PROFILE: Andover Hockey Shop

The popular spot for hockey gear in Andover also carries equipment and apparel for all sports.

Andover Hockey Shop, 342 North Main Street, is a well-known establishment in Shawsheen Village but what some might not know is that they sell more than hockey gear, according to owner Chris Gravell.   His grandfather started the business in 1968 as a hockey shop, at the time Bobby Orr and the Bruins were “huge.” It has since evolved to include all team sports, and 15 types of Andover apparel and accessories, he explained.   While hockey remains the most popular category, the shop outfits teams and individuals from Andover and surrounding communities, according to Gravell.   He explained they carry gear and apparel for lacrosse, football, soccer, field hockey, baseball, basketball, softball and in-line skating. The shop also personalizes …

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Warriors Tie North Andover in Hockey Showdown

Andover and North Andover skated to a 4-4 tie yesterday in a holiday weekend matinee.

In a holiday weekend matinee game, the Andover High School Warriors and Scarlet Knights of North Andover played an dramatic game at Merrimack College that went down to the wire.  The Andover High hockey team started off the season 3-1-1 but after a 4-4 tie against North Andover yesterday, they haven’t found the win column in their last three games. The Knights and Warriors tied 4-4 in a game full of momentum and emotional swings. North Andover was up 2-1 at the end of the first 20 minutes of play before Andover tied things up in the second. Tied at two going into the third, each team potted a pair in a thrilling third that saw the teams knotted at four by period’s end. For the Knights, Nick Pino, Tristan Stewart, Dan Rivet, and Cody Aponas…

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Seven AHS Teams in Action Tomorrow

It will be a wild Wednesday for the Golden Warriors.

The AHS winter teams are approaching mid-season and that means  they are busy, busy, busy. Today four varsity teams are in action, but watch out because seven Andover teams are in action tomorrow. Boys and Girls Indoor Track Both squads will be hosting North Andover tomorrow. The meet will get underway at 3:30pm. It will be the first time this season that the Andovers battle it out for bragging rights on the track. Look out for distance runner Maggie Mullins, our most recent Athlete of the Week. Girls Skiing The girls ski team will take to the slopes at Bradford Ski Hill tomorrow. The meet will begin at about 3:30pm and temperatures are expected to be around 35 degrees. The Warriors will take on the Hornets of Manchester Essex. Boys Hockey…

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Athlete of the Week: Liam Centrella

Centrella scored in Andover's season opener as the Warriors won 3-0.

The Warriors took the ice on Wednesday night in their first regular season game of 2011-12. Liam Centrella was the first Warrior to put the biscuit in the basket for Andover this season. The Warriors won 3-0.  As a sophomore, Centrella did not see much playing time.  Centrella is looking forward to a strong senior season after being a leading point-scorer for his squad as a junior. He was tied for third on the team with 9 goals last season. He was second on the team in points with 24, earning him a spot on the team's top line.  Andover's win on Wednesday provided a nice debut for new head coach Mike Ciarletta.  Centrella, Ciarletta, and the Warriors return to action on Wednesday night at home against Waltham. 

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Hockey Warriors Set for 2011 Puck Drop

Andover’s boys and girls hockey teams are on the cusp of their 2011-12 seasons.

Girls Hockey Last year, Andover proved to be one of the top 27 girls squads in the state by qualifying for the Division 1 playoffs. Andover earned the 16th seed after going 11-6-3 during the regular season. The Lady Warriors snuck by Marblehead in the preliminary round of the tournament with a 3-2 victory via shootout. In the first round, they bowed out thanks to a 6-0 shellacking against eventual state champion St. Mary’s. The team has their second and final preseason game on Saturday at their home rink, Phillips Andover. The Warriors face Austin Prep at 5:10pm.  The regular season gets underway on Wednesday, Dec. 14 when Lincoln Sudbury comes to town. Other key games this season include a Dec. 21 game at home against Billerica. The girls…

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Three Local Skating Opportunities

Spend an afternoon skating with the Warriors, Santa, or your friends and family.

