St. Paul’s hockey boasts record, speed is strength for the team

BY BILL DOYLE | CFP CORRESPONDENT

Jay Monfreda, boys hockey coach at St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School, believes Knights junior center Colin Kreuz is the best player in Central Mass.
“I’d have to say, for sure, yeah,” Mr. Monfreda said. “The game slows down for him. He sees the ice really well and he’s not a selfish player. He’s got offensive skills, defensive skills, knows the game well, thinks the game well, sees the ice very well, and he’s very quick.”
Playing center on the same line with speedy freshman left winger Evan Waden brings out the best in Colin.
“Those two the last two years have just been on the same page,” Monfreda said, “and it’s really fun to watch them play.”
The Knights boast one of the best records in the region. The Knights had won eight in a row before dropping their final-season finale, 3-1, at Blackstone Valley Tech on Wednesday. They own a record of 14-3-1 overall, including 7-2-1 in the Russell Conference. BVT finished 8-2 a top the Russell Conference, a half game ahead of St. Paul's.
The Knights are built on speed. Colin is a very fast skater and so are several of his teammates.
“At the end of each game we’ve played,” Mr. Monfreda said, “that’s what we hear from the other coaches, ‘Wow, you guys are fast.’ Team speed is our strength, for sure.”
Colin has been a strong skater since he played for the Worcester Junior Sharks learn to skate program at 5 years old. He said his speed really improved after he had a 4- or 5-inch growth spurt in the eighth grade. He’s currently 6-foot-2 and weighs 170 pounds.
During a 5-2 win over Worcester on Dec. 23, Colin scored his 100th career point, quite a milestone for someone early in his junior year. He reached 100 at Buffone Arena, the same rink where he learned to skate.
“That was huge,” Colin said. “A lot of my family members drove out to see me play. So I didn’t just want to get it for me, I wanted to get it for all of them too.”
Colin leads Central Mass. with 47 points this season on 14 goals and 33 assists. He has an effective shot, but he also has excellent passing skills.
“Just playing with good players my entire life since I was a young kid,” he said, “and being able to trust my teammates and know that if I get it to them in the right spot, they’ll most likely score.”
Colin said it doesn’t matter to him whether he gets a goal or an assist, as long as St. Paul's scores.
Last year, he topped Central Mass. with 57 points on 21 goals and 36 assists. As a freshman, he collected 30 points.
Colin is a member of the Honor Roll and the National Honor Society, and he regularly attends Sunday Mass at St. John Parish with his family.
“Just knowing I have God by my side is always important,” he said, “and knowing I can have faith and trust in him throughout every game and knowing he’s on my side is very important to me.”
Of course, God is on everyone’s side, including St. Paul’s opponents.
“Yeah, I know,” Colin admitted.
Evan is also fast and knows how to score. He’s tied for second in Central Mass. with 38 points on 18 goals and 20 assists.
“Whenever we come into the zone, he always finds that soft spot where he’s open,” Colin said, “and I’m able to get it to him and he always finishes.”
Mr. Monfreda said Colin has a great shot, but Evan has an even better one. Sophomore right winger Aidan Boyce, who scored a hat trick against St. Bernard’s on Feb. 7, has 10 goals and 12 assists and he provides the first line with physicality.
“He’s going to hit anything and anybody in his way,” Colin said.
Aidan moved up to the first line to replace Cam Joinville, who transferred to Worcester Academy after playing well for St. Paul's as a freshman last year.
Junior Curtis Patrick (14-9-22) centers the second line and is another speedy skater with a great shot.
Colin’s father, Nick, is an assistant coach for St. Paul and he draws up plays for the team’s potent power play unit. Colin has played hockey for his father for most of his life.
“He’ll get on me sometimes, but it’s not a big deal,” Colin said. “I’m just so used to playing for him, he’s just another coach. Obviously, off the rink, he’s my father, but on the rink I just see him as a coach.”
St. Paul's started a hockey team two years ago after St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School and Holy Name Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School merged to form the school. With mostly underclassmen, the Knights finished 4-14 in 2021-22 and improved to 13-8-1 last season. The Knights are still young, but they’re much more experienced. This is the third season on the team for six of them.
“We’ve had the talent the last two years, we just didn’t have the bodies to give our top guys a rest,” Mr. Monfreda said.
This year, they do. Chris Palermo is the only senior and he captains the team along with Colin. Aidan is the assistant captain.
Chris has started every game in the three-year history of St. Paul hockey. He owns a 1.63 goals against average, among the lowest in Central Mass.
“He hasn’t had to see as many shots as the opponent’s goalie has,” Mr. Monfreda said, “but Chris makes timely saves and when you make a timely save, it gives you momentum.”
Colin is one of five juniors. There are also three sophomores, seven freshmen and an eighth grader. The team’s top two defensemen, Cameron Swank and Leyton Riendeau, are freshmen. Swank (9-9-18) scored a hat trick in an 8-2 win over Northbridge on Monday.
Monfreda said St. Paul's experienced a “wakeup call” while dropping its opener, 4-1, to Hudson. Aidan missed the next game, a 3-3 tie at Northbridge, with a concussion, but the Knights have won 14 of 16 since. The only other loss came in overtime, 2-1, at Dracut.
Winning the Russell Conference and a playoff game for the first time in St. Paul's history were among the goals this season.
The Knights are scheduled to play their first of two games in the Central Mass. Athletic Directors Association hockey tournament at 11:40 a.m. Monday against Nashoba at the Worcester Ice Center. Then they’ll play in the Division 3 state tournament.