Citizen Citizen announces 2020 Winter Sports All Stars

By Canton Citizen

The Canton Citizen is pleased to announce its 2020 winter all-star selections. See this week’s print edition for our annual winter sports wrap-up featuring team photos and season recaps.

Boys MVP

Johnny Hagan (Hockey)

A senior captain and this year’s Hockomock MVP winner, Hagan forever etched his name among the Canton hockey legends with a brilliant final season, punctuated by his four-goal performance in the D2 south title game. Not only did he lead the league in scoring with 49 total points; he also won 62 percent of his faceoffs and blocked 14 shots. He was the “heartbeat” of a team that won 46 games over the past two seasons, a fierce competitor and the ultimate team-first player. “Just the amount of enthusiasm and energy he brings to our practice every day, how he pushes people and brings out the best in everybody, those are the things that I see as a coach that you just can’t replace,” said coach Brian Shuman.

Girls MVP

Olivia Maffeo (Hockey)

Only a freshman and already a bona fide star, Maffeo made a legitimate run at league MVP honors as she powered the Bulldogs to a 19-1-4 record and a share of the Division 2 state title. Fast, skilled and instinctive, she not only anchored one of the state’s top defenses; she was also Canton’s primary source of scoring, finishing tops in the league in both goals and points. Her 33 goals represented more than 40 percent of the team’s total and she finished with a team-best plus/minus of 44.

Boys Hockey

Chris Lavoie

A senior forward, Lavoie went from valuable role player to breakout star in 2020, leading the entire Hockomock League in goals scored and finishing with 40 total points (31g, 9a). Canton’s best finisher, Lavoie was not only consistent but could also score in bunches, as evidenced by his eight-goal binge during the first three games of the D2 south tournament.

Owen Lehane

A senior captain and All-Hockomock selection, Lehane was Canton’s defensive anchor and one of the handful of players that was all but guaranteed to be on the ice in high pressure moments, be it on the power play or the ends of periods or games. A smart and skilled player, Lehane also chipped in offensively with a goal and 11 assists.

Jack Connolly

Another key cog on defense along with Lehane, Connolly was among the team’s minutes leaders and one of the players that the coaching staff trusted most in key moments. He was also a goal-scoring threat from the blue line and finished first among defensemen in scoring with five goals and nine assists.

Joe Cammarata

Much like his predecessor, Cammarata earned a one-year crack at the starting goalie job and made the most of the opportunity, leading the Hockomock League in goals against and save percentage while racking up nine shutouts. While the Canton offense was the dominant storyline in this championship season, Cammarata, according to Coach Shuman, was the team’s “unsung hero” and had an outstanding year in net.

Girls Hockey

Alexa Maffeo

A senior captain, Maffeo teamed with younger sister Olivia to form a dominant blue-line pairing and was instrumental in leading the Bulldogs to a third state final in four years (and co-state championship). She also led the Hockomock League in assists and finished second on the team behind Olivia with a plus/minus of 38.

Lizzie Tassinari

A junior forward, Tassinari was one of the Bulldogs’ most consistent offensive players and was recognized by the league’s coaches with an All-Hockomock selection. She started nearly every game, tallied seven goals and eight assists, and led the team’s forwards with a plus/minus of 29.

Meg Aldrich

A senior captain and all-league selection, Aldrich was another key member of the Bulldogs’ vaunted defensive corps, pairing with Allie McCabe to form a shut-down duo. In addition to blocking shots and minimizing opponents’ chances, she chipped in on offense with four goals and nine assists. She also finished third on the team with a plus/minus of 31.

Carolyn Durand

A freshman, Durand seized the starting goalie job in the preseason and proved she was more than up to the task, earning an all-league honorable mention and leading the Hock with a .708 goals against average and .957 save percentage. She also collected a whopping 14 shutouts and came up big in several key moments throughout the season.

Boys Basketball

Eric Mischler

A junior forward, Mischler was the feel-good story of the 2020 boys basketball season as he greatly improved his all-around game and blossomed into an all-star. He led the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game and hit 20 points on six occasions, including a career-high 36 against Oliver Ames. “Eric was stronger, more coordinated, more physical and got great results,” noted head coach Ryan Gordy.

Nick Cushman

A senior guard, Cushman got his chance to shine this season and made the most of the opportunity, earning the team’s Most Improved and Best Practice Player awards along with an all-league honorable mention. In many ways he was the team’s most consistent two-way player, a ballhawk on defense as well as a driver and scorer. Coach Gordy said Cushman could play multiple positions and noted that the Bulldogs “were in a lot of games this year because of Nick.”

Girls Basketball

Kiara Cerruti

A sophomore guard/forward, Cerruti was Canton’s go-to scorer finished fifth in the Hockomock League with 14.9 points per game. She also added five rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. “Kiara has a lot of confidence from the players on her team and her coaching staff,” said head coach Jim Choquette. “She’s able to deliver each night on both ends of the court while always drawing the other teams’ best defenders. She has a very unique ability to produce each game.”

Sydney Gallery

A sophomore forward/center, Sydney Gallery has proven to be a versatile weapon for the lady Bulldogs. She averaged 10.7 points per game this season to go along with 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals. She also led the team in double-doubles and was named a league all-star. “She’s asked to guard multiple positions, play multiple positions, and is one of the best communicators on our team,” said Choquette.

