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The Best Mass Hockey Tweets of the Year

By Jamie MacDonald, 05/20/16, 12:45PM EDT

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As Mass Hockey continues to grow, so does our social media presence. We love using our Facebook and Twitter feeds to connect with the fans, players, coaches and parents on a fun and engaging level. More importantly we love using it to celebrate all of you and all that Mass Hockey is proud to represent. And with Mass Hockey products doing some big things, there's certainly a lot to celebrate lately. 

Here's a look at our top tweets from the 2015-16 season. Be on the lookout for lots more as we prepare for 2016-17!

Let's begin this exercise with a good stretch -- of the memory, back to USA Hockey's Annual Congress. Otherwise, enjoy our scenic stroll down memory lane.

Congrats on a successful and storied tenure, Ron. And thank you for all you’ve accomplished in that time! https://t.co/6pKgFaFgqk

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) June 2, 2015

.@usahockey Annual Congress concludes, read up on what happened http://t.co/qAjuEaXRJ2 pic.twitter.com/pvHKJK6iae

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) June 8, 2015

Then-incoming and then-outgoing president of USA Hockey, Ron DeGregorio and Jim Smith, have spent countless hours of their lives devoted to considering the growth, the health and the future of hockey in this country. Their contributions are beyond respectable and in the neighborhood of remarkable. The Massachusetts connection? We have "Digger" to thank for the Mini One-On-One concept that airs during Bruins games.

How does a player become #elite? Read insight from a #Cup-winning scout. http://t.co/E3LJDJyKTf pic.twitter.com/opBsFy9qXW

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) June 22, 2015

If you ever meet Massachusetts native and Blackhawks amateur scout Mike Doneghey on the street someday, do yourself a favor and ask him question about player development, the draft, prospects or just about anything related to hockey. Great depth of knowledge, a fraction of which was revealed in the link above. Note to aspiring pro players: Yes, scouts are interested your character makeup. And how can you argue with Chicago's success over the past half-decade?

And Eichel goes to Buffalo. Congrats Jack! #NHLDraft2015

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) June 26, 2015

Congrats Noah! #NHLDraft2015 https://t.co/QpRlYCH0Uk

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) June 27, 2015

We're coming up on another draft, and it will be hard to top this past year's annual talent grab from a Massachusetts perspective. And kudos to friend-of-hockey John Buccigross for calling the Hanifin pick. And to a third Mass native taken in the first round, Colin White.

2:36 PM - 27 Jul 2015

Want to develop athleticism? @usahockey @Kenmhockey shares his tips in our latest Q&A http://t.co/UVKVnEUwjS pic.twitter.com/J27zOaMKoR

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) July 27, 2015

First, this is a great image. Bright sunlight, long shadows, big smiles. Excellent message. If you've ever watched your kids at the playground, you see them learning balance. Or playing soccer; they're learning footwork. Any sport other than hockey is building athleticism that will improve their hockey skills. And paying some small tribute to the work USA Hockey's Ken Martel has done to help create the American Development Model is a bonus. 2:15 PM - 31 Aug 2015

Meet our newest #MassHockey President: John Tobin. http://t.co/QPCXt7eyZL pic.twitter.com/YOBz4P5qlg

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) August 31, 2015

A number of very good lines -- particularly about his challenges and vision for the future of Massachusetts Hockey -- come out of this wide-ranging interview with new president John Tobin, but none more pithy than this, in reference to an introduction to the sport that included the threat of the Commonwealth closing down the MDC rinks 15 or so years ago: "(They) asked me to sue the state. So ... I did." He won, by the way. And so did youth hockey in Massachusetts. 11:14 AM - 11 Sep 2015

We’ll always remember Ace Bailey & Mark Bavis & all those who lost their lives on that tragic day #NeverForget911 pic.twitter.com/75Cj3yngiW

