2009-10 Season Summary
The 2009-10 Varsity Hockey Team embodied the school motto; Aspirando et Perseverando by achieving a record eighth New England Division I Prep Championship. On the way to an 18-7-4 record and a New England title, the team was able to overcome adversity and reach their potential just in time to claim another championship. The team was lead by captains Quinn Smith and KJ Tiefenwerth.
The team opened the season with a win at home against a much improved Albany Academy team by a 6-3 score with Quinn Smith scoring twice. The next day, a late Chad Hollenshade goal sparked the team past South Kent 7-5; with Mike Pereira notching a hat trick against his former mates. A tough 3-2 road loss at Taft followed by a 2-0 shutout of Trinity-Pawling by Josh Dionne completed the next week. Avon was able to tame a physical Deerfield team 4-1 as Greg Gozzo, Kyle Quick, and Mike Pereira scored.
In the first round of the Christmas Classic, Quinn Smith had the hat trick to pace a 5-2 win over Loomis Chaffee. The next day was a difficult one as the team dropped a 3-1 decision to Kent and then a 6-1 loss to Tabor. Still reeling the next day, the team got whacked by St. Paul’s 5-2. After a friendly outdoor exhibition at Fenway Park with Taft the team went on a needed two week vacation.
Returning to action in January, Avon was frustrated to only gain a 4-4 tie with Taft despite two goals from Pereira. Even more exasperating was a 5-4 loss to Hotchkiss after carrying a two goal lead in the third period. At this point in the season the team’s record stood at 5-5-1. The next team on the schedule was the #1 ranked Kent team. The Winged Beavers began their comeback part of the season with a 4-1 statement win over the Lions. Quinn Smith had two goals and KJ Tiefenwerth and George Welles the others. The next home game saw the team struggle to beat a scrappy Pomfret team 5-4. Mike Pereira had four points in this game and KJ Tiefenwerth had the winner. On the road at NMH, Quinn Smith and Cam Hatch sparked the team with two goals apiece. A 41 save performance by Josh Dionne led the team to a 5-1 victory at Berkshire.
A huge crowd on a Monday at Westminster witnessed a 2-2 tie. The skating Beavers thumped Loomis 9-3 with Greg Gozzo getting the hat trick. Avon next defeated a talented Choate team in a sizzling 4-1 home contest. Just before the long winter weekend, the team lost a heart-breaking 3-2 overtime tilt to their rivals from Simsbury.
After a five day break, Avon journeyed to Deerfield to come away with a 3-3 tie despite putting 53 shots on net. The team gained a crucial home victory over Gunnery by a 6-0 score. Josh Dionne excelled in goal and Mike Pereira and George Welles each scored twice. The momentum was derailed by a 2-1 overtime loss at Choate and a 1-1 tie at Salisbury with Chad Hollenshade’s power play goal the only Avon Tally. The team needed to win their last three games and get some help to get in the prep championship tournament. Josh Hathaway shutout Kingswood-Oxford 11-0. KJ Tiefenwerth had the hat trick in a 10-1 romp over Canterbury and Mark Naclerio led the way with two goals in the 9-2 whipping of Loomis Chaffee.
Avon barley managed to get into the New England Prep Championship as the number 7 seed. The playoff march began with a 7-3 pounding at Gunnery with Morgan Mullen getting the hat trick. A semifinal pulsating win over Noble and Greenough saw Mark Naclerio knock home a Greg Gozzo pass with 131 left for the 5-4 win. On Sunday March 7, the team completed their quest back to the top of the prep school pyramid with a stunning 4-1 victory over NMH. Hundreds of students, alumni, faculty and friends filled the Salem Icenter to witness the team’s 8th New England Championship and made the arena seem like a home game at Jennings Fairchild Rink in Avon. It was an amazing turnaround season for the team and a realization that perseverance results in aspirations being achieved.
The seniors on the championship team (Dionne, Hodgkinson, Debello, Hollenshade, MacGregor, Masotta, McGuire, Mimms, Pereira, Quick, Smith, and Tiefenwerth) will be missed next year but there is a strong nucleus of underclassmen returning. 
