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Kreider making smooth transition at Phillips Andover

Wednesday, February, 13 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

One of his friends has mischievously programmed Chris Kreider's cell phone to play the syrupy 1960s pop ballad "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies whenever it rings.

"I don't know how to fix it, either," laughed the 16-year-old Boxford native. "It's a little embarrassing." He shouldn't be worried. The moves Kreider makes on the ice at Phillips Andover Academy are beautifully sweet.

In his first year at the Division 1 prep school hockey power, Kreider | who is repeating his sophomore year at Phillips Andover after transferring in from Masconomet Regional | seemingly hasn't missed a beat despite making a huge jump hockey-wise. He leads the Big Blue in goals (20) and has 28 points in 21 games, good for third overall on the squad.

"Chris has made a terrific transition here | shorter than a lot of kids I've seen make the jump (from public school). He's doing very, very well, both academically and athletically," said long-time Andover hockey coach Dean Boylan, whose team is 13-7-1. "He's got an outstanding upside as a hockey player."

Last year's Salem News Hockey Player of the Year while at Masconomet, Kreider possesses the three S's | size, speed and skill | to succeed in the ultra-competitive world of New England prep school hockey.

Admittedly, he was a bit "intimidated" in the early going, but learned to push through that and realized he could play with the big boys.

"It's been an awesome experience," said Kreider, who has been skating left wing on a line with captain Andrew Cox (the Big Blue's leading scorer with 43 points) and J.J. McGregor. "I loved being at Masco and playing with guys I had played my whole life with; it was a blast. But I wanted to challenge myself further, and when I was accepted at Andover, I knew it's where I wanted to go."

Watching and learning from his teammates every day, Kreider fed off of that and picked up his own game in lockstep. Whereas he wasn't used to receiving tape-to-tape passes in certain areas of the ice at first ("I'd be stunned to get the puck in perfect scoring situations" he said), the play of those around him has brought out the best in Kreider's abilities.

"I learned early on that all of these kids at this level | both on my team and other teams | can flat-out play, so you just have to keep working to find another gear within yourself. It's that extra push and drive that allows you to succeed. Everyone here can skate and shoot, but it's the hungry kids who are the best ones. You really have to want it."

Kreider is quick to credit much of his success this season to his teammates; not only for setting him up during games, but also for what they've taught him on and off the ice. Early on, he was paired on a line with veteran Steve Bury and former Andover High great Tucker Mullin (whose team beat Kreider and the Chieftains in last year's Division 2 North semifinals) and felt fortunate to be playing "with such skilled teammates."

Now that he skates regularly with the Holy Cross-bound Cox | "one of the most influential teammates I've ever had" | he's become a real student of the game, picking his captain's brain for the slightest nuances that might help him on the ice.

He's also watched his own skills develop | areas of his game he didn't know he had | by emulating his two linemates' play during games. He now knows that there are times defenses will pay less attention to him and focus more on Cox and McGregor, so he knows where to be in terms of streaking towards the net when one of the two will whip a pass his way.

"The way I think when I have the puck is so different from playing with those guys ... and it's for the better," said Kreider, who had a 4-goal game against St. Sebastian's last month. "It's not always push-push-push it up the ice. I'm starting to learn, especially from Cox, that you have to pull up sometimes and wait for the play to develop."

Boylan, who has been using Kreider and his booming shot on the point of the Big Blue's top power play unit, said the ability to create separation for himself and figuring out things on his own has made the young sophomore an even more dangerous player.

"He's got the good size and speed to begin with, plus that on-ice vision ... combine those with that separation and ability to make things happen, and it's why Chris is only going to keep getting better," said Boylan.