Fay Gallery

Also a sophomore, Fay Gallery had an outstanding year, improving her shooting and playmaking ability. She finished the season with per-game averages of 11.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a team-high 2.3 steals. She was named an All-Hockomock honorable mention and has embraced her new role of point guard. “Fay has the ability to change games with her shooting, but overall, her minutes on the court were most valuable running our team,” said Choquette.

Wrestling

Eddie Marinilli

A living CHS legend, Marinilli returned after an injury-shortened junior campaign and laid waste to the competition at 152 pounds, winning every one of his matches right up until the All-State finals. In addition to winning another sectional and state title, he was also named the Outstanding Wrestler at the Lowell Holiday Tournament and finished his career with a strong showing at the New England Championships.

Zach Peters

A sophomore, Peters proved he could handle the weight of greater expectations and emerged as Canton’s No. 2 wrestler behind Marinilli. He started fast by winning the Marlboro Early Bird Tournament and was positioning himself for a deep postseason run when he unfortunately went down with an injury. Peters will be looked at to lead the Bulldogs when he returns to the mat in the winter of 2020-21.

Boys Swimming

Matt Thompson

A two-time league all-star as a junior, Thompson scored his first Hockomock title this season with a victory in the 200 freestyle and would go on to compete in that event at both sectionals and states. He also excelled in the 100-yard breaststroke and was a key member of multiple qualifying relay teams.

Javier Ferstler

Another junior and All-Hockomock selection, Ferstler was a constant source of points in team competitions while excelling in two events in particular — the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. He qualified for states in the former and sectionals in the latter and was a mainstay on the Bulldogs’ top-performing relay teams.

Girls Swimming

Shauna Harney

A freshman and already a league all-star, Harney burst onto the high school swimming scene with a dominant all-around season, qualifying for the postseason in seven events and winning the Hockomock title in the 200IM. She went on to compete in both the 200IM and backstroke at sectionals and states and performed well in both events. She also competed in two state-qualifying relays and helped lead the Bulldogs to a perfect (5-0) division record.

Jessica Hart

A three-time All-Hockomock selection, Hart delivered another outstanding season and was especially strong in the breaststroke, qualifying for both the sectional and state championships and placing just outside the top 10 in both tournaments. She was also a key member of two state-qualifying relays and a strong team leader.

Boys Indoor Track

Jonathan Chery

One of the program’s greatest success stories, Chery went from being a promising sprinter to an all-out stud in a memorable winter that took him all the way to the New England Championships. Along the way, he broke several school records and captured the state title in the 55-meter dash. He also placed second in the 300 and anchored the record-setting 4×200 relay.

Deyontai Dennis

A versatile and talented athlete, Dennis exceled in the sprints, middle distance, and in the high jump and long jump. He set a new school record in the long jump with a distance of 20’11.25” and went on to place second in that event at the D4 meet and 12th overall at All-States. He also competed at the divisionals as a member of the 4×400 relay team.

Junior Sainvil

An accomplished track athlete with “special” athleticism, Sainvil fought through injuries this season but still ended up with some remarkable achievements. Among them were a third-place finish in the 55m at the league meet and two top-12 placements (55m, long jump) at the divisionals. He also ran the lead leg in the record-setting 4×200 relay.

4×200 Relay Team

One of the most accomplished relays in school history, this year’s 4×200 team of Jonathan Chery, Junior Sainvil, Cam Sanchez and Zach Goldstein set the school record in the event and went on to capture the Hockomock League title while placing second at the Division 4 Championships and advancing to All-States.

Girls Indoor Track

Bronwyn Mahoney

A senior captain and multi-time all-star, Mahoney was once again the standard bearer for the girls track team this winter, dominating the shot put en route to a gold-medal performance at the Hockomock League Championships. Her winning distance of 35 feet was a career best, and she went on to compete in the event at the Division 4 meet, where she placed eighth overall.

Kayla Wong

Coming off a successful cross country season, Wong emerged as the leader of the distance crew during the indoor season and was recognized as an all-league honorable mention. She posted the fastest times in several events and competed at the divisional meet as a member of the 4×800 relay. “She took herself to new heights this season and her hard work and persistence has paid off,” said Coach Amico. “I am so excited to see what her senior spring season holds.”

Gymnastics

Emily MacKay

Only a freshman, MacKay made an immediate impact and garnered an all-league honorable mention in her first varsity season. In addition to being the team’s top performing all-around gymnast, she ended the season on a high note with team-best scores on the vault, bars and floor at the Hockomock Championships. “Emily focused her energy on improving her routines, and that hard work was evident during each meet,” said co-head coach Jen Abbott. “She was a great teammate and she should only improve throughout her career.”

Nikki Desjardins

A junior captain, Desjardins competed on the bars, beam, and vault and was solid in all three events while also providing valuable leadership to the team’s younger members. “We have seen tremendous growth from Nikki since her freshman year, as she has become more confident in herself, her abilities as a gymnast, and her leadership skills,” said Abbott. “Nikki’s easy laugh and friendly smile remind us that we can have fun while working hard and being dedicated.”

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