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Local hockey players showcase their stuff at Hockey Night in Boston

By Staff | Aug 16, 2012

HAVERHILL, Mass. – As July faded into August, several area players laced up the skates to take part in the 38th Hockey Night in Boston summer showcase. The tournament brought together nearly 400 players from over two dozen states, as well as two Canadian provinces.

The town of Merrimack was well represented at the tournament, with four players skating at the event.

Merrimack High School stars Connor Powell and Domenic Valluzzi suited up for the Northeast squad. After the two combined for 80 points last season with the Tomahawks, Valluzzi said he was happy to be able to play with his friend and teammate during the summer months.

“I love playing with him,” Valluzzi said of Powell. “He’s probably one of the best kids I’ve ever played with, and playing with him this summer, we can only get better.”

Despite not advancing beyond the group stage, Powell said that he hopes to take what he learned at Hockey Night and improve on it going into the winter season.

“We’ve got to keep getting our offense good,” Powell said. “Keep moving the puck; not be selfish.”

Powell and Valluzzi played on a team that featured players from four New England states. Valluzzi said that being able to wear the blue of Merrimack was a cool experience.

“It gets us noticed,” Valluzzi said. “I mean it’s showing where you’re from; who you are. A lot of kids ask where you’re from and you get to show them your colors. It’s a good time.”

Merrimack was also represented by Josh Roy and Brett Glendye.

Roy, a rising junior at Bishop Guertin, and Glendye, a senior goalie and a teammate of Powell and Valluzzi at Merrimack, suited up for Northern New England. Both played a role in propelling the squad to the quarterfinals before they bowed
out to the eventual champions, Central/West.

Roy said that almost all of the players at the tournament were skilled and he learned that he has to get bigger if he wants to play at a higher level.

“I’m going to take away that I need to get stronger and work a lot harder if I want to get up to the ability that I need to,” Roy said.

Glendye has started all three of his years at Merrimack, and he said that playing with some of his NHIAA rivals at Hockey Night was been a good experience.

“It’s good because you get to know them,” Glendye said. “Next year I’ll be able to talk to them after games.”

While Merrimack had a large group of players at Hockey Night, Hudson and Milford were represented as well.

Hudson native Chris Zuccaro suited up for the TeamOne program. Coming off a phenomenal season in which he notched 69 points and won a national championship with his junior club, the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, Zuccaro said that he wants to take away the experience of playing at Hockey Night and use it to improve on the ice as he changes junior teams to the Northern Cyclones.

Brad Radin, a goalie from Milford, played last season for the Salem Ice Dogs of the Empire Junior Hockey League and skated with Zuccaro for TeamOne. He said that the level of hockey at Hockey Night in Boston is equal to or maybe better than the level of hockey he plays against in the EJHL.

“It’s roughly the same (talent level), but it’s a bit faster because the kids are from all over,” Radin said. “It’s pretty good hockey.”

As far as the future; Radin said he’s ready to go with the flow.

“Wherever hockey takes me,” Radin said with a smile.

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