Matt Regan dan Wolfgang Zinger Bergabung dengan Cornwall Colts

Dua mantan pemain bintang hoki putra Sekolah Menengah Atas Pope Francis Preparatory, Matthew Regan dan Wolfgang Zinger, resmi mengumumkan komitmen mereka untuk melanjutkan karier ke jenjang hoki junior bersama Cornwall Colts pada Kamis, 9 Juli 2026.

Keputusan tersebut diumumkan dalam sebuah upacara resmi yang berlangsung di lingkungan sekolah Pope Francis Preparatory School, Springfield, sebagaimana dilansir dari laporan masslive.com.

Pihak klub Cornwall Colts berkompetisi di dalam Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) sejak didirikan pada tahun 1992 dan menjadwalkan laga kandang mereka di Ed Lumley Arena yang berkapasitas 5.000 penonton.

Mengenai pencapaian tim sebelumnya di TD Garden saat meraih gelar juara negara bagian Divisi I, Zinger memberikan pandangannya tentang kerja keras yang telah mereka lakukan.

"Winning a state championship was like a dream come true," ujar Wolfgang Zinger, pemain hoki Cornwall Colts. "Everything we had been working toward and trying to accomplish together to reach that goal, so it was so sick to play. And the atmosphere at TD Garden made it all worth it, because all of the early-morning workouts at Pope Francis and then going to camp in the summer five times a week made it all worth it."

Zinger juga menambahkan bahwa kompetisi di tingkat junior akan menjadi sarana baginya untuk berkembang lebih matang sebelum melangkah ke jenjang perguruan tinggi.

"I just want to get a better opportunity for college, so competing in the junior hockey league will help me develop more as a player and a person before I take the next step. There were a couple of spots that reached out to Regan and me, but we were just looking for the best opportunity. It didn’t matter if it was in Canada or the United States."

Di sisi lain, Matthew Regan mengemas poin karier ke-100 miliknya pada Februari lalu saat melawan Belmont serta dianugerahi penghargaan Amo Bessone Award sebagai Pemain Terbaik bersama Joseph Maffia dari Westfield.

"I think it was a really fun year," kata Matthew Regan, penyerang Cornwall Colts. "The accomplishments come after because we obviously put in all the work to make it all happen, but it was a really fun year because we came up short the previous three years. We were the No. 1 team in the state both years before this until we were No. 7 in the winter. And then we ended up winning this year because we were a strong group, so it feels great."

Regan menyatakan ambisinya untuk terus meningkatkan performa fisik serta kecepatan bermainnya selama membela tim asal Ontario tersebut.

"But overall, my hope is to take (my career) as far as we can. But until then, my hope is to improve my strength, speed, and everything all around just to continue getting better."

Pelatih kepala Cardinals, Brian Foley, mengekspresikan rasa bangganya terhadap dedikasi serta rekam jejak akademis yang dimiliki oleh kedua mantan anak asuhnya tersebut.

"As a coach, I’m really proud of them," kata Brian Foley, pelatih Cardinals. "And as a school, they are also really proud because these boys have great transcripts. They are also really good students, and now they are making the next step in hockey, which is junior hockey, and we couldn’t be more proud of them. In hockey, there’s the inner drive, and that’s something that the best players have."

Foley menilai bahwa kerja keras dan kedisiplinan tingkat tinggi sudah melekat di dalam diri Regan maupun Zinger sebagai atlet elite.

"Like some players, you spend a lot of time trying to get them to reach their potential. But the hard work is innate, and they have to buy into that and be disciplined and dedicated to improving themselves as hockey players. And these guys are two examples of that.

Like they just work hard during the season, and they continue to work hard in the offseason to improve. And that’s the difference with the elite athletes."

Asisten pelatih Cardinals, Daniel Fenton, memberikan pujian atas komitmen belajar kedua pemain tersebut di dalam ruang kelas hingga kelulusan mereka pada bulan lalu.

"I think they dedicated their time to the school and the ice," kata Daniel Fenton, asisten pelatih Cardinals. "We’re so proud of their accomplishments, so to be able to celebrate this today was great. I think those guys put the work in and made an informed decision to stay here for four years. And because of that, I think this opportunity popped up for them."

Fenton meyakini bahwa jaringan alumni sekolah yang luas akan menyambut baik langkah baru yang diambil oleh Regan dan Zinger.

"So not only are they now alumni of Pope Francis, but they are now entering this tremendous network of 50,000 alumni, and they get to celebrate this accomplishment. Who knows what it will bring, but one thing is for sure, they both have a bright future ahead."

Walaupun terpisah jarak sekitar 322 mil menuju Kanada, keduanya memastikan akan tetap memantau perkembangan tim Cardinals pada musim dingin mendatang.

"We’ll definitely be stopping by," ujar Matthew Regan, penyerang Cornwall Colts. "I think during our Christmas break and other times, so we will be definitely be keeping updated. I mean, we both have brothers on the team (still), so it will be cool to come back and watch some of those games because I never had a doubt the team will remain competitive and good."