Durfee Hilltoppers - Varsity Hockey: Video Clips/Pictures: The Big Six (1999-2000)
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(l to r) Craig Feldman, Tommy Sousa, John Friar, Kevin Marques, Jay Crowley, Dave Costa
***The following story was printed in the Fall River Herald News the night Durfee opened play in the South Sectionals.
DEFENSE drives Durfee success!
By Tim Geary
HERALD NEWS Staff Reporter
They don't see their names in the headlines and the only time anyone notices them is when they make a mistake, but John Friar, Craig feldman, Jay Crowley, Tommy Sousa and Kevin Marques may represent the biggest reason why Durfee High opens the Division One South Sectional tournament tonight as the top seed.
The 17-1-0 Hilltoppers meet Weymouth High at Gallo Rink at 6pm.
The Hilltoppers have won 17 straight games since their opening-game loss to Coyle-Cassidy and in the process set the bar by which all future Durfee teams will have to measure themselves.
Certainly the forwards, led by top scorer Kevin Narciso, along with Jimmy Connolly, Kevin DaSilva and Jay Amaral, have been an integral part of that success.
But its been the defesne that has driven Durfee all year, a largely anonymous defense which is not flashy, but extremely effective.
"Those guys and (senior) Dave Costa, whenever we've needed him back there, have played very well for us," said Durfee coach Steve Maurer, who is completing his 13th year as head coach.
"Our forwards have done a great job all year. They all come back and check and do their part, but our strength lies with our defense."
It starts with Friar in goal.
The senior netminder has posted a minuscule goals-against-average of 1.39 this year and has five shutouts.
"He doesn't get peppered night in and night out," said Maurer, "but on nights when we played good teams, he risen to the occasion."
Friar was at his best in the second meeting with Coyle-Cassidy and remarkable in both wins over Brockton.
"Sometimes, when the team is down, he's been there to pick us up," said Maurer. "He has five shutouts, but he would have had more had we not taken him out of games late when we had big leads and wanted to give our freshman goalie some experience."
The unquestioned leader on the back line is Feldman, a solid senior defenseman who never seems to be out of position or make a mistake.
"He's our quarterback and the best defenseman I've ever coached at Durfee, by far," said Maurer.
Feldman has the potential to score goals and has one of the best shots from the point. He has scored four goals and setup ten others, but scoring is not his role.
"He makes great decisons with the puck and doesn't turn it over," said Maurer. "He handles the oposition's top forwards and if he's back,and we're caught (up ice), I feel comfortable knowing he'll make the right decision."
Crowley, a junior, is perhaps the most gifted physically of the defensemen.
A strong skater and stickhandler, Crowley, with two goals and 14 assists, has a booming slapshot from the point and isn't afraid to throw his weight around.
"He has great hockey knowledge," said Maurer. "He's very aggressive and he doesn't get beat very often."
Battling asthma, Crowley hasn't missed a beat.
"He's had some tough nights"(asthma), admitted Maurer, "but he always comes to play every night."
A year ago, Sousa was brand new to varsity hockey and a forward to boot.
Because of an injury to veteran Keith Oliver, he was converted to defense.
"I have to give Tommy a lot of credit," said Maurer. "He came out of nowhere. When we lost Oliver we needed another defenseman who was aggressive and played hard and was somewhat quick. I felt in my heart Tommy could do the job and he hasn't disappointed."
Sousa (7 assists) plays a very phssical game and can be the roughest Hilltopper on the ice, "but he's also quick getting to pucks and he never gives up on a play," said Maurer. "He gives you a full night's work."
Marques is only a sophomore but doesn't play like one.
"He plays like an upper classman," said Maurer.
"He's a great kid to coach," said Maurer. "He's very quiet, but he really blossomed this year. He's way ahead of schedule. Its more than we could have ever anticipated."
Marques is a good skater, handles the puck well and has a good shot. He's scored two goals and assisted on six.
The unsung hero of the unsung heroes is senior Costa, who swings between forward and defense.
"It might be overlooked by the average person, but he's filled in very nicely. We might have a guy in the penalty box, or an injury and Dave will come back and fill in."
Costa has four goals and three assists, played defense in the past before being moved to forward.
"It's important to have somebody who has experience back there, because it isn't a position that anyone can play," explained Maurer.