Hockey Night in Boston Series: Part Three

This is the third and final part of Patch’s weeklong look at North Andoverites competing at the Hockey Night in Boston Major Showcase.

At this year’s Major Showcase there were less than 50 sophomores. North Andover’s Conrad Jepson was one of them.

The rising sophomore at Central Catholic donned the purple and black of the Mass/New England Sophomore team in the Massachusetts division. He played against some of the best talent in the state including numerous top prep school players and several division-1 commits.

“It’s been a great experience just playing with older guys,” Jepson said. “It’s making me a lot better.”

Jepson and his team did hole their own. They defeated the National Sophomores 9-4, tied North Shore 3-3, and lost two other games by a goal apiece.

“It’s difficult,” Jepson said of the competition,” I’m definitely enjoying it.”

Also representing North Andover, and North Andover High School, was Dan O’Conner. O’Conner played for the Suburban team.

Jepson and O’Conner met in an opening round game with O’Conner’s Suburban team eking out a 2-1 win. Suburban finished the tournament with 3-3-1 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs to TeamOne Hockey White 4-2.

O’Conner said that being able to represent the town of North Andover at such a prestigious tournament was a unique experience.

“It’s really cool to be that one guy,” O’Conner said. “Other kids from my town are on different teams, but I’m the only North Andover kid on this team so I have to represent my town and it means a lot.”