The Brewster Bears have made two sectional final appearances since 2005.
But senior goaltender Andrew Nicol was familiar with what title games are all about even before that.
Nicol’s father, John, was varsity coach at Yorktown from 1998-2002. During those five seasons, the Huskers won sectional championships each year.
* Player’s perspective archive
Brewster has one sectional title to its credit. It came in 1999 when the Bears beat John Jay 14-13 in overtime in the Class B final.
If the Bears are to win their second this season, the Vassar-bound Nicol will undoubtedly play a key role.
* For background info on Andrew, click here.
What have you been doing to get ready for the season?
We have indoor games at the Brewster Sports Center once a week and we have Sunday practices. On top of that, we all have been working out on our own as much as we can.
What scrimmages are you looking forward to?
I am really excited for our scrimmages this year. We play at the Somers and New Fairfield tournaments, but what really sticks out is Coach (George) Searings Louis Acompora Tournament (at Northport). Were looking forward to competing against some of the best teams in the state and it will be a great learning experience.
What players on your team may be under the radar right now?
I think sophomore defenseman Harry Erickson will surprise a lot of people in Section 1 this year. He has the talent to anchor our defensive unit this spring. On offense, I expect seniors Ryan Minsker and Matt Heintz to contribute a lot of scoring. They both have improved remarkably during the offseason.
What areas will your team be strong in this year?
Coming into this year, we are looking to fill the holes left by many departed seniors. We will be relying a lot on our midfield to control the tempo of our games. We have a very deep, athletic midfield unit. They can run with a lot of Section 1. Kevin Farrell has the talent to take over some games for us. Also, our experience with each other is a huge strength. I have been playing with guys like Tim Meyer and Zach Salvia my entire life. We understand each others habits and tendencies.
How do you view the Class B race in Section 1?
Class B is very strong this year. Somers is looking dangerous. Coach (Tim) Schurr is going to make John Jay one of the best teams in the Section, and Coach (Vin) DeGregorio is doing a great job at Horace Greeley. We need to get better as a team to be successful come the end of May. When its all said and done, the sectional playoffs should be a memorable one.
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