Renovations on Abbey Ice Rink Heat Up

The Portsmouth Abbey School is in the process of renovating its hockey rink for students and community alike.

Ice skaters at the Portsmouth Abbey School will find themselves enjoying a newly improved rink come wintertime. The school is in the process of replacing the slab and the dasher boards, a massive overhaul for the rink. Though not yet completed, construction is already underway, with more than three miles of tubing installed and 200 yards of concrete poured. Following that is the installation of the new boards and glass system. “Eleven miles of tubing, 11 tons of reinforcing rods, 21,000 feet of wire mesh and 240 yards of concrete,” said Paul Jestings, director of operations and project manager at Portsmouth Abbey, in a statistical display of the project’s scope. The project culled its materials from some prestigious manufacturers. …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (4)

Portsmouth High School Hockey Loses 4-2 to Coventry in State Finals

Portsmouth High School took on Coventry for the Division II title Saturday.

For the first time in eight years, Coventry has captured the RIIL Division II boys' hockey state championship, prevailing over Portsmouth, 4-2, behind two breakaway goals by series MVP Nick Paiva. Brian Skorski and Seamus Fennelly netted a goal each in the Oakers' favor to secure the win. Coventry still had to survive a late Portsmouth onslaught to win its second state hockey title ever. The new state champs outscored their three playoff opponents 20-9 in completing a six-game postseason sweep. “We won because of our overall depth and (we) put a lot of players on the ice,” said Coventry head coach Ken Bird. “We had five high-quality seniors, several very good juniors and nine sophomores who developed a lot faster than I thought they would…

•  1 Comment
• Videos (1)

Portsmouth High School Hockey Loses 4-2 to Coventry in Game 1 of State Finals

Portsmouth High School competed against Coventry Wednesday night at the Providence College arena.

Connor DiPietro scored twice in the final period to lift Coventry past Portsmouth, 4-2, in the opening game of the RIIL Division Three State championship finals at Schneider Arena on Wednesday night. DiPietro scored the clincher on a set-up by teammates Nick Paiva and Zach Levesque. “We work on that all the time in practice,” said DiPietro in a play started by a Paiva pass from the top of the circle to Levesque, who shot the puck from the right. DiPietro pounced on the rebound and tipped it in for the go-ahead goal. “The timing was perfect,” said DiPietro. DiPietro iced the outcome completely with his final goal with a little more than a minute to go, aided by another assist by Levesque. Portsmouth, 2010 Division Two state champion, was …

•  1 Comment
• Videos (1)

The Parent's Perspective

Passing of Hockey Sweatshirt Stretches into New Worries for Portsmouth Mom

A hockey sweatshirt brings about new concerns for one Portsmouth mom.

When my youngest son first started playing hockey, I would buy the local garb from Newport County Youth Hockey to support and cheer in. When he got older, he started taking my local garb and I would take his. When he entered high school and started playing for the high school hockey team, we continued doing the same. Last year, when PHS won the state championship, they purchased a beautiful sweatshirt with each players' name and number on it. I wore it a few times in support of a great hockey team and a great group of kids. This year, as PHS gets ready to defend its title, I was asked to wash said sweatshirt so his girlfriend could wear it. It made me sad. Not because I don't like his girlfriend, I do. She's a sweet and smart young lady. …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

The Parent's Perspective

Portsmouth Mother Waits, Worries in ER for Son Injured in Hockey Game

One Portsmouth mother talks about one terrible night, when her son was injured on the ice while playing hockey.

Most families I know either have two incomes (with two parents) or two jobs (with one parent). I have two most of the time. On the weekends, I waitress at a popular restaurant in Newport, The Rhumbline.  On Friday night, after making sure Cameron was set for work, I made sure Mackenzie had a ride to his game at the Portsmouth Abbey. Off to work I went. We had a semi-busy Friday night with tables coming in and out. I always have my cell phone on, but I leave it on silent. As I have two teenagers, their idea of important ("Mom can I borrow the car? Can I borrow $20?") and mine are incredibly different. Around 9:15 p.m., I checked my phone looking for an update on Mac's game. Jen Eaken, a fellow hockey mom,  always texts me if I'm not at the …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)

Portsmouth High School Hockey Wins Against Narragansett Friday Night

Two goals apiece from Towers and Harrigan launch the Patriots past Narragansett and into first place in Division II South on Friday night.

