Boston Latin School, a beacon of academic excellence since its founding in 1635, also boasts a rich athletic tradition. Among its many sports programs, hockey holds a special place, evolving from humble beginnings to a perennial contender with a passionate following. This article delves into the history of Boston Latin hockey, exploring its key moments, legendary figures, and enduring legacy.
During the past three quarters of a century on Avenue Louis Pasteur, the art and science of corpus sanum has become very nearly as important as mens sana. 'Res athleticae' is what we call it at the Latin School -- `the sporting thing'.
While their names may not appear on the auditorium walls, BLS athletes have gone forth to make national, even international reputations. Jack O'Callahan, who led the 1974 hockey team to the state tournament and won an Olympic gold medal with the `Boys of Winter', the 1980 squad which shocked the Soviets at Lake Placid.
Latin's coaches also have become legends. Dave Coleman, who was elected to the Massachusetts high school Hall of Fame in both hockey and baseball. Dick Thomas, who coached everything from hockey to golf to tennis.
The pantheon of purple immortals is the product of an athletic program which now numbers 17 sports, has been coeducational since 1972 and has been competing beyond the city limits full-time since 1982 as a member of the Dual County League against hyphenated suburban rivals like Acton-Boxboro, Concord-Carlisle and Lincoln-Sudbury, towns which were little more than farmland when the Latin School was founded in 1635.
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The breadth of success is extraordinary -- 11 state titles in hockey, outdoor track, tennis, volleyball and crew, a dozen Eastern Massachusetts crowns, more than 100 Boston city banners and over 40 DCL championships.
Hockey, which became the school's second most notable sport, didn't begin until 1937, when it barely began at all. "Due to lack of ice, the hockey team was unable to practice and play," the Register reported that year. "We feel that we should at least mention them."
The `Latin Independents' skated officially the next year (when sticks cost 75 cents and pucks went for a dime), but they were at the mercy of nature (if Milton's Turner Pond froze) and the Arena scheduler, often practicing in the drill hall.
Once the BLS skaters acquired reliable ice, they became a perennial contender, winning five city crowns between 1944 and 1955. The program blossomed in the Sixties, when Latin won four straight league titles and had two memorable, if disheartening, appearances in the state tournament.
The 1963 team, led by Mike Treska and including five All-City performers, played a four-overtime grinder against Arlington at B.C.'s McHugh Forum which continued into a second day after Treska's tip-in goal in the second overtime was disallowed.
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The 1964 varsity, which featured captain Bob Walsh (25 goals), defenseman Mike `Quahaug' Quinn and goalie Ron `Digger' DeGregorio, staged a remarkable comeback from three goals down against Newton but lost after Walsh's apparent winning goal went uncredited after the Newton goalie plucked the puck from the cage before the red light could be switched on.
"The season ended in a hail of debris," remarked the Register, "and an outburst of justifiable bitterness never before witnessed in high school hockey."
Even after the switch to the tougher Dual County League, the BLS skaters continued to be a perennial tournament qualifier and came agonizingly close to claiming their first state title in 2001, when Coleman's squad won 20 games but fell to Danvers with 51 seconds to play in the final.
When victory finally did come in 2005, under first-year coach and former captain Frank Woods, it was extraordinarily dramatic and sweet. Tom DeRosa, who'd scored one goal and set up the other, slammed in a power-play clincher in overtime to beat two-time defending champion Saugus 3-2 at the FleetCenter.
"Saugus met a subject it couldn't master -- Latin," the Boston Globe observed.
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Notable Figures and Achievements
Throughout its history, Boston Latin hockey has been shaped by talented players and dedicated coaches. Here are a few notable figures:
- Jack O'Callahan: Led the 1974 team to the state tournament and won an Olympic gold medal with the 1980 "Boys of Winter."
- Dave Coleman: A Hall of Fame coach in both hockey and baseball.
- Frank Woods: First-year coach who led the team to a dramatic state championship victory in 2005.
- Tom DeRosa: Scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the 2005 state championship game.
The school offers six fall sports (football, cross-country, soccer, golf, girls' volleyball and swimming), five winter (hockey, basketball, indoor track, wrestling and boys' swimming) and six spring (baseball, softball, tennis, crew, sailing and boys' volleyball.
After the school went coed, Latin began adding women's sports, most of which quickly flowered. The swim team immediately ran off half a dozen city crowns.
For both the boys' and girls' teams, the switch to the Dual County League in 1982 was both challenging and enlightening.
After dominating city schools for decades, Latin was forced to raise i...
The BLSA funds equipment, ice-time, coaching, transportation, the entire sub-varsity program and other needs that allow the great kids of a land-locked, inner-city school to compete with their more well-resourced suburban counterparts.
The Wolfpack Today
Boston Latin's teams are known as the Boston Latin Wolfpack; their colors are purple and white. The Boston Latin School Athletics Hall of Fame commemorates the rich tradition of Wolfpack athletics - membership in the Hall of Fame honors many great student-athletes and coaches.
Categories of Membership:
- Student-Athlete
- Coach
- Contributor
- Team
Their success has earned them invitations in recent years to state and national competitions in hockey, baseball, track, cheerleading, crew and basketball.
Please join our whole community in celebrating the achievement of our scholar-athletes and their dedicated coaches who have gone above and beyond.
The BLS Athletic Department solicits the nomination of former student-athletes, coaches, contributors, and varsity teams to recognize and reward outstanding accomplishments.
The Boston Latin hockey program continues to uphold its tradition of excellence, fostering a spirit of competition, sportsmanship, and community. With its dedicated coaches, talented players, and passionate fans, the Wolfpack look forward to a bright future on the ice.
Table: Boston Latin Hockey Highlights
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Jack O'Callahan leads team to state tournament |
| 1980 | Jack O'Callahan wins Olympic gold medal |
| 2001 | Team comes close to claiming first state title |
| 2005 | Team wins state title under coach Frank Woods |
