Enterprise

Abington High’s John Polito reaches 100-point mark


Jay N. Miller
 |  Correspondent

ROCKLAND — Everybody around the Abington High hockey program knew John Polito was within reach of 100 points for his career. But with the pandemic throwing all sports into a zone of uncertainty, whether or not he reached that plateau was a concern.

“I was nervous about it,” admitted Abington coach Bryan Woodford. “He came into this year with 88 points, but with the reduced schedule we all have, getting 12 points in the South Shore League is no easy thing. It’s a terrific career achievement, and I would have hated to see COVID-19 take it away from a kid like John.”

Polito brushed off all those concerns, and the 5-9 Green Wave captain was much more concerned with team success anyway. That’s one reason he’s as much a playmaker as a goal-scorer, as was evident Sunday night, when he dished out two textbook-perfect assists, and also scored twice, to reach the coveted 100-point mark as Abington defeated Cohasset, 5-2, at the Rockland Ice Rink. He’s the sixth player in program history to reach the mark.

The 100th point was a highlight reel-worthy score, as Polito broke loose on the left side and skated past the last Skipper defender to launch a waist-high wrister into the net, with 3:25 left in the game. 

Earlier Polito had scored a powerplay goal out of a goalmouth scrum at the end of the first period, and picked up two assists in the middle frame.  One of those assists was a beautiful two-on-one breakout, with Polito waiting to the last moment before dishing the puck perfectly over to linemate Michael Pineau, who scored late in the middle stanza. Earlier in the period, Polito and defenseman Ryan Tobin set up his other linemate, senior David McArthur with one of those tic-tac-toe plays coaches love to diagram.

“This is the third game in a row where John has scored four points,” Woodford said. “I was worried he might not have enough time to make it to 12 points, and he did it in three games. It just shows you, with the kind of talent he has and the way he and his linemates work together, in a normal-length season, he’d probably move into the top three all-time Abington scorers.”

“I definitely wanted to get it out of the way,” Polito smiled. “I knew where I stood before the season, but what happens with the team is more important to me. There was a time we didn’t know what this season would look like, but we all just tried to stay positive.”

Polito stayed sharp with town hockey until November, and he felt like he wasn’t the only one working hard over the off-season. And just analyzing his own play over the years, he feels he’s just bigger and stronger as a senior.

“I think personally I’ve just grown stronger, and my shot is much more powerful and better in general,” said Polito. “But I’ve always wanted to play the all-around game, making good passes, and playing defensively when I can. It was a little bit harder coming into this season, but we did a lot of work over the summer, and then with town hockey. We have a young team this year, but everyone gives 100 percent and they all contribute, which makes it fun.”

It was suggested that one downside to accomplishing such a rare point total during the pandemic is that Polito can’t walk into Abington High and receive the congratulations of all his classmates this week.

“Well, yeah, that kinda stinks, but I’m not going to let it bother me too much,” said Polito. “Besides, I’m just happy we are able to play hockey. We’ll be back at it Wednesday. I definitely want to continue my hockey career, although I haven’t really decided on a college yet. But I definitely want to keep playing, it’s my favorite thing to do.”

A big part of Polito’s story, as he’d be the first to agree, is the special connection he has with his linemates. Pineau is new to the line this year, but McArthur and Polito are longtime buddies and linemates.

“John and his linemates just move the puck so well,” said Woodford. “He and McArthur are very tight, and while it is Pineau’s first year with them, he’s fit in very quickly. But Polito and McArthur together have an uncanny level of knowing what each other is going to do. All three of those guys are very talented, they love hockey, and they are all unselfish.”

How would he second-year coach assess Polito’s progress through the years?

“I would think the biggest improvement in John’s game is the way his mentality can adjust to the swings of the game,” said Woodford. “His focus and drive is incredible, every day. He’s always had that, but he is just so determined now to have a good year for the team. I believe the captain’s role has really helped him too. Before he was one of our best players, and of course he still is, but now he’s become the leader.  He’s taken that role seriously, and it has truly brought his game to another level, on and off the ice.”   



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