Conant’s hockey players have teamed up again with Monadnock and Fall Mountain to form a co-op team and the Mountaineers are having a solid season in Division III.
“The season has been great so far,” said Conant junior Kam Castricone. “Very fun group of guys. It has been difficult at times playing against some really good teams but we keep striving for perfection and making sure we are doing all the things we can to be a successful team.”
The Mountaineers are 5-5, right in the middle of the DIII pack. Their most recent win was a 5-2 victory over Laconia-Winnisquam-Interlakes at Keene Ice on Wednesday, during which Castricone scored his first career goal.
Mountaineer teammate celebrate Kam Castricone’s goal. Credit: BEN CONANT / For the Ledger-Transcript
“It felt absolutely amazing to finally get one in,” he said, “and the atmosphere when I scored was electric. It feels amazing and meaningful.”
Castricone is joined on the team by fellow Conant student-athletes Nicholas Garneau, Rylan Anderson, Brendan Robie and senior captain/goaltender Kaden Kirby. Last year was Kirby’s first season with the Mountaineers. Now, he has established himself as one of the division’s top goaltenders, keeping the team in games against high-level opponents more often than not. He made 29 saves in Wednesday’s win.
Goaltender Kaden Kirby in action. Credit: BEN CONANT / For the Ledger-Transcript
Goaltender Kaden Kirby in action. Credit: BEN CONANT / For the Ledger-Transcript
Goaltender Kaden Kirby in action. Credit: BEN CONANT / For the Ledger-Transcript
“It’s a huge responsibility, not only being the goalie but a captain that these boys can look up to,” said Kirby. “Everyone on our team has their own responsibility for us to win and mine is to keep us in these games.”
The Mountaineers’ Monadnock and Fall Mountain players are having a big impact as well, with lots of underclassmen putting in work. Junior captain Jamison Kottke had two goals against Laconia, and junior alternate captains Jonathan Joslyn and Wesley McWhirk are big contributors. Put them all together – like the orange, red and green hybrid Mountaineers jersey – and the co-op team’s got a good thing going.
“Our team goal is definitely to make a playoff run,” Kirby said. “Working with a brand new team, a playoff run would be huge for the younger kids.”
Monadnock-Fall Mountain-Conant (5-5) is at Belmont-Gilford (3-5-1) on Wednesday.
Kam Castricone carries the puck toward the opponent’s zone. Credit: BEN CONANT / For the Ledger-Transcript