Billerica goalie’s top asset is his quickness
Billerica goalie ‘not graced with size’ plays big in net
Connor Feeney relies on instinct and intuition when it comes to manning the crease.
A butterfly goalie with a knack for making all the saves that matter, Feeney, 17, has been blessed with exceptional lateral speed, which enables him to alter the geometry of plays by cutting down shooting angles.
An aggressive goalkeeper who doesn’t flinch in the line of fire, this senior co-captain provides his Billerica High teammates with the confidence to go out and play without fearing their mistakes will end up in the net.
“He’s a reaction goalie,” said Billerica coach Jim Egan. “But he’s always in position. He’s not graced with size, but being in position helps. He’s aggressive. He’ll challenge the shooter. He’s really great with rebounds because he gets across (the crease) so well. He comes out (and challenges shooters). He’s really good moving on his edges, which helps him control his side-to-side movements.”
Billerica’s defense starts with Feeney, a masked Gumby in pads. When it comes to his goaltending style there is no signature move this 5-foot-7, 168pounder relies on. Feeney simply does whatever it takes to make the save that every shot warrants. And this approach to stopping pucks has provided the Indians with a solid last line of defense.
“I like being a goalie because you can win the game for the team or you can lose it,” said Feeney. “I like having that responsibility.
“I just want to stop the puck. I’ll do anything to keep the puck from getting by me. You are constantly trying to prove yourself. Proving you can consistently make saves that help the team win is what drives me.”
Feeney has certainly proven himself to be one of the top goalies in the Merrimack Valley Conference/dual County
League over the past two seasons.
Feeney had to wait his turn to become Billerica’s starting goalie. Scott Murphy was the starting goalie his freshman season and Ethan Hadley was the No. 1 netminder his sophomore year. Murphy and Hadley were both MVC/DCL all-conference goalies.
He finally made it to the top of the depth chart as a junior, and it didn’t take very long for Feeney to prove himself to his coaches, teammates and opposing teams.
“We know we are capable of winning any hockey game with him in the net,” said Egan. “Ev
ery night we show up knowing we can compete with anybody (because of Feeney’s play in goal).”
He was simply sensational as a junior. Feeney finished last season with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage while spearheading Billerica’s drive to a 12-7-4 final record and a berth in the semifinals of the MIAA Division 1 North sectional tournament. He was named the MVC/DCL Division 1 MVP last winter.
“To be honest, I was surprised at how well I played last year,” said Feeney. “My confidence grew throughout the season. My first game I was nervous and it wasn’t a good game for me. I lost, 6-2, (to Waltham) in my first start. Then the very next game we beat Central Catholic, 4-2, and I got my first varsity win. I got my first shutout against Tewksbury. That’s when I realized I can do this. I just have to keep playing like I have been.”
He lifted his level of play and carried the Indians up with him in the postseason, helping Billerica earn tournament wins over Chelmsford (2-1) and Melrose (2-1).
“Last year our record was 12-7-4, and I’d have to say five of those wins were solely because of Connor Feeney,” said Egan.
Feeney is off to another strong start this season. He heads into tonight’s game against Lincoln-sudbury with a .920 save percentage and a 2.40 goalsagainst average. Feeney has posted one shutout to go along with four onegoal games this year.
The final score of Monday’s 7-1 loss to Tewksbury would indicate he had a rare off-game. But Feeney came up with some spectacular stops while making 35 saves before being relieved in net late in the third period.
“Without Connor Feeney, the score would
have been 11-1,” said Egan. “He made two saves in the first period that are the two best saves Connor Feeney has made, and he’s won plenty of games for us with some stellar saves. Two of the saves he made were top-five high school saves that I’ve seen.”
Feeney is quick to credit the role his teammates have played in his success. An honor roll student, Feeney comes from a hockey family. His father, Kevin, played high school hockey at Don Bosco, and his younger brother, Cameron, is a promising forward in eighth grade. Feeney’s mother, Lisa, has also played a big role in his development as a student-athlete.
He would like to continue his goaltending career in college.
“You use a lot of words that begin with (the letter) C when describing Connor,” said Egan. “He’s very consistent. He’s the one constant (in our lineup). He has a great compete level. He cares.
“He’s just a great kid. His teammates like him. He wants to win, and that’s huge.”