1988 boys hockey team headlines 2025 Waltham High School Athletic Hall of Fame class

The City of Waltham carries a longstanding passion for high school athletics in a way that many localities do not.

One of the teams to foster that local passion for Hawks athletics is the 1988 boys hockey team, which will soon be honored by the city. 

The legendary squad will be inducted into the Waltham High School Athletic Hall of Fame in October along with seven individuals who made a significant mark on WHS sports.

This list includes Tricia Auld, a 2003 WHS graduate who went on to play soccer at UMass Lowell; Ryan Scanlon, a fellow 2003 grad who excelled on the football field; former alpine skiing state champion and 2010 graduate Danielle Scanlon; 1996 graduate Kristin Tracey who, in addition to serving as a longtime school resource officer as an adult, played four years of varsity soccer, three years of varsity basketball and did the high jump on the track team for four years during her WHS years; and 2002 state champion hockey player Pat Watson.

The committee also will induct two former coaches, Joe Salvo and Tom Leverone.

The 1988 team was one of just five WHS boys hockey teams to make it all the way to the Boston Garden for state finals in the history of the program and the first team to do so since 1973. Also part of that list is the 1965, 1973, 2002 and 2018 units. The 1988 Hawks eventually fell just shy of capturing the state title, enduring a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the formidable Catholic Memorial Knights in the semifinals.

The 1988 iteration of the program was led by 2018 WHS Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Bryan LaFort. The only WHS player to be drafted to the National Hockey League, the eventual Boston University Terrier managed to make 44 saves in that loss to the Knights. Three months later LaFort was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the eighth round of the NHL entry draft.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held Friday, Oct. 17, with a special dinner event at the Sons of Italy at 99 Cedar St. Those interested in attending the event can contact Janet Connors (janetconnors10@gmail.com) for ticket information.