Twin bill of milestones in Blue Knights’ 4-1 victory
Handy gets 100th point, Short win No. 200
FITCHBURG » Mark down Jan 16, 2021, as a day for the Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley annals. In a season where sectional and state titles won’t be awarded, the Blue Knights had reasons to celebrate.
It was a twin bill of milestones for the Blue Knights in Saturday night’s 4-1 victory over Leominster at the Wallace Civic Center, a pair of landmark achievements for figures who have been crucial to the program’s success both recently and longterm.
Senior captain Nathan Handy’s three-point night powered the Blue Knights past Leominster and pushed the centerman over 100 points for his career. And that victory was the 200th of longtime head coach Eric Short’s time at the helm of the program, giving LAS reason to celebrate, subdued as the festivities may have been in a strange season played in empty rinks.
“It’s a bummer to only be playing 10 games instead of 20 and no playoffs, without fans,” Handy noted. “But at the end of the day, hockey is hockey.”
Handy put his team well ahead in the opening half of Saturday night’s win, scoring the first two goals for the Blue Knights and assisting on the third as the LAS took a 3- 0 lead to the intermission between the two halves being played this season.
On his first tally, he used his speed to sneak past a Blue Devils defenseman before sneaking a backhander between the legs of netminder Ryan Melanson. And the second goal was pure power, as Handy worked off a defenseman and turned to rifle a shot past the glove of Melanson for a 2- 0 edge.
The senior also picked up the secondary assist on Nick Fortier’s marker late in the half that put the Blue Knights ahead by three.
Short said Handy’s performance was what he’s come to expect from him, a player who played junior varsity as an eighth grader and “has been an impact player ever since.”
“His contributions to this program go beyond words. He’s been a top-line guy,” Short said. “He was a big part of our state championship, he was a huge part the next year and last year he got us back to a state final. He’s been a topline player since his freshman year.
“He’s a great hockey player, a great kid, a good student. He’s everything Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley wants in a kid. I couldn’t be more proud of him because he deserves it.”
Handy, for his part, downplayed the milestone as “just a number,” but also “kind of cool” before pointing to the two Central Mass. titles and the state title he’s won with the program as his career highlights. He also gave credit for the teammates he’s played with and learned from en route to the accomplishment.
“Freshman year, we had a very good team with a lot of seniors and juniors that I was lucky enough to play with,” Handy said. “And I’ve been able to develop really good chemistry (with linemates) for all four years.”
Short hopes that each player that comes through the LAS program takes the lessons given by upperclassmen to heart, something he says Handy certainly has done.
“He’s been lucky and fortunate to play with some really good kids all the way up. He played with Matt Albert, Connor Viviano, Jacob Mauro. … All those guys were his linemates, so he’s played with some really great kids and kids that took things very, very seriously here,” the coach said. “He’s learned to play the game the right way and he puts the time in, too. … It’s not by accident that he’s the player he is.”
As for his own accomplishment on Saturday, Short — a former Fitchburg State defenseman — gave credit to the players he’s coached over the years.
“It means a lot for the program. I think it’s more about the program than it is me,” he said. “I’m proud of the kids and proud of the program, where it’s come.”
In his time on the bench for Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley, Short has built a program known for its hard work and being responsible on the ice. He’s had talented players come through the ranks, winning a pair of Central Mass. Division 3A titles and a state title along the way.
He’s also earned the respect of countless players, Handy included among them.
“He pushes me harder than a lot of coaches I’ve had,” Handy said. “He makes me work on the defensive part of my game. He always expects us to give 100%.”