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) September 11, 2015

There is great depth to the sadness of so many who were affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. On that date, Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis were, as scouts for the Los Angeles Kings leaving from Logan for training camp in California, aboard United Flight

@Mass_Hockey love it! You should sell them. I already know lots of hockey fans that want to buy one

— Stef R (@root4oneduck) October 3, 2015

 

ICYMI: Marshfield native, Mike Sullivan, is now at the helm for the @penguins https://t.co/xic4ZBBRxV pic.twitter.com/GJqJr7T3GH

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) December 21, 2015

Mike Sullivan, the former Boston University star and veteran of more than 700 NHL games, as of this writing, has the Pens in the Eastern Conference finals.

Is winning a game more important than playing hockey? No. Why no child should be sitting in a game: https://t.co/qGKHU5TP9M

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) December 22, 2015

We spoke near the end of the 2015 calendar year with Pat Kelleher, USA Hockey's Assistant Executive Director of Membership Development and a Belmont native whose father is a youth hockey coaching legend in the town. Among the lasting sentiments coaches might want to keep in the back of their minds as they're coaching young players: "You never want to be a kid’s last coach."

Don’t forget to help support @dlaing14 and her family #HockeyFamily #14Strong https://t.co/0ENxmEbuHp pic.twitter.com/AYeCwUg1IY

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) January 18, 2016

An otherwise joyous occasion and a milestone for women's hockey was curbed by a devastating injury to Marblehead native Denna Laing. Laing, a star in the Assabet Valley program and winner of multiple USA Hockey National Championship titles, played collegiate hockey at Princeton and was playing for the Boston Pride when she was injured at Gillette Stadium prior to the Winter Classic. For an inspirational follow, Denna is active on Twitter, where one of the highlights of her year includes hanging with Joe Morrow and Bruins legend Bobby Orr.

Part of our #MassHockey family, thoughts and prayers. https://t.co/SfhhHQx9Ca

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) February 3, 2016

The USA Hockey and Mass Hockey family lost a key to the 1960 gold medal when coach Jack Riley passed away this past winter.

Congrats to @Mass_Hockey products @mduggan10 @carpy05 @kbells22 and @shellfish20 on being named to the 2016 USWNT! Good luck! #MassProud

— Kevin Kavanagh (@KevinKavanagh) February 25, 2016

And congratulations would later be required for winning gold, for the third consecutive IIHF Women's World Championship, this one on their rival's ice in Canada.

Bruins donate $253,252 to @Mass_Hockey growth initiatives Including Mike Cheever's Grow Hockey Grant: https://t.co/gwCZjbHrz7

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 11, 2016

Wonder no more about the impact of the Boston Bruins teaming up with Massachusetts Hockey in helping support the game across the state.

Look Mom & Dad Mass Hockey made the big screen @NHLBruins game! pic.twitter.com/GGWz88d6TZ

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) March 11, 2016

We'll leave the commentary on this one to Mass Hockey's Executive Director, Kevin Kavanagh.

Back to back Hobey's for @Mass_Hockey products! Congrats to Jimmy Vesey! #massproud https://t.co/6Ek0gCSe3W

— Kevin Kavanagh (@KevinKavanagh) April 8, 2016

Team USA reached the quarterfinals at the IIHF Men's World Championship in Moscow, and it did so with some strong Mass Hockey representation.

This makes 4 @Mass_Hockey products playing for Team USA #strongmeadow #massproud https://t.co/J5QCcsJgfS

— Kevin Kavanagh (@KevinKavanagh) May 3, 2016

One of the highlights on the Mass Hockey calendar is fast approaching! Think of it as the unofficial kick-off to summer. The puck will drop on 2016-17 before we know it!

Mass Hockey has @NESN @TomCaron MC for '16 Hall of Fame 06/18 @Hotel1620 Tickets Available https://t.co/ExsAY9YvKW pic.twitter.com/GqCxxX8pr9

— Massachusetts Hockey (@Mass_Hockey) May 5, 2016