LYNNFIELD —  Don’t for one second think that the Pioneers’ boys hockey team has forgotten the way the 2022-2023 season ended. The No. 2 seed in the MIAA Division 3 state tournament, Lynnfield’s ride skidded to a screeching halt in the Elite 8, losing to Cape Ann League rival Triton, 5-2.

All you need to do is ask senior captains Joe Raffa and Jack Carpenter.

“It’s going to be huge. Dec. 9. 12 o’clock. At Triton,” centerman Raffa said. “It’s been on all of our calendars for a long time.” 

“That’s definitely been on my calendar since they knocked us out last year,” left winger Carpenter said. “They came out strong and beat us at our game. Obviously this year, we want some revenge and to get them back.”

In addition to Raffa and Carpenter, this year’s team will be led by junior captains Will Norton (left wing) and Aidan Norton (defenseman), as well as senior assistant captains Dylan Damiani (left wing) and Jack Neenan (center). 

Head coach Jon Gardner describes Carpenter as a “very spirited leader” and Raffa as having a “quiet and calming influence.”

Gardner added his returning players represent “a ton of firepower with a ton of speed and depth,” and that the Pioneers will lean on goaltending, team defense and special teams.”

The firepower no doubt begins with Carpenter, who led the team in goals (22) and points (36) a season ago. Will Norton (15 goals, 5 assists), senior Jarret Scopettuolp (6 goals, 12 assists), junior Tim Sullivan (4 goals, 11 assists), junior Aidan Norton (4 goals, 10 assists), Damiani (7 goals, 7 assists), and Raffa (10 goals, 10 assists) will, likely, also be key factors offensively. 

Gardner got his first chance to judge the team’s talent under game conditions last week, with scrimmages against Danvers on Thursday and Marblehead on Saturday, won by the Magicians in a shootout. 

“You can’t ask for a better Saturday for preparation,” Gardner said. “We got to use our special teams and the overtime was great, but I thought we came out a little slow. Marblehead is a good team and a tick up from our Thursday scrimmage against Danvers. That’s not any slight to Danvers, but Marblehead is really strong and physical.”

“I was disappointed with their first goal as we had a chance to skate it out and flubbed it, but then we took over and had a lot of chances. Their goalie was very good, but I think we had the better of the play. It would have been nice to finish the game, but you can’t take a penalty late like we did. There might have been a little fatigue there.”

“We were really just trying to feel it out and get used to the speed, but it was a good game,” Raffa said. “We have some new guys, so it was good to get them adjusted to the speed and pace, and it was pretty good overall.”

Sophomore Michael Marenghi and freshman Angelo Colvino split time in net.

“Michael is very quick and explosive in the crease [and] Angelo may be one of the most polished freshman goalies we have had yet,” Gardner said. “He really made some good saves today, especially late. All of our goalies played well today. Marblehead’s two, our two goalies. This should be a very healthy competition between our two keepers for the next three years.” 

Carpenter agreed.

“Both of our goalies played well today. Obviously, they are trying to work things out, but for a sophomore and a freshman to give up only two goals in a game is pretty special,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter, who transferred from St. Mary’s last year as a junior, feels the strength of the team is its front-line depth. 

“It’s definitely our strong suit,” he said. “We can roll out all of our lines and pretty much match up with anyone in Division 3. I like our chances there.”

Gardner said he expects Lynnfield, Newburyport, Triton and Essex Tech to be strong again in the Cape Ann League, and the Pioneers will continue to work hard in the preseason to be ready to compete.

“The goal of preseason is to keep building. We have another scrimmage Wednesday against Wakefield, so that will be another opportunity to keep building and then, obviously, it will be a big one against Triton to begin the season,” Gardner said.

Raffa, a four-year varsity veteran, feels the Pioneers will be “good to go” from the get-go.

“We lost Lucas Cook and Drew Damiani, our two captains, so we have some holes to fill,” Raffa said. “Again, we have some young guys back there, but we’ll adjust.”