The O-Zone

Knights Tie Andover in Hockey Showdown

Andover and North Andover skated to a 4-4 tie yesterday in a holiday weekend matinee.

In a holiday weekend matinee game, the Andover High School Warriors and Scarlet Knights of North Andover played an dramatic game at Merrimack College that went down to the wire.  The North Andover High hockey team started off the season 6-0-1 but after a 4-4 tie against Andover yesterday, they haven’t found the win column in their last three games. The Knights and Warriors tied 4-4 in a game full of momentum and emotional swings. North Andover was up 2-1 at the end of the first 20 minutes of play before Andover tied things up in the second. Tied at two going into the third, each team potted a pair in a thrilling third that saw the teams knotted at four by period’s end. For the Knights, Nick Pino, Tristan Stewart, Dan Rivet, and Cody Aponas…

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Athlete of the Week: Ryan Sweeney

The junior forward has 10 points this season for the 6-1-1 North Andover hockey team.

North Andover High’s junior forward Ryan Sweeney scored the Knights’ only goal in their most recent game against Lynnfield. On Wednesday, Sweeney scored his third goal of the season in a 1-1 tie. The Knights’ record is 6-1-1 this season under second year head coach Peter Marfione. Sweeney has seven assists this season for a total of 10 points. His best games of the season include a two goal effort in a season opening, 5-1 win over Pentucket and a three assist performance in a 4-1 win over Masco in the Haverhill Christmas Tourney. Sweeney and the Knights look to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon. They will play a matinee game against Masco. The puck drops at 1:15pm at the Haverhill Valley Forum. With a promising start to the …

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The O-Zone

Six NAHS Teams in Action Wednesday

It will be a wild Wednesday for the Scarlet Knights.

The NAHS winter teams are approaching mid-season and that means they are busy, busy, busy. Today the boys ski team will be in action at Bradford Ski Hill, but watch out because six North Andover teams are in action Wednesday. Girls Skiing At Bradford Ski Hill, the girls ski team will have its second meet of the season against Haverhill High School. The meet begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday and the forecast calls for a perfect skiing temperature of about 35 degrees. Boys and Girls Indoor Track Both squads will take on Andover Wednesday. The meet gets underway tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Warriors will host the event. It will be both teams’ first competition against Andover this season. Girls Basketball The Knights will be on the road at …

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Athlete of the Week: Joey Daccord

Goalie Daccord has given up only one goal in North Andover's three games this season.

The hockey Knights of North Andover are 3-0 in their first three games of the 2011-12 season. A big reason for that success is their young goaltender Joey Daccord. In three games, Daccord has recorded save totals of 22, 21, and 16 in wins over Pentucket, North Reading, and Whittier. Daccord has only given up one goal this season. The lone goal was surrendered to Pentucket in the first period of game number one on the schedule. Since then, in eight consecutive periods, Daccord is yet to have given up a goal. Daccord and the Knights are back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 27 against Wilmington.

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Merrimack Signs Partnership with Fox College Sports to Broadcast Three Hockey Games Live

The following was submitted by Merrimack College Athletics.

Merrimack College has inked a partnership with Fox College Sports to broadcast three hockey games live from Lawler Arena. All of the game will be created and produced in-house by Merrimack and Pack Network. In addition to last Saturday’s game against Union, the January 29 game against Providence and February 3 game against Boston University will be televised live on the Fox College Sports Network. Each of these games and the January 14 game against Maine will also be televised live in high definition on WBIN-TV locally. Merrimack is the only Hockey East school to reach a contract to broadcast some of its games nationally. Locally, fans can find WBIN on Channel 18 (811 in HD) on Comcast, Channel 6 (506 in HD) on Verizon Fios and 50 on …

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Limited Tickets on Sale to Merrimack Holiday Skate at Fenway Park

Take this opportunity to skate on the rink at Fenway Park.

The following was submitted by Merrimack College Athletics.  Less than 100 tickets are available for purchase to Merrimack’s first-ever Holiday Skate at Fenway Park on January 3. As part of a special fundraiser for Merrimack Athletics, tickets are $250 to skate on the ice at Fenway Park from 6-8:30 p.m. on January 3. Those interested in attending a special reception only at the historic ballpark can purchase tickets for just $75. Fans will be joined by members of the Merrimack hockey team on the ice. Click here for complete registration information or call the ticket office at 978-837-5324 for more information. 

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The O-Zone

Knight Skaters Ready for 2011 Puck Drop

The girls and boys hockey teams are on the cusp of their 2011-12 seasons.

Girls Hockey A dedicated group of North Andover High School girls is gearing up for another winter of hockey. The girls may not have their own have their own team, but thanks to permission from the MIAA, they are in a cooperative program with four other schools. Georgetown, Hamilton-Wenham, Masconomet, and Newburyport girls all team up to form the cooperative team. Putting aside their rivalry with Masconomet, as they did last season, was a willing commitemtnt the girls made to be able to competitively play the game that they love. The girls will open up their season in the Pingree School Holiday Tournament this weekend in South Hamilton. Their first game will be tomorrow afternoon at 3:30pm. Other key games this season include tilts with …

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Three Local Skating Opportunities

Spend an afternoon skating with the Warriors, Santa, or your friends and family.

The holidays are synonymous with ice skating. Some prefer the fast action of hockey and some enjoy the elegance and grace of figure skating. Whatever be the case, there are some of us that are truly at home on skates. Casual skating is great exercise and an excellent opportunity to work out your legs. Skating can be invigorating and precise or also relaxed and leisurely.  So if you haven’t laced up in a while or need to get in the holiday spirit, check out one of these great skating opportunities. 1. Skate with Santa and the Warriors Lawler Arena on the campus of Merrimack College has seen some incredible games in the last few years. The Warriors have had a great home record and soared to the top ranking in the nation recently. On Saturday…

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Top Ranked Warriors Fall Twice to Providence

The top team in the nation lost its first two games of the season over the weekend.

Merrimack College went into a weekend series against Providence undefeated and ranked as the top team in the nation. Over the weekend, the Friars stripped Merrimack of both of those titles. On Friday, the Warriors visited Providence and lost its first game of the season in overtime. Jesse Todd scored for Merrimack in the third period to tie things up at one. One minute and 54 seconds into overtime, Ross Mauermann ended Merrimack’s undefeated streak. On Saturday, the matchup shifted to North Andover where the Friars took the momentum of the overtime win and embarrassed the Warriors on their home ice. Providence scored four consecutive times in the second period, all on the power play. Connor Toomey of Billerica was the only Warrior to bury …

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