Saugus native Andrew Cross has worked his way into Endicott College’s lineup this season.
By JOSHUA KUMMINS
There is nothing unproven about the hockey programs Andrew Cross has played for over the last several years.
The Saugus native skated for Malden Catholic and Austin Prep ― two of Massachusetts’ most successful high school hockey programs ― before spending a post-graduate year at perennial New England prep power Avon Old Farms.
Cross has continued outstanding hockey traditions in the past, but now, he is helping to build one at Beverly’s Endicott College.
Cross has played in just seven games for the Gulls during their first year as a Division 3 varsity program, but has learned invaluable lessons as a collegiate newcomer from head coach R.J. Tolan.
“The season’s been going pretty well for a first-year program,” Cross said. “For me, coming from high school, I didn’t really know about the grind as much as the guys playing juniors and have a little more experience, but overall the season’s been great. It’s been an overall fun year so far.”
Although the Gulls roster includes a whopping 28 freshmen, Cross is much younger than some of his teammates as he joined the Endicott program immediately after attending Avon.
Jumping immediately from a high school program to college hockey can be a daunting task. He has made the most of the experiences to date, even though he hasn’t played since before the calendar turned to 2016.
“I think he’s been a tremendous teammate, a tremendous part of the community there,” said Tolan. “He’s a tremendous student and has been a great competitor throughout the year … and he’s worked every day to get himself cemented in that lineup.”
Tolan quickly noticed a strong hockey IQ and toughness in Cross that make him an exciting player to watch. He has used this first season to develop in a way he had not been used to in the past.
“I wasn’t really used to being at the rink all day, every day,” Cross said. “I’m really just focusing on getting stronger and faster.”
Cross worked his way into the lineup for seven consecutive contests from Nov. 12 to Dec. 5, a stretch over which the Gulls went 6-1. He recorded an assist against Becker on Nov. 21.
“Being young, I didn’t really think I was going to get much time at all,” Cross said. “I’m not as experienced as some of the other guys, but it definitely was a confidence booster. It taught me a lot, and I know what it takes for me to get back in the lineup.”
Tolan, who grew up in Waltham, attended Matignon High School and played at UMass Lowell from 1998-02, knows how special the opportunity to play so close to home is to a player like Cross.
“Win or lose, in the lineup or out of the lineup, guys like Andrew have come here for the right reasons,” said Tolan, who was Wentworth’s head coach for eight years after serving as a Division 1 assistant at Bentley and Northeastern. “It’s a great place and a great community. I think they have that bond with each other before hand and it’s made it an even nicer thing to be a part of.”
Staying local has been important to Cross for the majority of his hockey career. He is excited to be back close to home after his year away, and knows this is the place he wants to be and where he belongs.
“I go home every Sunday,” Cross said. “It’s a lot different than going to Avon last year, which was almost three hours away. I didn’t really get to see (my family) that much. I don’t really like leaving Massachusetts, I don’t really know anywhere else.”
Cross will certainly be a contributing player to the Gulls over the next several seasons. North Shore hockey fans have a new team to root for, and now they have a local player to circle on the roster.
Names and notes:
Lynn’s Katie Burt made 16 saves and earned her 12th shutout of the season and 22nd of her career, setting new Boston College women’s hockey records, in the Eagles’ 3-0 win over Vermont on Sunday. With the win, the Eagles claim the Hockey East regular-season championship…Lynn’s Hulerie McGuffie won two gold medals for the UMass Boston track team at the Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championship meet on Satuday. McGuffie won the 200 and 400-meter races, setting a new Little East indoor record time in the 200 (25.72 seconds). UMass Dartmouth runner and Lynn native Nneka Iloba finished fifth in the 60-meter dash at the same meet…Lynn native and Plymouth State senior Uche Nwokeji celebrated senior night with a double-double, leading the Panthers with 21 points and 10 rebounds in their win over UMass Boston on Saturday…Swampscott’s Samnell Vonleh led the Saint Anselm women’s basketball team with 13 points and 12 rebounds in its loss to Saint Michael’s on Saturday…Courtney Smith scored a goal for the Salem State women’s hockey team in their 3-2 win over Becker on Saturday, while Winthrop’s Caroline McKinnon earned an assist on the game-winning goal…Peabody’s Mary Leach set a new personal best time in the mile while running for the Bentley track team at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Friday, finishing in 5 minutes, 30.26 seconds…Peabody’s Anthony Christo placed second in the weight throw at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championships on Saturday for the Worcester State track team with a throw of 14.79 meters. Fellow Peabody graduate and teammate Marcus Vieira placed fifth. Vieira and Christo also came in third and fourth in the shot put, respectively…
Joshua Kummins can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.