Thursday, March 15, 2007 Older Editions

Ice dream Sunday

With so much history in Andover, and so much history of success, it's not easy to become the first to do anything. But the Andover High School boys hockey team has the opportunity to do just that. They will play Sunday at the TD Banknorth Garden for the state championship. If they win, it will bring the town its first hockey crown.

The team should know how powerfully Andover supports it, and we encourage people to go to the game. Players - at least those old enough to have more than peach fuzz - have been growing beards during their playoff run. So guys can use "support for our team" as an excuse for taking the weekend off from shaving. Women and children can dig out those discarded, fake Johnny Damon beards and wear them happily again.

There is a lot to cheer about on both ends of the ice. Goalie Dan Abreu has been a wall, setting a school record with seven shutouts. Tucker Mullin has set many offensive records, including amassing five hat tricks.

The team has already made Andover proud. A win Sunday would just be - if you'll excuse the pun - the icing on the cake.