While few in numbers, the Malden High School players on the Revere High School Patriots ice hockey team have done well. The Golden Tornado on the team have helped RHS to a record of 5-7-1 so far in the season. The Patriots are led by head coach Joe Ciccarello. MHS sports teams usually play in the Greater Boston League, though as a member of the Patriots, the Golden Tornado on the team currently play in the Northeastern Conference.
While they are the minority on the team, the MHS boys are proud to represent their school. Junior James Pandolfo expressed how being able to “see people from Malden at [their] home games at Cronin Skating Rink [is touching] because [one] sees that people care enough to drive over there and support [the boys].” Though the co-op team is made up of students from two schools, freshman Marc Giordano admitted that the team “does not feel that way at all, because [they] all see [each other] as one family.” It is not the Malden or Revere team; it is just one big hockey team for them.
The boys’ true love for hockey can be seen in the tenacity of their plays. Sophomore Michael Giordano confessed how “[he loves] the feeling of going down the ice and knowing [he has] a team behind [him].” Not only is hockey just a sport to them, but as freshman Zachary Rufo explained, “it is a way to [escape] from everything else [in life]” and give him something fun to focus on. Pandolfo even went on to say that rather than friendship, a brotherhood has formed on the team, which was gained from “the feelings of accomplishment” the Patriots have shared.
Unanimously, the boys’ goal for the season was proclaimed to be “qualifying for the state tournament.” Pandolfo also shared that the team wished “to improve off a tough season last year [so this year] was a time of transition.” He went on to happily say how the boys have definitely improved skills and techniques, now that the season has had substantial progress.
With the season nearing its end, the boys have made many fond memories, whether it be during practice or being able to make great plays during games. Michael Giordano’s favorite moment of the season so far is without a doubt “winning the East Boston Cancer tournament and getting the trophy,” as it symbolized how far they’d come so far as a team and proved they had the skills to take on any opponent. For Pandolfo, the match against Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School was truly memorable because “[he] and fellow MHS student [sophomore] Michael Goroshko combined for 5 of [the] 6 goals [scored that night].”
Currently, there are no seniors from MHS who play for the Patriots, so the group is built up of mainly underclassmen. In the years to come, MHS expects much out of its players and wishes the team all the best for the rest of the season, as well as many other seasons to come.
