To say it’s a family thing might be understating it. Brothers Pierce and Cole Blaeser make up two-thirds of the top line for St. John’s Prep, the perennial scholastic powerhouse based in Danvers, Mass.
The Boxford, Mass., natives are a major reason the Eagles are off to a terrific start and in the hunt to win the program’s first state championship since 2015.
Pierce, a senior captain, centers the first line with his brother, Cole, a junior, on the left wing. The brother duo plays with Tommy Sarni, another senior captain. The trio has racked up plenty of points as SJP has staked its claim as one of the top three teams in the MIAA.
“It’s awesome. We’ve been dreaming about it for a long time. To actually be the top line and scoring together, it’s something I never imagined would actually happen,” Pierce said.
While it’s the first year they’ve played together at the high school level, there is no shortage of chemistry when it comes to the St. John’s Prep top line.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play with Pierce and go to practices with him since we were little kids. We know where we’re going to be on the ice. We have great chemistry. Tommy is easy to work with and a great team leader,” Cole said.
“Cole and I have always been big passers,” Pierce added. “The past couple of years we’ve been working on our shots and become goal scorers. Tommy Sarni has always been a goal scorer, so we work really well together.”
With Sarni out of the lineup due to COVID in a recent Catholic Conference game against Malden Catholic, the brotherly duo was joined by cousin Jake Vana (Boxford, Mass.). The trio who live close to each other always have been close and didn’t miss a beat, factoring in three of the four goals scored.
“That was really special. We’re really close. We see each other every day. My dad (Jack) and both his brothers (Jeff and Mark) went to the Prep. They’ve had two brothers on a line before, but never three. My grandparents were more than happy to hear that all three of us were playing together,” Pierce said.
According to St. John’s Prep head coach Kristian Hanson, much of the success the brothers are having can be attributed to their hard work and other intangible qualities.
“Being brothers, they have that level of comfort playing together,” said Hanson, a Salem, Mass., native who has been coaching at his high school alma mater since 2007. “Their work ethic is unmatched. I can go back a lot of years now. They’re at the top of the list in terms of putting time in. They work so hard off the ice. They’re extremely coachable kids. They’re great leaders in the locker room. They’re a big part of the motor that gets us going.”
The brothers spent a lot of time this past summer on the ice in an effort to get better. Countless hours were spent at Essex Sports Center with legendary skating guru Paul Vincent.
“We worked with Paul Vincent on edge work four times a week. We also skated with Sam Kurker twice a week to work more on our skating. We worked out and skated every day. We realized from a young age that if you put in more time than everyone else, eventually it will pay off,” Pierce explained.
For Cole, the offseason work helped him earn more ice time and has paid off on the scoresheet, as he’s one of the assists leaders across the state through the first month of the high school season.
“Cole has matured a lot. He’s bigger, stronger, faster and more of a force than he was a year ago. The skill level was there, but the year of maturity and learning systems has made a big difference,” Hanson said.
As good as they are on the ice, the brothers have a myriad of interests away from the rink. Pierce plays lacrosse and Cole is on the soccer team. Pierce has taken advantage of the many clubs offered at St. John’s Prep to possibly come up with a career for after hockey.
“I’m in the investment club with (assistant) Coach (Dave) Hennessey. I’ve learned a lot. We take real money and invest it as a group into real stocks,” said Pierce, who plans to attend a great academic and hockey college after this year or next if he plays junior hockey.
There was never much doubt the two brothers would attend St. John’s Prep. Following in the footsteps of their father and uncles was motivation, as was watching the 2015 team skate off the TD Garden ice with a Super 8 championship.
“Ever since elementary school, we’ve been dreaming of going here. We watched some of the state tournament games when we were younger. The teachers and coaches are amazing. The environment is great,” Pierce said.
While the Blaeser brothers and Sarni are listed first on the line chart, the team’s depth has been a key component to racking up wins.
“The Blaeser brothers are hard workers. They set the tone for the other lines to follow. We feed off the top line. We have an attack mentality. You need your legs every night to play to our skill-set. We want to be tenacious and get pucks on net,” Hanson said of the team’s style.
“All four of our lines can play with anyone else’s first line. When it gets late in the second period, we can skate any team out of the building with our speed (and depth),” Cole added.
Outside of the depth, having veteran leadership and relying heavily on upperclassmen has been a trademark of SJP teams over the years.
“All the seniors and other returners felt that we missed out on a lot last year,” Pierce said. “This year means a lot. Most of us have been playing together since freshman year. We have a connection that I’ve never seen any other team have. We’re a family and hoping to go all the way.”
“The leadership group has created a family around here. We have a bunch of seniors who have taken captain roles even without wearing a letter. Even the younger kids have come in and earned their spots to play,” Cole echoed.
Last year, with a limited schedule, no state tournament and lack of fans, took away from the experience of playing high school hockey. However, the adversity helped a young team bond and be better prepared for this year.
“It’s a carryover from last year,” said Hanson, who played two years of college hockey at New Hampshire before graduating from Salem State. “We had a relatively young team last year. A lot of our guys are comfortable playing with each other. Aside from that, it’s a really good, hard-working team. If you’re willing to outwork your opponent, you’re going to be successful.”
While brighter days and a state tournament are on the horizon, this season hasn’t been without chaos and lineup changes, due to COVID protocols.
“There’s no question this year has had its own share of challenges,” Hanson said. “Our team, we’re still battling COVID. Everyone is just happy to get to the rink and have that next-man-up mentality. We’re looking forward to every game. It’s just a real nice group of kids.”
