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The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703 |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
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The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703 |
Byers, a radio personality at WAAF, emphasized the importance of each player fulfilling his roll and not attempting to be the hero during an impromptu visit to the school yesterday.
Teacher Jill Anderson contacted Byers on Wednesday through WAAF because Franklin's hockey team is preparing for the state title. She thought the visit would fit in well with her Sports and Popular Culture class, which has heard from other professional athletes this school year. The class just finished a unit on sports in the 1980s that emphasized the 1980 Miracle on Ice game, when the United States defeated Russia in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Byers came to speak to the class, which invited members of the hockey team to listen along.
There was once a day where that was likely true. Jimmy Marchand was one of the stars of Franklin's 1983 state championship team, a senior who scored 25 goals in the Panthers' only state championship season.
The only one for now, at least.
James Marchand and his teammates will have something to say about that tomorrow when they play North-champion Tewksbury at TD Garden for the Division 2 crown (1:30 p.m.).
James has been one of the heroes of Franklin's run, scoring in the final minutes against Oliver Ames in the sectional semifinals to complete a late comeback, then scoring twice in the third period to put away Plymouth South in the South final last Sunday.
"We've only had six home games so the fans really haven't had an opportunity to come watch us," said Nick Bertoni, a 17-year-old junior who plays left wing. "We want them to cheer like they've never cheered before."
And if advance ticket sales are any indication, the players will get their wish. The school sold more than 800 tickets during the first day of public sales and athletics staff had to drive to Boston yesterday to get a second block of 1,000 tickets to meet demand, Athletic Director Brad Sidwell said.
The Panthers (17-4-2) will play at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Division 2 state championship game against Tewksbury (18-5-1) in hopes of winning their first state title since 1983. The team last made the championship game in 2003.