12/7 – Andover: 2, Pomfret: 2
12/8 – Andover: 4, Albany Academy: 1
12/11 – Andover: 3, Thayer: 2
Boys Hockey (3-1-0) faced Pomfret and Albany Academy at the Jamboree last weekend, tying against the former and winning against the latter. Following the Jamboree, Andover also took home a victory in their game against Thayer Academy on Wednesday.
Tyler Miocevich ’26 discussed how the team prepared for the Jamboree. Miocevich attributed the team’s success during the weekend to the coaches having mentally prepared them through the countless battle drills organized that week.
“I’d say that no matter what we had a winning mindset. We were going into that wanting to come out of it 2-0 [games]. So we knew that we were gonna have to do whatever it took to get there. That meant playing at our highest level, playing 110 percent effort, and just giving it our all throughout the weekend,” said Miocevich.
During the first period against Pomfret, Miocevich felt the team was not playing to its full potential, falling behind 1-0 by the beginning of the second period. However, the team was determined to catch up and was ultimately able to conclude the game with a 2-2 tie.
“I’d say the first game against Pomfret in the Jamboree was definitely something that we had to overcome because going into it, I don’t think we gave our best effort in the first period, but then we, we battled back through the second and third to kind of overcome that deficit and get back into the game, ending up tying it at the end,” said Miocevich.
Matthew Piotrowski ’27 similarly credited the success of Sunday’s game against Albany to the overall chemistry and work of the team. Other than being scored against once due to some miscommunication on the ice, Andover controlled the rest of the game, ending the match with a 4-1 win.
“It was a pretty good game. I would say we dominated the majority of the game. The only goal that they had scored was a little bit of miscommunication. Everyone on the team played. I think it was a team effort in that game. One [first line] played really well. But we rolled four [lines]. So, honestly, if it was anything, I would say maybe the fourth line. They did a pretty good job against the competition,” said Piotrowski.
Miocevich also reflected on the game against Thayer and felt that the team did not build off the momentum of its first goal in the first period, which led it to fall to a 2-1 deficit. However, similar to the game against Pomfret, Andover overcame the hardships in order to snatch the victory.
“From the start we were, I think we were moving. We obviously got that quick goal at the start which I think got to our heads a little bit because we kind of took our foot off the gas there. But back in the dressing room after the first period, I think the coach rallied us together. And from the second period on, we were. We were moving, we were going and I don’t think they stood much of a chance after we got our stuff together,” said Miocevich.
Russell Louie ’27 added to Miocevich’s point by applauding Rui Han ’25, who scored two of the three goals, and Chase Anderson ’25, who stopped forty-five shorts, for both being major contributors to the team’s success.
“It was a hard battle. We were tied for a lot of the game and only scored in the last couple minutes to win. Rui Han scored the final goal to win the game. Well, I think Rui played really well. He had two goals. And so did our goalie Chase Anderson. He backed our net and kept all the pucks out. He was monumental in our win,” said Russell.
Reflecting on the games this past week, Piotrowski feels the team could continue to improve upon defense and relieve some pressure from the goalie by clearing pucks from the defensive zone and limiting turnovers in the neutral zone.
“As of now, there hasn’t we haven’t really had too many issues. We’ve overall been pretty solid. We haven’t had any issues. There haven’t been any real defying things. Maybe the only thing I can think of is recently, it was a little bit of a struggle getting the puck out of the zone, defensively. And we [need to] limit turnovers in the neutral zone,” said Piotrowski.
Being a new Upper, Miocevich also commented on the friendly competition that the team fosters and how everyone has come together as a family despite it being very early in the season. Because of its shared goal of competing at the highest level possible, the team has become close to one another, allowing for intensity, determination, and teamwork to fill the atmosphere.
“I just say it’s such an open and inclusive and just a competitive environment that everyone feels at home there and that when we get on the ice no matter what the team’s like in the dressing room, we’re still out there to compete against each other, and the spirit is really high in practice, just with the competitive nature of it, and then when we’re on the ice as a team during the games, it’s just everyone kind of comes together as a family, and has one goal in mind, and that’s to win the game,” said Miocevich.
Andover Boys Hockey looks to battle New Hampton away this upcoming Saturday.
