The Vipers bounced back against the Advantage in this one despite some undisciplined play in the first period but managed to win this one 9-0. Despite the score the Vipers continue to be stuck in some uninspired play at times. The Vipers got scoring from all 3 lines as the Green Line was paced by Dante Maribito (2-2-4), Kyle Lynch (2-1-3) and Kyle Hentosh (0-3-3) the Red Line was led by Brendan White (2-0-2) and Braden Haley (0-1-1) and the Yellow line was anchored by Evan Daddario (1-1-2), Noah Maercklein (1-0-1) and Ross Wahl (1-0-1). Alex Delvento and Dom Cappadona also picked up single helpers. The Viper defense did a nice job of making the simple plays and creating offense with quick transition.

The 98 Vipers strung together their most discouraging performance in recent memory on Friday night and the upstart NH Monarchs capitalized on every mistake handing the Vipers a 3-2 loss with just 28 seconds left in the game. The Monarchs first goal came on the PP after a foolish Viper penalty and then a complete unwillingness to win a 1v1 battle led to the tying goal. The Vipers would go up 2-1 in the second but then a lazy clearing attempt turned into a turnover on the blueline that ended up in the back of the net for a 2-2 score. The a turnover in front of their own cage with 28 seconds left would immediately end up in the back of the net for the game winner. The Vipers lacked discipline, intensity, urgency and any willingness to win battles and races in this one. Kyle Hentosh would score both Viper goals, one coming on  the PP, Dante Maribito-2 and Noah Maercklein would add assists

After giving up 2 quick first period goals the Vipers would score the next 7 unanswered in rolling to an impressive win over the Nashua Panthers. The Vipers who were out the services of JT Chamberlain with an injury got a balanced scoring attack from all 3 lines while all 6 D chipped in with a solid effort and Aaron McDonnell made some very fine stops down the stretch when this one still mattered. Kyle Hentosh lead the offensive charge with 2-2-4 totals, and Kyle lynch who scored the goal of the season put up 2-1-3, as he made an incredible rush in the third and finished by burrying it 5 hole captivating the energized crowd, linemate Dante Maribito finished with 0-2-2. The makeshift line of Braden Haley (1-0-1) (who played a fine 3 zone game game) Alex Delvento (1-0-1) and Ross Wahl (0-1-1) turned in a fine effort all morning. Evan Daddario and Noah Maercklein were the other goal scorers. Special teams also played a big part in this one as the Vipers cashed in on 2 of 4 PP chances while killing of all 5 shorthanded bids. Patrick McCarthy, and Ryna Connearney would turn in fine efforts on the blueline as well.

After holding a decesive shot advantage and terrotorial play the Vipers let one slip away by giving up a breakaway goal with just over 2 minutes left in the game to setle for a 3-3 tie with the much improved scrappy Red Rangers. Phenomanal goaltending was the story for the Red Rangers as the Vipers could not cash in on the many oppurtunities they had. Playing well in stretches but very inconsistent for most of the game in which they lacked the killer instinct. Noah Maercklein would get the visitors on the board first as he skated down the right wing and fired a shot low that squezed through the 5 hole for the early lead. The Red Rangers would score the next 2 and hold the one goal lead into the third. Dante Maribito was able to tie the game on the PP as he collected a nice pass from the stick of Kyle Hentosh from behind the net. Kyle Lynch would benefit from some nice passing betwen linemates Maribito and Hentosh again as the 3 made a spectacular play to give the Vipers the 3-2 lead with about 6 mintes left in the game. The Red Rangers would then capitilize on a Viper turnover on the blueline and cash in on the breakaway to tie the game andhand the Vipers a disapointing tie.

Hockey season is finally here! 

The Vipers Boot Camp starts on Monday. 

Be ready for a challenging week of conditioning and team building programs.

A reminder that the August payments are due August 1st.

The dates and location for the Boot Camp are Aug29th thru Sept 1st at Hockeytown. More info to follow....

The 2011-12 Vipers Tryout schedule is now avaialble on our Tryout Page.

A goaltender's craft, according to David Letarte

March, 4, 2011 Mar 4 8:50 PM ET

By Scott Barboza

It's a couple hours before St. John's Prep will take the ice in its season finale against Catholic Memorial. The Eagles have the historic opportunity to knock CM out of the playoffs for the first time in more than a quarter century.

But Prep goaltender David Letarte is already busy. He stands along the end boards of the Cronin Memorial Rink in Revere. While a bunch of youngsters fall and flail on the ice during public skating hours, Letarte is listening to music on his iPod while feverishly taping his stick. It's not typically part of his pregame ritual; he usually tapes his stick during the previous night's practice. However, his stick broke during practice, so he's going to his backup and trying to get it ready for game action.

