3/4/07
Avon Wins Sixth New England Prep Title
Nick Bonino scored two goals and Patrick Enloe picked up his second shutout of the playoffs as Avon Old Farms beat Belmont Hill, 3-0, to take the 2007 New England Prep title before a packed house of 2,500 at the Icenter in Salem, NH today.
The win gave Avon their sixth prep title, and third in four years. All six have come under John Gardner. No other school has won more than two.
For the actual period-by-period chronology of the game please scroll down the page. The short story here is that the better team won today, and Avon capped off a roll through the postseason that included a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals over Hotchkiss, and a 3-1 semifinal win over Nobles, with a virtually flawless performance. The Winged Beavers are good, they're deep, they're well-coached, and they can sing, as they showed when serenading their fans from the ice after being presented with the championship trophy.
Avon was firing on all cylinders from the opening faceoff, outshooting Belmont Hill, 16-6 in the first period. However, Belmont Hill goaltender Matt Gedman barred the door, and kept the game 0-0 until midway through the second period. Belmont Hill did a nice job getting back in the game in the second and Kevin McNamara hit a crossbar in the third that, had it gone in, could have allowed Belmont Hill to get back in the game. There were a couple of other times Belmont Hill came close, but coming close is one thing, beating Enloe is another.
Nonetheless, Belmont Hill hung in there, kind of like a boxer who keeps getting staggered but just won't go to the canvas. Gedman came up big numerous times. Two of the three goals he gave up were big time shots -- pure snipes -- and one came off a scrum after he'd already made several saves. For a player who came into the season pretty unheralded, it was an impressive performance.
Belmont Hill's Matt McCollem, the big wheel up front for Belmont Hill, played hurt all weekend. He separated a shoulder in the final game of the regular season, sat out Wednesday's quarterfinal win over Lawrence, then came back for Saturday's semi and reinjured it, but didn't miss a shift. He just kept playing, though it was clear he was far from right.
Bonino, whom we mentioned above, was excellent -- great hands, and a big time shot. Cam Atkinson only had one assist on the day, but he was a force every time he stepped on the ice -- fast, skilled, and dangerous. Brian Malchoff and Ken Trentowski were excellent on the blue line. The whole team -- every line, every defense pairing -- played well, exhibiting discipline, aggressiveness, and skill. And, as we said, Belmont Hill hung with them, and were a bounce away from making it a one-goal game until late in the third. It didn't make any difference whether Avon was on the powerplay, penalty kill, or shorthanded, they created offense, and a lot of it. On the defensive side of things, they kept Belmont Hill from getting too close to Enloe and moved the puck up ice nicely.
"I thought it was a great game," said longtime Belmont Hill coach Ken Martin, who has two prep titles himself ('85 and '90). "In the first period they outplayed us, but Gedman, who's the best goalie who's played for me in 35 years, was unbelievable. In the second, we picked it up, and I thought we played well in the third. I'm really proud of this team."
Down the hall, John Gardner had words of praise for Gedman. "He played great, particularly in the first. What we tried to do was get in in close and to the blocker side on him. He was excellent. I was impressed with how hard Belmont Hill played. It was a great prep game."
Gardner was asked about Bonino. "In big games," he replied, "you want your big players to come up big, and that's what they did. I am proud of them. We beat an outstanding team -- and we played our best game of the season."
When asked to compare this team with any of his other championship teams, Gardner said, "I don't compare teams. Each team has their own identity. I wanted this team to commit to the defensive end and when they did commit to it, they played their best hockey of the year -- in the playoffs. It was a great effort at the right time. We were also lucky to stay away from injuries. That's something every coach worries about."
"I'm really proud of this team."
***
In the Div. II final, Hoosac, which reached the title game two years ago, but got wiped out by Shea Guthrie and St. George's, won its first championship, defeating Vermont Academy, 7-3.
The difference in the game was Hoosac's big line of Mike Schiavi (1g,1a), Sy Nutkevitch (1g,2a), and Matthew David (2g) plus small defenseman Kyle Hardy (2a). No other Div. II team here was able to match up with those four Montrealers. Also playing well for Hoosac, which had a total of 12 Canadians on the squad, were defenseman Francois Jean Boutin (2g) and yet another Montrealer, forward Shawn Sacco (1g,1a).
Vermont Academy players who stood out included forwards Brian Gibbons (2g) and Mike Allport (1a); and defenseman Mike Donnellan (1g).
Afterward, Vermont coach John Forbes said, "Hoosac is a dangerous team. They have breakaway speed and goal scorers. You really have to limit errors against a team like that. Unfortunately, we had some breakdowns in the neutral zone. They capitalized on their chances and we didn't."
The season as a whole, Forbes said, was a good one. "I'm extremely proud of these guys. We were successful because of the whole group. We have a strong core group -- we had ups and downs and we faced adversity and prevailed. A game like this is tough, but it just wasn't our day. Hoosac was the better team today."
Hoosac coach Gary Rabinowitz said, "We played selfless hockey. The guys on the team started caring more about the guy next to them than themselves the past couple of days. Our core guys work real hard and play the system to a T."
"We were here two years ago and took a beating from St. George's. We just kept pounding the message home that we don't want to suffer the same fate. This was redemption for all the program has gone through -- the probation, all the controversies."
