What do the names Austin Ricci and Tom Newton signify? Any guesses?
Answer: A sign that not even the Bishop Guertin High School boys ice hockey program is immune from the effects of junior hockey and prep school defections.
That was always the case, but those defections seem to have hit the Cardinals a little harder over the years. They haven’t been in the Division I finals since back-to-back titles in 2007-08, and last year the Cards were mere mortals in getting pushed around and out by Londonderry in the state tourney prelims.
“I think the numbers are still there (about 50 came out this year, which is about the combined number for Nashua North and South),” Cards coach Gary Bishop said. “But what you’re getting is so many kids opting to go to prep schools and junior hockey, so the trickle down effect comes down to high school hockey. Anyplace you want to look, it’s affecting it.”
True, but the Cards, 4-2 going into Wednesday’s game at Londonderry, have always lost that good player, usually after his junior season, but have come up with another.![]()
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