RallyNorth.net

Andover's Flanagan feeling right at home

Friday, January, 18 By David Willis
Staff writer

Andover's George Flanagan had no trouble remembering his favorite all-time holiday.

"One year the skating rink in our back yard was finally ready on Christmas Day," he said. "We had Christmas dinner at our house and we just skated all day. I don't think we ever even came in the house the whole day."

After playing two seasons for Phillips Academy, Flanagan made the decision to move to Andover High for his junior season. And it has paid off handsomely for the Golden Warriors.

There is no question where he molded his hockey skills. "We built the hockey rink for the first time when I was three," said Andover's leading scorer. "It has just gotten better over the years. We have added lights and music to make it fun. There are lights on eight side so we skate all night."

The day after Thanksgiving every year, Flanagan and his family build the boards and lay down a giant, 110x48 sheet of plastic over it.

Once the temperature hits 15 degrees, they flood the makeshift surface with water. And a week later they strap on the skates.

"It is the most exciting thing ever," said Flanagan. "My brother (Phillips freshman Conor) and I go out every night and have some good one-on-one battles. My friends like (Andover teammates) Matt Perry and Joe Lamagna have come over for years."

His father is thrilled to hand down the tradition. "I grew up in Lowell," said David. "And when I was young my father cut down a bunch of trees in our backyard, flattened the land and flooded it for a rink. And when we moved to Andover, he did the same think to that backyard."

And when his son was old enough, David, the owner of First Call Medical based in Billerica, did the same thing for his family.

"The kids enjoy the game and have fun," said David, who played a year at Harvard before spending a year in junior hockey. "But they also work on their skills. They do things like working on their shot and skating through cones that they don't have time to do during the high school season."

After playing for his father for years in the Andover youth system, Flanagan made the decision to attend his father's alma mater, Phillips Andover. He spent his freshman season as a member of the JV team. He then made the varsity team as a sophomore, playing mainly on the third and fourth line. But after last season he began to debate a move.

"My grades weren't where they should have been," he said. "We thought a change was needed to come back to my old friends."

George transferred to Andover High. But not before he contacted one key person.

"He met with me and told me he was coming back to Andover," said Golden Warriors head coach Mario Martiniello. "I hadn't seen him play, but I had heard from the guys he was a good player. I told him we looked forward to having him on the varsity team."

It didn't take long for Flanagan to make an impact. He had an assist in Andover's first game of the season, and a goal in the second.

"He always had the offensive skill," said Martiniello. "Getting used to the new system was an adjustment. He was used to taking chances in the offensive zone. That's not the way we play. It took a few games, but he has adjusted well."

Through 10 games this season, Flanagan leads the Warriors with eight goals, tied for sixth in the area, and 16 points, good for seventh in the region.

"It was an excellent decision," Flanagan said. "Me and my linemates (John) Hyslip and (Cam) Smith are really clicking. If we see the defensive pressure one way, we know what play to run. We know how to pick opponents apart."

Flanagan's play has led Andover to an 8-2 record, including four straight wins. And once the season ends, he plans to turn his attention to baseball.

"I don't think he could be happier," said David. "He is enjoying the high school. He has a ton of friends, he is enjoying the work and he likes the teachers. He couldn't be happier."