be resting on any of those laurels when they get back into game action tonight, then you clearly don't know head coach Kevin Brown or the ways in which he keeps his club sharp, focused and hungry.

"In the time off we've had between games, we've addressed a lot of things with the team like complacency and not reading your own press clippings," said Brown, a former DHS hockey captain himself. "It's been a good balance having this time off: getting guys healthy, working on certain aspects of the game we often don't get to with the allotted practice time we have (such as special teams play and tweaking systems), and talking about little things on and off the ice.

"I feel they'll come out ready to go (tonight). You want to come out strong and execute the same way they have been in the practices -- only now it's (once again) against guys in different colored shirts."

While Danvers still has one home game remaining -- next Wednesday night against Beverly -- it will hold its annual 'Senior Night' this evening. That means a chance for the Falcons' nine seniors -- goalies Seth Kamens, Steve Wilkinson and Zac Ingraham; defensemen Peter Marshall and captain Nick Strangie; and forwards Jack Doyle, Paul D'Orlando, Ryan Mansfield and captain J.D.Hodgkins -- to have a moment in the spotlight and be honored and recognized for their sacrifices and commitment to the program during their four years of high school.

"They're all valuable because they all bring a little something different to the table," said Brown of his team's 12th graders, "but it's all equal to the same goal about one thing: the team. This is a class that puts the team before themselves; that's a great thing for the younger players to see and emulate."

With 16 points, Danvers currently sits in second place in the Northeastern Conference North standings at 8-1, one point behind Saugus (8-1-1) with one game in hand. Brown and his assistants have made it implicitly clear, however, not to get caught up in any hoopla surrounding league races, and rather focus on the task at hand -- beginning tonight and carrying on throughout the rest of the season.

"There's going to be a bigger target on our backs the second time around (playing fellow NEC North teams Beverly, Saugus, Winthrop, Peabody and Gloucester)," said the sixth-year head coach. "We're honest when we speak with the kids, telling them you can look at rankings and all of that stuff, but those will never win you anything. While it's nice to get a pat on the back, it's hard work that's gotten you to this point.

"Basically, we remind them that they haven't finished what they want to finish, not even close yet. And I've never seen a trophy made out of (news)paper. You have to do it yourself, on the ice, through hard work."

The Lynn Jets come into tonight's clash at 5-6-1 overall and fighting to qualify for the playoffs themselves. They're led offensively by players such as John Finnigan and Ryan McDonald, have a defensive standout in Kyle Devin and a solid goaltender in Mike Gately. They do, however, give up nearly twice as many goals (54) as they've scored (30), something the Falcons would like to exploit tonight.

"Every game that we'll play from here on out is our most important of the season," said Brown. "That's eight regular season games in three weeks, plus any we'll have in the playoffs. It's time to turn it up and keep striving to get better."