Monomoy-Mashpee Boys Hockey Reinvigorated Under First-year Coach Harlow

SOUTH DENNIS – It’s a new era for Monomoy-Mashpee hockey. 

 Under the direction of first-year coach Chris Harlow, the Monarchs co-op team has experienced its best start to a season in recent memory. After skating to a 3-1 road victory at Bourne in its season opener Dec. 14, Monomoy-Mashpee followed suit with a dominant 9-3 win at Nantucket on Dec. 18. 

 Although the team dropped a 5-0 decision at Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, Harlow has been encouraged by the 2-1 start and the effort his players have displayed to begin the season.

 “It’s a really awesome group — they are hardworking and it’s a great nucleus of guys who were here every day during the offseason,” said Harlow. “They are bought in and ready to work hard. I think this year was kind of the tipping point where instead of being just competitive, they are competitive and they are difference makers.”

 Harlow began his coaching career as an assistant for Monomoy-Mashpee before assuming the same role at Sandwich for the past three seasons. After recently accepting a job as a science teacher at Monomoy, it seemed like a natural fit to return to the co-op program that ignited his coaching career. 

 The new coach said it helps that he has an established connection with many of the players from coaching youth and offseason training programs. 

 “I’ve worked with a lot of these guys since youth hockey through YD or the Coyotes, and some of them I’ve coached their siblings, and in the offseason [I] see a lot of these guys around the rink,” he said. “Even if I’m not working with them directly, I see them here all the time and I know the guys who are working with them.”

 It helps that Harlow inherited some key contributors with experience. Monomoy senior Casey Huse showcased his scoring ability in the Nantucket win when he netted four goals to set a new career high for a single game.

 “It was really cool, especially for it to be against Nantucket because I scored my first goal ever against them in eighth grade,” said Huse, a Harwich resident. 

 Harlow described Huse as the team’s “spark offensively.”

“He moves well — he’s quick and he releases the puck,” the coach said. “He’s been great for us so far and brings a lot of energy to our lineup to lead us.”

Huse wasn’t the only Monomoy player to shine against the Whalers, as freshmen Nick Garneau (two goals) and Max Cronen (four assists) also helped power the offense. In the Bourne win, Monomoy junior Luke Raftery netted a goal and freshman Chase Tavano tallied the first varsity goal of his career. 

Mashpee sophomore Logan Puma also lit the lamp in the season-opening win. 

In goal, Monomoy junior netminder Dominic Silvester has been sharp in each game. The Harwich resident made 43 saves against Bourne, 28 against Nantucket, and 38 against the Vineyard.

“If you have games that you’re supposed to win and you win them, that’s awesome,” Harlow said. “But if you have games where you can rely on a guy to stop 30-plus (shots) per night, it’s such a reassurance on the back end that even if we’re having a bad period, we’re able to come out on top or tied or close in that period. 

“That’s enough of a spark to set us forward in the next two periods.”

Silvester said Harlow’s arrival has energized the team and has the players believing they can not only contend for a state tournament berth, but also the program’s first postseason victory. 

“Harlow is great — he knows his stuff and I think the boys are really excited to play for him,” the goalie said. “We’ve had some rough starts the past few years and that sets the tone for the season, so starting 2-0 is really good. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we can win more than 12 games. We want to get our first win in the tournament in program history. That’s our goal for this season.”