Norwood’s Shea Man in Hurry; Runs on Skates, Scores Often-March 20, 1967

Norwood High’s Tom Shea will never win a skating ribbon. – He’s never played in a midget or peewee hockey program and the way he skates seems to bear it out Coach Don Wheeler and the players refer to Shea (5-10, 170), a junior wing playing alongside Dick Graham and Pete Oberlander, as the “road runner.” “We call him that because he runs on the skates,” chuckled Wheeler. “He’d be the first to admit he’s far from being the flashiest person on ice.” Whatever it is that Shea does possess, it’s been good enough to help Norwood, 18-2-2, to reach Wednesday’s 7:30 State Hockey Tournament final against Arlington, 18-0-0, at the Garden. ; “I think it’s sheer desire that makes Shea good enough to start on the hockey team.

It’s probably a carryover from football, where he finished out on Thanksgiving Day scoring five touchdowns and gaining 360 yards.” Wheeler did stress that although Shea is somewhat awkward on cuts and turns, “he’s the fastest skater I have going down a straight line.” What amazes Wheeler is that he’s been criticized for using Shea on the Graham-Overlander line. Apparently that criticism came before the tournament.

Who can possibly find fault with a fellow like Shea when he scores two of the goals, including the winning one, to give Norwood a 4-3 squeaker over Marblehead in the quarterfinals? Or how about his goal that stretched Norwood’s lead to 3-0 and put the game beyond Auburn’s reach in the second round? And wasn’t he on the ice when Graham rapped in the only goal as Norwood edged Maiden Catholic, 1-0? Perhaps Shea won’t be remembered as long as goalie Neil Higgins 20 shutouts in two years or Richie Hebner, who chose baseball instead of pro hockey. But right now, Tom is a nice fellow to have around in hockey and he seems to be around at the perfect time.

By NEIL SIXGELAIS Boston Globe