With winter tryouts recently kicking off at RMHS, many are wondering how our boys hockey team looks for the ’24-’25 season.
Reading is widely predicted to be the top 10 in the preseason polls from various ranking sources. The team recently had two scrimmages in which they won 5-1 vs Billerica and 1-0 vs Braintree. However with the class of ’24 graduating, there are a lot of holes to be filled on the team. Cam Fahey, Chris Hanafin, TJ Michel, Ryan MacCurtain (transfer), and Matt Fichera just to name a few, were some of the best players on the team last year. The current players are optimistic about their ability to fill those roles and get over the loss of such great players.
Ian Leonard, senior defenseman, is confident in the team’s ability to replace such roles. “It’s the same thing with Reading every year–it’s not a rebuild, it’s a reload,” he said. “We have so many guys in this system, whether they were on JV last year or didn’t play so much, who are ready to step up.”
The making of a varsity hockey player doesn’t just happen overnight. Luca Picano, Senior forward is very impressed with the younger crew and their growth over the offseason. “There’s a lot of youngins who have put in the work all offseason, being in the gym everyday, shooting pucks everyday. And it shows, these guys are ripping the puck, laying bodies, and just playing great right now.” The underclassmen who stand out in the preseason are Connor Leminen (‘27), Aidan Shaughnessy (‘27), Jack Barry (‘28) and Ethan Filipski (‘27). These guys are prepared for increased roles and it will be interesting to see how they perform.
The younger players are fortunate to have a strong senior class above them as well. Captains Nate Mulvey and Jack Filipski are expected to have monster years coming up. However, Jack Filipski is dealing with a MPFL injury, postponing his start to the year. The team has 8 returning upperclassmen forwards, and 5 returning defensemen. The biggest strength of this year’s team is highlighted by Jack Filipski. “We are really deep this year. We are going to have to do the little things right to capitalize on that, but just being so old and experienced as a group is a huge advantage.”
Mulvey echoed Filipski’s point. “We should be able to consistently play four lines,” he projected. The ability to play four lines consistently is something that most public school hockey teams don’t have the luxury of doing and will be a huge advantage to the Rockets if they can utilize that. The depth of this year’s Rockets is primarily from the senior class. Mulvey, Filipski, Leonard and Picano will be joined by Ray Vedder, Mike Bouttiette, James Marcotte, Liam Hansen, Owen Holland, Jack Chapin, and Kevin Lentell who are expected to be key playmakers and leaders on this year’s team.
Reading has a new look this year all around the ice, but the biggest difference is going to be in net, where Owen Holland takes over for All Star goalie Chris Hanafin. Those are big shoes to fill but the team believes he is up for the challenge. “He would’ve started on any other team in the league last year,” said team manager John Irmer. “He’s had an elite preseason and looks really good. He has studied all the film from every team and is more than prepared for the upcoming season.” Holland is going to be a huge defensive leader and he shared the mindset he brings to the team. “We are all in. Chips are on the table. You always bet on Red and Black.” Holland is confident and fired up for the season opener.
The new look Rockets open on Saturday against Burlington at 7:45PM at Burbank.
