Gill St. Bernard’s 2021-22 preview: Knights look to continue success

GILL ST. BERNARD’S KNIGHTS

Head coach: Chris Wiggins/Greg DaSilva, sixth year

Division: Haas

Last year: Gill St. Bernard’s finished 3-4-2, with the same record in the Haas Division. Its season was shut down due to COVID-19 concerns just prior to the Haas Cup playoffs.

Key losses: Matt Cooper, G; Liam Jones, D; Brenen Lavoie, F.

Top returners: Matt Bloomenthal, D, Sr.; Porter Clark, D, So.; Adam La Tournous, F, Jr.; Brad Matthews, D, So.; Christian Mote, F, Sr.; Logan Mote, F, Sr.; Michael Scarpati, F, So.; Alex Steinberg, G, Sr.; Henry Smith, D, So.

Outlook: Gill St. Bernard’s has been a program on the rise the last few years, reaching the Haas Cup final in 2019-20.

The Knights followed up that success with an up-and-down season last year, which was brought to an early conclusion due to COVID-19 concerns before the Haas Cup playoffs. It graduated a solid core of seniors from last year’s group, but there is also a good amount of returning talent for a team that has hopes of qualifying for the Haas Cup and state playoffs.

It returns the team’s leading scorer from last year in Christian Mote (6 g., 5 a.) along with Logan Mote (4 g., 2 a.). Those two will lead the forwards group which includes junior Adam La Tournous and sophomore Michael Scarpati.

Defensively look for senior Matt Bloomenthal (3 g., 1 a.) to see most of the minutes. Sophomores Porter Clark, Brad Matthews, and Henry Smith are all promising players on the blue line. Senior Alex Steinberg will take over the full-time duties in net after splitting time with since-graduated Matt Cooper last year.

Overall, look for Gill St. Bernard’s to be in the mix in the Haas Division once again this season. While it has lost some important players to graduation in the last two years, it still has enough players that have been a part of the last two seasons to make it a formidable opponent in the Haas.

E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com