March 8, 1983
Vince McNamee, they said, was the kind of hockey player only Texas Instruments could love. Sure, he banged in 59 goals in 16 games for Bishop Egan last year, a Lower Bucks County League record. But in his mad rush for the net, he often treated his teammates like department store dummies. Ater all, Real Men don’t settle for assists, do they?
Last fall, McNamee transferred to Washington High for academic reasons. His reputation followed. “I heard he was kind of a hog who didn’t like to pass the puck,” Washington coach Ephraim Dua said. “But after the first few games, he became more of a team player. The kids got on him about it. I think he changed a lot because he wanted to win.
“Of course, a lot of times he can’t help keeping the puck. He’s so quick, he’ll break out of the zone and past the defense, and the other guys will be left behind.” McNamee riddled defenses for an improbable 112 goals in 23 games this year, a Suburban League record. He also handed out 50 assists, and the 10-man Washington club went 15-6-2.
“He’s unstoppable,” Dua said of his 5-foot-9 center. “He’s scored when I thought there was no way he could score. He looks like a pro compared to the other kids.” One reason is that Washington plays in Division 2 of the Suburban League against some weak goalies. But McNamee also skates for the Junior Flyers against top-flight competition. Last week, he helped them take second place in the national junior championships in St. Louis, earning himself The Inquirer’s City Athlete of the Week award.
“With the Junior Flyers, everyone’s so much quicker,” McNamee said. “In high school, no one can even catch me. I’ll see myself in the films and think, ‘I can’t believe it’s me.” That’s him, all right. Unless there’s another 112-goal scorer out there somewhere.
The original
