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It didn’t take very long for Lexington’s Will Smith and Amherst’s Ryan Leonard to hear their names called at the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday night.
Smith and Leonard were both taken in the top 10 of the first round of the draft, held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Smith was taken fourth overall by the San Jose Sharks, while Leonard was selected eighth by the Washington Capitals.
It’s the next step in both 18-year-old players’ eventual road to the NHL, with the two forwards elevating their stock as premier, blue-chip prospects during their time together in the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP).
After Sharks legend Patrick Marleau announced Smith as San Jose’s first pick, Smith made his way up to the stage as the theme song from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” blared over the speakers at Bridgestone Arena.
“I feel like I kind of had to,” Smith said of his song choice. “I’m trying to own it and I love the song, too.”
Smith, an uber-skilled playmaking center, scored 51 goals and posted 127 total points in just 60 games with the NTDP’s U-18 team in 2022-23. He previously played with both the Boston Junior Eagles and at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham before moving to Plymouth, Michigan to join the NTDP.
The winner of the 2022-23 Bob Johnson Award for excellence in international hockey competition, Smith took home tournament MVP honors at the U-18 Men’s World Championship after scoring 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in just seven games.
Leonard, a right wing who skated next to Smith on the NTDP’s top line, also decimated defenses in his draft year.
Leonard scored 51 goals and racked up 94 total points in just 57 games last season, establishing himself as a two-way forward with a pro-ready release.
A product of Western Massachusetts hockey programs, Leonard played for both the Springfield Rifles and Pope Francis High School before making the jump over to Michigan. Leonard’s older brother, John, played three seasons at UMass Amherst and is currently in the Nashville Predators organization.
Smith’s playmaking and Leonard’s shot helped form one of the most productive lines in NTDP history — an impressive feat, given that previous players hailing from the program include Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Patrick Kane, Quinn Hughes, Clayton Keller, Phil Kessel, and many others.
Both Smith and Leonard will eventually play on different coasts up at the NHL level. But the promising forwards are sticking together for at least another season. Smith, Leonard and their fellow NTDP linemate in Gabe Perreault will all play at Boston College this fall.
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There were first-time state champions, repeat winners – and some of the craziest games you will ever seen played anywhere on a football field this fall.
And now it is time for High School On SI Massachusetts to release its individual award winners, including the player and coach of the year honorees.
The Boston College commitment played for Division 2’s top team, which Catholic Memorial defeated King Philip Regional 39-21 for the Super Bowl. Dodd was the workhorse for the team, rushing for 1,362 yards on 115 attempts and scoring 20 touchdowns. The senior also added seven catches for 139 yards through the air.
Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Attaway compiled over 1,000 yards either way. The senior led the way to the Hawks winning the Division 6 Super Bowl state title. Attaway finished completing 76-of-113 passes for 1,329 yards and 20 touchdowns. On the ground, Attaway rushed for 1,008 yards on 65 carries and 12 scores.
Frisch stood out on both sides of the ball, but especially on the defensive side at middle linebacker. The 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker racked up 59 tackles, eight going for a loss, 12 sacks, an interception and forced a fumble. On offense at tight end, Frisch caught 14 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns.
Playing for the Division 7 Super Bowl state champions, the junior running back was phenomenal out of the backfield. The Spartans’ tailback carried the rock 201 times for 1,772 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. LaChapelle caught five passes for 100 yards and two scores.
Despite losing multiple games during the regular season and many throughout the state wondering if Xaverian Brothers could repeat as Division I state champions. The Hawks pulled it off under the guidance of Fornaro as he guided the team to the Division I Super Bowl, defeating Needham, 14-7.
Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!
Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.
High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.
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— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi
Hardly had Kelly Ayotte, the new governor of New Hampshire unloaded on Massachusetts over its immigration policy, than another illegal immigrant was charged with rape in the Bay State.
Originally Published:
Suspended Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor’s Trial Board disciplinary proceedings will go on to a second day.
Proctor’s trouble publicly began when he testified during the murder trial of Karen Read last summer. During a tense examination by the prosecution and even more intense cross examination, Proctor admitted to inappropriate private texts that he made as the case officer investigating Read.
“She’s a whack job (expletive),” Proctor read from compilations of text messages he sent to friends as he looked at Read’s phone. The last word was a derogatory term for women that he at first tried to spell out before Judge Beverly Cannone told him to read it the way he wrote it.
“Yes she’s a babe. Weird Fall River accent, though. No (butt),” he continued under oath on June 10, 2024.
He also texted them “no nudes so far” as an update on the search through her phone. He also testified that he told his sister that he hoped that Read would kill herself.
On Wednesday, Proctor sat through a full day of trial board proceedings at MSP general headquarters in Framingham. When that concluded in the late afternoon, the board decided to continue for a second day on Feb. 10. Neither Wednesday’s proceeding nor the second day is open to the public.
Proctor was relieved of duty on July 1 of last year, which was the day the Read trial concluded in mistrial. He was suspended without pay a week later. The State Police finished its internal affairs investigation last week and convened the trial board to determine the next step in the disciplinary process.
The trial board makes disciplinary recommendations to the superintendent, who determines the final outcome.
“A State Police Trial Board shall hear cases regarding violations of Rules, Regulations, Policies, Procedures, Orders, or Directives,” states the Department’s Rules and Regulations.
“In the event that the Trial Board finds guilt by a preponderance of the evidence on one or more of the charges, the Trial Board shall consider the evidence presented by the Department prosecutor pertaining to the accused member’s prior offenses/disciplinary history, and shall make recommendations for administrative action,” the rules and regulations state.
Read, 44, of Mansfield, faces charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision causing the death of O’Keefe, a 16-year Boston Police officer when he died at age 46 on Jan. 29, 2022. Read’s second trial is scheduled to begin April 16.
Originally Published:
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