St. Anthony's Peterson earns hockey player of the year
Melville - April 1, 2013: 2013 Newsday Winter All-stars section. St. Anthony's Hockey, Dan Peterson, (Player of the Year). (Photo by Patrick E. McCarthy) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
The success of any hockey team starts with the goaltender, and for St. Anthony's this season, Daniel Peterson was no exception.
Just try telling that to him.
The senior netminder went 10-1-1 allowing just 13 goals in 12 regular season games with four shutouts, and continued to shut teams down throughout the CHSHL playoffs as he led the Friars to a second consecutive league championship.
But as his coach Jeff Stelmok anticipated he would, Peterson graciously credited his teammates when he learned he was this season's Newsday hockey player of the year.
"He always pushes the limelight away from himself, which is terrific, and I admire that," said Stelmok, who also nominated Peterson for a Hobey Baker High School Character award. "But deep down inside he knows he's the backbone of our team and we told him that."
Said Peterson of the Newsday award: "It's a great honor but there are definitely other players who deserve it too. There was a great defense in front of me that allowed easy shots, and easy shots make for easy saves."
Easy or not, Peterson stopped the pucks that came his way.
Including the postseason, Peterson set the tone for a Friars defense that allowed just 27 goals in 21 games. He was named the team's MVP, going 4-0 with six goals allowed in the CHSHL playoffs, and though St. Anthony's failed to defend its CHSAA state championship, Peterson still made 47 saves in a 3-0 defeat.
"Our season was great," Peterson said. "Our defense helped me along the way, our team was great every single year I was here, contending for state championships, and we had teams that started with defense first and offense second."
Added Stelmok: "We lost a ton of offense this year and scoring goals was difficult, so that put things on Danny, but he was exceptional."
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 4: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Nassau Conference II football matchup between Calhoun at Carey, plus the comeback story of New Hyde Park's Gabriel Peter, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 4: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Nassau Conference II football matchup between Calhoun at Carey, plus the comeback story of New Hyde Park's Gabriel Peter, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