Portsmouth High School hockey team hosted Division II opponent Narragansett High School on Friday night at the Portsmouth Abbey. From beginning to end, the Patriots held momentum and control of the game, winning 6 – 1. The Patriots scored first in the game, coming 11:41 into the first period.  Sophomore Matthew Harrigan, assisted by Chris Oliveira and Mackenzie McDonald, recorded his fourth goal of the season, giving the Patriots the 1 – 0 lead.  The period would come to an end with the Mariners outshooting the Patriots 12 – 6. Portsmouth added two additional goals in the second period to extend their lead.  Senior Aaron Towers scored unassisted just 1:08 into the second. Towers’ goal is his ninth of the season in leagues play, thirteenth …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (11)

Portsmouth High School's Hockey Team Wins Against Toll Gate, 7-0

On a night following a heart-breaking overtime loss to Middletown, Portsmouth hockey defeated Tollgate Sunday.

The Portsmouth High School Patriots (7-3) hosted the Toll Gate High School Titans (2-10) at the Portsmouth Abbey on Sunday evening. Freshman Kyle Alvanas was the key contributor for the Patriots, scoring three goals and assisting on another as Portsmouth shuts out Toll Gate 7–0. The scoring began just :43 into the first period as Portsmouth’s Mike Maggiacomo received the setup from teammate Mackenzie McDonald, then proceeded to skate from the opponents blue line, juking and skating around and through defenders along the way, and fired in a shot on goal which ended in the back of the net for a 1 – 0 lead. A little over four minutes later, Matt Abraham teamed up with Kyle Alvanas for the Patriots second goal. Abraham took the initial shot, …

• Photos (11)

Portsmouth Hockey Team Loses to Middletown in Overtime

The Patriots fall to the Islanders 4-3.

Saturday night featured two of the top high school hockey programs in Division II.  Both the Portsmouth High School Patriots (6-3) and the Middletown High School Islanders (8-3) traveled to the West Warwick Civic Center to face-off in a Division II South battle.  Three periods of hockey was not enough to determine the better team this night, as overtime was needed.  The Islanders claim victory with just seconds remaining in OT, 4–3. Portsmouth put themselves on the scoreboard first with 4:46 left in the first period.  Seniors Aaron Towers and Ryan O’Connor assisted on the Matt Abraham goal.  Abraham was able to toss the puck past Islanders goalie William Coogan from a few feet in front of the net. The first period ended with the Patriots …

• Photos (9)

Portsmouth Patriots Defeat North Smithfield Northmen 3-1

The Portsmouth High School hockey team's victory against North Smithfield on Sunday makes it their third straight win in a row.

Thanks to stifling defense and timely scoring, the Portsmouth High School Patriots (5-2) were able to defeat the North Smithfield High School's Northmen (1-8) in front of their home fans 3-1 on Sunday evening at the Portsmouth Abbey ice rink. The Patriots played the game physical, while also managing to completely control the tempo. Even though Portsmouth had committed five penalties, North Smithfield only mustered one goal against Patriots goaltender Matt Maggiacomo. “We committed way too many penalties, but I believe that we did a good job on the penalty kill,” Portsmouth Head Coach Mike Monahan said. “This was thanks in due part to our great forechecking.” Aaron Towers had his best offensive game of the season after scoring two goals in…

• Photos (2)

PHS Patriots Win Coastal Cup Hockey Championship

Scoring four goals on Monday night, the PHS Patriots out-skate the Vikings to win the Coastal Cup Championship.

At stake, the Coastal Cup Championship. Both the Rogers High School Vikings (3-3-1) and the Portsmouth High School Patriots (4-2) hockey teams earned a berth into the championship with victories in the first round held on Dec. 20. Taking a 4-0 lead, the Patriots held off the Vikings to claim the cup, 4-1. The scoring began 6:20 into the first period as Patriots' Captain Mike Maggiacomo lit the lamp unassisted. The remainder of the first period would go scoreless for both sides as smothering defense, quick line changes and spot-on goaltending created the highlights. As the second period began, Portsmouth wasted no time getting another point on the board, scoring 1:09 into the period. With assists from Ryan O'Connor and Eric Eaken, Aaron …

• Photos (13)