Hoosac was clearly overjoyed, and started celebrating prematurely -- and way too exuberantly -- on the bench. While they were partying and allowing their attention to be drawn away from the game's final minute, Vermont Academy's Gibbons provided a small touch of poetic justice, popping in a goal to make it 7-3 with 25 seconds left to go. There's a saying in football, not really heeded much these days, and it's applicable here: "When you get to the end zone, act like you've been there before."
Before today, Hoosac had never reached the end zone. If they get there again, we hope they'll know how to act. This was a small thing, and probably unnoticed by many, but often it's the small things that mean the most.
In closing, let us point out that this tournament grows larger each year. The Salem venue is perfect in practically every way, but the day is approaching when it may need a larger venue. All of the people who stood to watch today's action might say that time is already here.
Championship Sunday -- with Updates
3/4/07
Choate 5, Nobles 2 (final) --
Choate went up 1-0 at 8:28 when Hilary Knight jammed home a rebound, assists going to Emily Vitale and Maura Leahy. Choate got on the board again when Nicolle Perry scored, assisted by Vitale again and Knight. At the end of one Choate is up 2-0.
In the second, Nobles struck first, as Maggie Suprey tallied, with assists going to Kelly Cooke and Corey Stearns at 4:07. Choate countered with a 5-on-3 goal by Knight, assisted by Josephine Pucci at 11:07. The last goal of the period was a power play score off the stick of Nobles' Tara Lessard. Stearns and Perdios assisted. Nobles had a ton of scoring chances in the period. After two, Choate is up 3-2.
In the third, Knight scored, from Nicolle Perry at 8:40 to make it 4-2. Kate Goldman added an empty netter, from Knight, with 50 second left. Knight was named MVP. Coach Riepenhoff of Choate said "I think that one thing that helped us a tremendous amount is that our team has amazing on and off-ice chemistry which always helps a team. Also scoring thats penalty kill goal gave us huge boost of confidence and that's how we won the game."
Greenwich Academy 3, Rivers 0 (final) --
Greenwich came out flying, scoring two early goals. Kelly Crane put GA up 1-0 with the assist from Audrey Carter-Tracy at the 2:08 into the period. Julia Ireland made it 2-0 with the assist going to Katherine Pujol at 3:36. The last goal of the period was scored by Ireland, her second of the game, off a pass from Danielle Schaevitz at 9:49. 3-0 GA after one.
The second period was scoreless -- a good defensive effort by both teams.
Greenwich didn't add any more goals after their three-goal first period. Rivers had a strong defensive second and third period. Moe Tarrent, GA's head coach, said "I think that Rivers played a phenomenal game. But I think that it was our defense that really pulled it together and helped us pull out the win. Also Alexa Pujol had kept us in the game all the way." After the game the MVP award was given to Julia Ireland, who had a four-goal tournament.
Championship Sunday -- with Updates
3/4/07
Choate 2, Nobles 0 (after 1) --
Choate went up 1-0 at 8:28 when Hilary Knight jammed home a rebound, assists going to Emily Vitale and Maura Leahy. Choate got on the board again when Nicolle Perry scored, assisted by Vitale again and Knight. At the end of one Choate is up 2-0.
Greenwich Academy 3, Rivers 0 (final) --
Greenwich came out flying, scoring two early goals. Kelly Crane put GA up 1-0 with the assist from Audrey Carter-Tracy at the 2:08 into the period. Julia Ireland made it 2-0 with the assist going to Katherine Pujol at 3:36. The last goal of the period was scored by Ireland, her second of the game, off a pass from Danielle Schaevitz at 9:49. 3-0 GA after one.
The second period was scoreless -- a good defensive effort by both teams.
Greenwich didn't add any more goals after their three-goal first period. Rivers had a strong defensive second and third period. Moe Tarrent, GA's head coach, said "I think that Rivers played a phenomenal game. But I think that it was our defense that really pulled it together and helped us pull out the win. Also Alexa Pujol had kept us in the game all the way." After the game the MVP award was given to Julia Ireland, who had a four-goal tournament.
3/3/07
Girls' Semifinals – from Brookline, Mass.
Nobles 3, Loomis 0 (final) --
Both teams came out flying, and both teams had numerous scoring chances but came up short. The first period ended 0-0.
In the second, Nobles came out strong. At the 8:33 mark of the period Maggie Suprey took a nice pass from Tara Lessard, came down on a breakaway and roofed it on the Loomis goalie. After two periods, Nobles is on top 1-0.
In the third, Nobles went up 2-0 at the 1:29 mark when Corey Stearns scored on a rebound, with an assist going to Laura Nelson. At 13:42 Broghan Cully took a great from Kelly Cooke and slipped in on a one timer to make it 3-0. After the game, Nobles head coach Tom Resor said the whole team played very well, but it was goalie Kylie Stephens that got the praise for keeping Nobles in the game. Tomorrow Nobles will play Choate for the Div I championship.
Choate 3, Hotchkiss 0 (final) --
In the first, senior Hillary Knight pulled Choate ahead with a top shelf goal that was assisted from Maura Leahy at 3:47. After one period of play Choate leads Hotchkiss, 1-0.
In the second, Nicolle Perry scored on a wraparound to put Choate up 2-0, Knight assisting.
In the third, