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Ken’s Quiz: Ice Hockey Success Came Early

Jan 29, 2018 06:00AM ● By Kenneth Hamwey
written by KEN HAMWEY, Bulletin Sports Editor
 
The high school ice hockey season is in full swing, so what better time to reflect on Bellingham’s tradition in the sport. In this quiz, we’ll focus on some of its great players and coaches who guided the Blackhawks to success in the Tri Valley League.
 
Unlike some of the school’s other traditional sports, ice hockey at Bellingham High lagged a bit behind baseball, football and basketball. It became a varsity sport during the 1978-79 school year.
 
Thanks to the tireless efforts of men like Roland Giles and the late Jerry Mayhew, the sport was extremely popular at the youth level. Their coaching and administrative work played a vital role when the Blackhawks were ready to compete at the varsity level, and, in only its second year of play, Bellingham became an Eastern Mass. Division 2 quarterfinalist and played in the tourney at Boston Garden.
 
Although this year’s varsity squad is young and is experiencing its share of struggles, there’s optimism that the team, which is a co-op venture with Blackstone-Millville, can gain experience and earn a playoff berth, as the 2015-16 BHS sextet achieved two years ago.
 
Try your luck with this quiz, designed for loyal hockey fans who might have witnessed some of the school’s terrific clashes in the early days of the program’s history.
 
  1. Who was Bellingham High’s first ice hockey coach?
  2. Who is Bellingham High’s all-time leader in career points?
  3. This goaltender became one of the Blackhawks’ best coaches. Who is he?
  4. What year did Bellingham High win the TVL title?
  5. Who is Bellingham High’s all-time leader in career assists?
  6. This outstanding goaltender was a co-captain with Rick Gentile for the 1989-90 season and now lives in Sweden. Who is he?
  7. In only its second year of play, Bellingham became an Eastern Mass. Division 2 quarterfinalist and played in the tourney at Boston Garden. Which team beat BHS?
  8. A former all-star forward, he coached Bellingham for three seasons, 1989-91. Name him.
  9. He played hockey at Bellingham High, where he graduated in 2012, for four varsity seasons and left an indelible impression—129 career points, a three-time Tri Valley League all-star, and a league and team MVP. His 129 points put him in a third-place tie with Brian Martin on the school’s career scoring list. Who is he?
  10. His 26 goals and 37 assists gave him 63 points, the most in one season by any skater. Who is he?
 

ANSWERS

  1. Roger Guillemette.
  2. Justin Park (166).
  3. Brian Sherlock.
  4. 1996-97 (the team’s overall record was 18-3-2).
  5. Bob McManus (100).
  6. Neil McClafferty.
  7. Oliver Ames beat BHS, 5-2.
  8. Pat Morrison.
  9. Tyler Colacchio.
  10. Bob McManus.
So... how'd you do?
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