LHS ready to unveil new-look Doyle Field
By Ross Edwards
LEOMINSTER -- It's been a long time coming, but tonight
football returns to Doyle Field.

The Leominster Blue Devils will play host to Eastern
Mass. power Everett in a contest that not only marks the
start of the 2006 football season, but also the first
gridiron game to be played at the field since the beginning
of a massive renovation project.

"A lot of it was prompted by a lot of ex-players of the
Leominster sports system," explained Leominster Mayor Dean
Mazzarella. "It really came from their energy and their
history with Leominster sports ... this is the biggest thing
I've seen happen in sports in terms of facilities in 60 or
70 years."

For the Leominster players, the day couldn't come soon
enough. Because of the renovation project, Leominster was
forced to play its traditional Thanksgiving Day battle with
Fitchburg at Crocker Field instead of Doyle Field.

Losing the right to host last year's rivalry game was a
tough sacrifice for the Blue Devils. After seeing the new
facility firsthand, however, some Leominster players feel
that the renovation was worth the tribulation.

"I went down there and I was just in awe," said Leominster
quarterback Dean Boisse. "It just feels so good ... opening
day on the new Doyle Field, it's big."

According to Doyle Field Foundation President Ralph Caisse,
the complex features a new design with concrete-based
bleachers, aluminum seats and granite steps. The new
brickwork is meant to mimic the architecture of the early
1930s, when the field was originally dedicated.

The improvements serve both in form and function, Caisse
explained, in that the facility will now be more handicapped
accessible and will boast a greater number of seats.

"The field is beautiful," said Leominster football coach
John Dubzinski. "I told the kids the other day, the facility
is probably as good as any Division 3 college program, and
probably even some Division 2 programs. It is absolutely
gorgeous, it's a great facility."

Before tonight's 7 p.m. kickoff, the Doyle Field Foundation
will hold a ceremony recognizing some of the project's many
sponsors. As part of the festivities, 86-year-old Leominster
High School alumnus Elio Torcoletti will be on hand to
preside over the coin toss.

"Elio is a longtime Leominster resident, a longtime living
historian," explained Leominster High School Athletic
Director Chris Young. "He's a longtime referee, great lover
of the sport, ex-Leominster Blue Devil. He's a guy who
donated so much ... I think it would be a nice thing for him
to flip that coin and be a part of that moment."

In addition to honoring Torcoletti, the Leominster players
will wear decals with the word "Huck" on their helmets in
remembrance of Leon A. "Huck" Hannigan. Hannigan, who passed
away in June at the age of 75, coached Leominster High
football from 1965-77. Hannigan hired John Dubzinski as an
assistant to the team in 1970.

The night will be as much about celebrating the community as
it will be about football, explained Dubzinski.

"The community really stepped up and a tremendous amount of
people and businesses in town donated time, donated labor,"
he said. "It's a great tribute to the city of Leominster
because everybody got together, everybody pulled in the same
direction and everybody pulled off a great, great thing for
the city."
		


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