The players for the Nashua North-Souhegan hockey team couldn't wait to take the ice for the first time for the season as the first official practice got underway on Monday at Conway Arena. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Ethan Robinson was sitting in class on Monday, just watching every second tick off the clock.

“I was just waiting for that final bell,” he said, “ready to come here and skate.”

And that’s exactly what he and his Nashua South-Pelham hockey teammates did yesterday at Conway Arena, with Nashua North-Souhegan taking the ice after they were done as the 2024-25 winter sports season got fully underway with practices/tryouts all over the area and the state.

Robinson, a goalie for the Kings, had his excitement building all weekend.

“I got super excited,” he said. “I couldn’t fall asleep (Sunday night) I was so excited. I was really excited to get back on the ice.”

And so it begins. Swimming and bowling had the head start of about 10 days but the rest of the sports caught up. At Nashua South, the lobby outside the Belanger Gym was a zoo as track athletes and others were wrapping up and getting ready to go home, but no one was leaving just yet. In the gym itself, Panthers boys hoop coach Nate Mazerolle gave his prospective players a season introductory talk, and then the basketballs began bouncing.

Back at Conway Arena, after the Kings were done, it was time for the Saber-Titans to take the ice, and it would be under the same coach as last year, Chris Zarlenga. That’s been a rarity for that program – only John Coughlin and Bill Kotsifas coached two consecutive seasons over the last 10 years.

“It feels good, it’s definitely really exciting to be one of those coaches like Bill who’s coming back and doing it,” Zarlenga said. “I said from the beginning I want to stay here and do this for a long time, I live in town, and I’m happy I’m achieving it.”

The Saber-Titans barely missed the Division I tournament last year, losing out thanks to a heartbreaking OT loss vs. Trinity. The leading goal scorer from that team, however, Jacob Landry, did not return for his senior season, opting to play junior hockey instead.

“It’s one of those things in this area of New England where there are so many other teams out there,” Zarlenga said. “That’s what every public school is going to battle.”

But he has 26 players to take into battle, a good number. And since he’s returning and not starting anew, Zarlenga can improve on things he felt he could have done better last year but doesn’t have to take too much time as back then to implement his system.

“We can expand on things,” he said. “We can get a little more complicated now that the kids know us, the returners know us.”

Last year was Zarlenga’s first season as a head coach. There was a nervous excitement leading up to the first day.

“Now I think it’s just pure excitement,” Zarlenga said. “You have a lot of new kids, you know they’re nervous so you want to be excited for them, but we’re not nervous as coaches.”

Nashua South boys basketball coach Nate Mazerolle talks with his prospective players on the first day of tryouts/practice at the Belanger Gym on Monday. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

After the South boys were done with their first practice, the South girls hoop team took over the Belanger.

“The first day of the season is always exciting,” said Panthers coach John Bourgeois. “It’s great to be back in the gym with a fantastic group of kids, laying the foundation and setting the tone for what’s ahead.

“The energy is high and we’re ready to get to work.”

“A little tough getting back into it, but I love it, I love the energy out there,” Robinson said, adding he did a bit of conditioning and stretch in the days and weeks before yesterday. “It’s nice to get back on the ice.”