Children begin playing sports at very young ages and in many cases, local sports programs involve participants from multiple towns. Hockey is one of them. Senior hockey players Peter Richards (Gorham), Kurtis Morin (Biddeford/Old Orchard/Masabesic), Sawyer Wirsing (Thornton) and Ethan Jasa (Scarborough), all of whom are captains of their respective teams, have built upon their friendships since they started playing together as youngsters. All four boys went through the Southern Maine Youth Hockey program (formerly known as Southern Maine Youth Hockey/Breakers), and in their travel years, they played together on the same team.
Wirsing said that he, Jasa, and Morin have been playing together since their first year of squirts. All four of the boys, including Richards, played together in peewee hockey up through U16.
“Playing with the same guys for such a long time forms such a bond both on and off the ice,” said Wirsing. And playing with his best friends pushed each of them to improve their play, which he felt was a huge part of their development.
When you are on a travel team, many memories are made. Morin said he remembers lots of knee hockey in hotel hallways after tournaments (and maybe being a bit too loud!). “We always have just kept in touch, we would go to each other’s birthday parties, skating, texting, and our parents all became good friends,” he shared.
Richards’ favorite memory was when they won the semifinals game to go to the state championship their first year. “We scored the game winning goal in overtime and upset the higher seed,” he said. Being on the same team brought them close as friends and Richards said, “They are the few people I talk to outside of Gorham.”
Like Morin, Jasa remembers the away tournaments, staying in hotels with his friends and running through the halls. “I still laugh at the thought of some of those memories,” he said. He was also lucky enough to play in a few championship games with the other boys. “The emotions and commitment we all gave to those efforts certainly helped to bring us together not only as teammates, but also as friends,” Jasa said.
Photo credit Jasa FamilySawyer Wirsing, Kurtis Morin, Ethan Jasa and Peter Richards, shown left to right, have been playing hockey together since they were youngsters coached by Sawyer’s dad, Eric Wirsing (below).
When it comes to rivalry, the boys seem to take it in stride. Though it’s most definitely on their minds when they are playing against each other, Morin said, “There is friendly rivalry between all of us when we play.” He shared at the end of the day, they always make time for each other when the games are done. Wirsing said, “It is most fun when you get to play against your long time teammates. You can appreciate their hard work, and not only are you playing to win, you’re playing for bragging rights.”
When Richards plays against the other boys’ teams, he said he “gets butterflies” because he is excited to play them, but his first thought is how can he stop them. Jasa said when he gets the chance to play Biddeford, Thornton, or Gorham, there is an extra bit of excitement going into those games. “You always try to give your best in every game, but when you find yourself in a puck battle with someone you’ve known for ten years, you somehow find a way to give a little bit extra in those moments,” he said, adding, “Winning or losing versus my teammates is always followed by a bit of harmless taunting and jeering, but it only adds to the rivalry in my opinion.”
Jasa’s mother, Jenny, said win or lose, they meet up after the game to congratulate each other, and more
often than not, they are still chatting as the Zamboni is clearing the ice.
The boys owe a lot of their success to Coach Eric Wirsing, Sawyer’s dad and co-owner of Atlantic Coast Hockey. He coached all four of the boys for many years, and said they are a very special group because of who they are as individuals.
“They are kids with great character whose love for the game created this fantastic friendship between the four of them. To watch them grow and become the friends they are, regardless of competing with or against each other, is just a great feeling,” Wirsing said.
Wirsing has a specific memory of the boys having lunch before the Bantam State Championship game when they were freshman. “They just enjoyed the moment, laughing and creating memories that have lasted all fours years and I know will, well beyond their playing days,” he said. “They always put the team first over their individual success and they pushed each other to be better because that is what they wanted. I think that each of them being captain speaks volumes about their character more than their abilities. Each of them are talented hockey players and are deserving of the “C” because of their hard work, dedication and who they are as individuals.”
As the boys get ready for life after high school, whether it’s college or junior hockey, one thing seems to remain constant. The hockey friendships that started when they were young will carry on no matter where they end up.