The holidays are synonymous with ice skating. Some prefer the fast action of hockey and some enjoy the elegance and grace of figure skating. Whatever be the case, there are some of us that are truly at home on skates. Casual skating is great exercise and an excellent opportunity to work out your legs. Skating can be invigorating and precise or also relaxed and leisurely.  So if you haven’t laced up in a while or need to get in the holiday spirit, check out one of these great skating opportunities. 1. Skate with Santa and the Warriors Lawler Arena on the campus of Merrimack College has seen some incredible games in the last few years. The Warriors have had a great home record and soared to the top ranking in the nation recently. On Saturday…

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Jay Oza

2:54 pm on Thursday, December 8, 2011

I know that the DCR rink in Peabody usually offers public skate on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm although that may be a little too far for you.   more ›

Athlete of the Week

Athlete of the Week: Meagan Keefe

This three-sport athlete is a junior and already has a state championship under her belt going into the field hockey season.

Though she is pictured above in hockey attire, this week's Athlete of the Week is Meagan Keefe for her role on the Andover High School field hockey team, whose regular season starts on Sept. 12. The squad won 24 games in a row without losing once en route to a Division 1 state championship last year. They picked up their 25th straight win if you count yesterday's 2-0 preseason win over North Andover. Keefe scored the first goal of the game early in the second period yesterday afternoon to open the scoresheet on the 2011 season. Come winter, Keefe will be a major contributor as a junior on the AHS hockey team. The promise she has shown in the past two years certainly indicate a bright future for the young, multi-talented athlete.  In the …

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VIDEO: Andover Bantams Conquer Concord Capitals

Forward Shawn Moody nets the game-winner midway through the third period as Andover's Bantam 1 team gets a crucial win.

Andover's Bantam 1 squad took the ice at Haverhill Valley Forum on Wednesday night against the Concord Captials  and came away with a 1-0 victory. Forward Shawn Moody netted the game's only goal midway through the third period to give Andover a much needed win in the last week of the regular season.  With the playoffs coming up, the Bantam 1 team has some significant momentum after their third consecutive shutout win. Check out the video for game highlights and post-game interviews with Andover head coach John Reilly and the game's lone goal-scorer Shawn Moody.

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This Week in Sports

Youth Hockey Schedules: Bantams and Peewees Have a Busy Week

Andover Patch will feature video highlights of a Bantam Battle on Wednesday night.

Last week we took a look at Andover's Squirts and Mites. This week, let's take check out the schedules of the older skaters, the Peewees and Bantams. Our game of the week will be on Wednesday night at Haverhill Valley Forum. Andover Patch will be there to capture video highlights of the Bantam Battle. The Andover Bantam 1 squad will take on Concord at 7 p.m. Keep your eyes peeled for some talented skaters, as many of these players could end up on the Andover Golden Warriors high school squad. Here is a look at the Peewee and Bantam schedules for the upcoming week: Peewees:   Bantams: Malden Valley    All schedules are found at andoverhockey.org.

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This Week in Sports

Youth Hockey Season Heating Up

Check out the youth hockey schedule for the week; Andover Patch will feature a Bantam battle on Wednesday.

The Andover Hockey Association features 23 teams of devoted youngsters, parents, and coaches whose dedication to the sport of hockey is unparalleled. From early morning rink times to lugging around huge equipment bags to dealing with the cuts and bruises of the gritty sport, these young athletes and committed adults work really hard and see a lot of action from week to week. This week, Andover Patch would like begin to show readers this action by introducing coverage of the Andover Hockey Association, whose season is now approaching its home stretch. For those of you who may not know, youth hockey in the United States is divided into multiple age groups: This week, Patch is featuring one of four Andover Bantam squads. On Wednesday night at…

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