Scott Barboza for ESPNBoston.com

St. John's Prep goaltender David Letarte's preparation for a game begins more than a hour before the Eagles hit the ice with playing ping pong against the wall to work on his hand-eye coordination.Soon after, about an hour before the Eagles are to take the ice, Letarte goes off into a secluded corner of the rink with goaltending coach Scott Hentosh. The pair work through a battery of reflex drills. The series lasts about 20 minutes and it incorporates all elements of hand-eye coordination that are beneficial to playing between the pipes. Hentosh and Letarte started this particular ritual about halfway through the season; its impact has been evident in Letarte's play.

"You can really see the difference." Hentosh says.

Whether it's motor reflex drills, taps against the goal posts, or hopping over the blue line, goalies are always looking for an edge. They're a tightly-bound pile of nerves, ticks and idiosyncrasies. They're a breed of their own and they also happen to be a critical part to any team's postseason hopes.

But, as Letarte will have you know, there's a method behind all the madness.

Scott Barboza for ESPNBoston.com

In the next phase, Letarte works with goaltender coach Scott Hentosh, who throws a tennis ball against the wall from behind Letarte. He then reacts, making the "save" with either hand."The thing about anyone's routine is that it makes you feel like you're mentally prepared," the Prep junior said. "It's whatever you need to do to make you feel you're ready to play."

Playing goal is more than just a collection of superstitions - well, somewhat. Letarte also confesses to having his own set of mannerisms in the crease. Moreover, it points to a frame of mind, a sort of Zen that a goalie accesses to play at their highest level.

"The biggest part about this game is the mental," Letarte said. "If your mind isn't right, you're not ready to play."

Scott Barboza for ESPNBoston.com

Letarte says the drills help him tune his mind and body in preparation for upcoming game.A mainstay of Letarte's pregame preparation is visualization. He spends quiet time in the locker room running through the game in his mind before he dresses. Putting himself mentally on the ice, Letarte visualizes himself playing the angles, making the saves.

During that process of introspection, he also focuses on breathing patterns. He's taught himself how to slow breathing, which in turn slows his pulse, which in turn has a calming effect. It's an aid he picked up with the suggestion of his brother, Andrew, a 25-year-old Prep graduate and former hockey standout who is now a member of the Army Rangers.

Scott Barboza for ESPNBoston.com

In the next round of excises, Hentosh faces Letarte and holds the tennis ball at the height of his head, dropping the ball and calling out which hand Letarte should catch the ball with -- again reinforcing reflex time."My brother told me about how snipers use breathing techniques to slow their heart rate and how it helps them hit their shots," Letarte said. "He's always been a big help to my game."

Letarte hopes to follow his brother's path into armed forces. Andrew is up for deployment next year, but even when he can't be in attendance for David's game, his younger brother "carries him" into every game. He wears an U.S. Army t-shirt underneath his chest guard the Airborne eagle logo is emblazoned on the back of his mask.

He wears the Army t-shirt during his pregame session with Hentosh. The first installment lasts around five minutes with Letarte playing a game of ping pong against himself. Like Forrest Gump, Letarte bats the ball against the wall, gripping the paddle with his right hand and then his left.

Scott Barboza for ESPNBoston.com

Hentosh next tests Letarte's reaction time. The goaltender stands about 30 paces away, crouched in the starting position. Hentosh drops the ball and Letarte tried to catch the ball on one bounce.Next, Hentosh uses a tennis ball to test Letarte's reflexes. Standing behind Letarte, who's crouched in butterfly style, Hentosh bounces the ball off the wall, forcing him to make a "glove save." After going for several minutes, they switch to a face-to-face drill, where Hentosh holds the ball at eyes' height. While dropping the ball, he calls out: "Left, left, right, left," and Letarte catches the ball with the according hand. Finally, there's a sprint reaction drill. Letarte stands about 30 paces to either side of Hentosh, who then releases the ball. The idea is that Letarte will catch it, mid-sprint, on one bound.

The additions to Letarte's pregame regimen with Hentosh's assistance have helped him to a 2.52 goals against average this season. He's also been no small reason for the Eagles' run to the Super Eight, which begins with Prep's battle against play-in winner Woburn at 4 p.m., Saturday, at Merrimack College.

Scott Barboza for ESPNBoston.com

With his exercises behind him, Letarte pulls his gear on and takes the ice for the pregame shoot-around with his teammates."We started out kind of slow this season, but then we started to get know each other's games," said Letarte, a Salem resident. "We've got a good group of seniors and then we had some younger players step up like [freshman Shane] Eiserman. We started to play more physical hockey and we started playing the way we wanted to play."

On Saturday, as before any other game, Letarte will go through his usual routine.

When he skates to his crease, he'll get down in his split, stretch out, get up. He'll put his mask along with catching glove, blocker and stick on top of the net and take one last big swig of water (as he does habitually after every whistle). He'll slip the mask back on, tap the pads in his ceremonial form, face center ice and raise his arm to the official.

Let the puck drop.

For the original ESPN story: http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/5392/a-goaltenders-craft-according-to-david-letarte