DICIOCCIO PILING UP POINTS, WINS ON ICE
Defenseman has Tewksbury aiming for another title run
TEWKSBURY >> Nick Dicioccio and the Tewksbury High School boys hockey team are continuing to heat up the ice.
Fresh off a sensational 22-2 run en route to capturing the Division 2 state championship last winter, the Redmen appear poised for a repeat performance, skating off to a red-hot 12-1-1 start this season.
And based off their 2-0 shutout over Lincoln-sudbury (10-41) on Wednesday, they still have their foot firmly on the accelerator. “I like how we’re playing,” said Dicioccio. “We’ve just got to keep working hard, finishing off our goals, and we’ll be playing even better than we are right now.”
A 6-foot, 180-pound senior defenseman, Dicioccio has been a key cog in the team’s success. The four-year letterman has been part of a pair of lengthy postseason treks, only missing a third due to the Covid-cancelled 2020 campaign.
The skilled defender feels the best is yet to come from this talented group.
“I think we’ve had a few off games, but we’re finding ways to finish strong,” said Dicioccio, 17. “Our forwards are skating hard. I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet, but we’re still finding ways to win.”
Dicioccio plays a huge role in that winning pedigree. One of the top defensemen in the state, he is averaging well over a point a game pace on the offensive end. In 14 games, he has 22 points on five goals and 17 assists. He wears No. 4, the number of a certain legendary Boston Bruins defenseman who also dominated on the ice.
Usually paired with junior Cooper Robillard, Dicioccio has anchored the Redmen’s blueline brigade. The unit has been Tewksbury’s strong suit, surrendering roughly one goal against per game. It’s a credit to the tireless work of several underclassmen.
“We’ve been playing really well,” said Dicioccio. “We have a lot of younger players back there, a couple of juniors, and even sophomore Anthony Difranco, who has been playing really well.”
On the rare occasion an op
ponent has managed to break through, senior cocaptain Ben O’keefe has been a brick wall between the pipes. The netminder is fresh off posting his sixth shutout of the season over L-S.
“Ben’s been great,” said Dicioccio. “I think he’s the best goalie in the state. He is locked in every game.”
A co-captain, Dicioccio has relished the leadership role, passing on a winning tradition to the next wave of Tewksbury hockey stars of the future.
“It’s a great feeling having all the boys here doing their thing,” said Dicioccio. “It’s all about trying to get everyone to have the same mindset, the winning attitude, making sure everyone is doing the right thing. It’s been a good experience.”
According to Tewksbury coach Derek Doherty, Dicioccio has been a defensive stalwart.
“Nick leads by example,” said Doherty. “He’s bigger and stronger than most on the ice. His defensive skills are fantastic, and he can rush the puck and create things offensively.”
He’s also helped solidify the team’s tight bond, formulating a culture that has been contagious.
“This is a close group of kids,” said Doherty, in his 22nd year at the helm. “They understand what the expectations are going into the locker room and they work real hard, which is great for a coach.”
Dicioccio attributes the team’s overall success to its leadership behind the bench.
“Obviously, it comes down to coaching,” said Dicioccio. “They make every team play the same every year. Just working hard, always ready to go, always moving our feet, always hitting. The result is winning hockey.”
Something Dicioccio and the Redmen plan on continuing on the ice in the foreseeable future.