This winter season, the Boston Latin School Boys’ Hockey team made the best of a difficult situation to have a successful season. With an overall record of 3-5, including some tough losses, the team was able to turn their season around to win the Dual County League (DCL) championship despite the obstacles that COVID-19 brought.

Amidst the unpredictability of the pandemic, the boys were uncertain of how they’d perform this winter. 

Colin McAdams (I) explains how COVID-19 impacted the team, saying, “[It] had a massive impact because we didn’t have any preparation time, which is a big factor every year. Also we had a shortened season, which was a shame as we were just beginning to figure out how to play together as a team. It was hard to overcome because there wasn’t much we could do, but we just practiced and played every day as if we wouldn’t be able to tomorrow.”

In light of these challenges, the team focused on matters within their control, working their hardest at practice and putting their best foot forward in games. The season turned out to be quite strenuous, as the boys would either be practicing or playing a game almost every day of the week.

“We knew this season would be a learning process, but other than that we just tried to focus on how to make the team and ourselves better,” comments Noel Gallagher (I). 

Eventually, the team’s hard work paid off with memorable wins during the season playoffs. In the end, the team defeated Wayland High School to officially win the DCL championship.

Elaborating on the significance of  the achievement, Gallagher states, “Winning the DCL really meant the world for us. We struggled a lot and I would consider this year to be a rebuilding year. We had a very young team and all those guys stepped up in a big way. For us to win and for me and the other seniors to end our career like that was awesome. It made our season and year to win like that.”

It was not only a successful season for the team as a whole, but also for several individual team members. McAdams, Gallagher and Tom Butler (I) were all named DCL All-Stars, and each played critical roles in guiding the team towards a league championship. Although all three athletes will graduate this coming May, there are still high expectations for the team’s younger players. 

“We have a solid group of younger guys that are great players now and will continue to improve in the next few years,” says Butler.

With the goal of winning several more League championships, Boys’ Hockey is certainly a team to watch. Gallagher reasserts this fact, stating, “[I] feel confident the young guys will build the program up for years to come.”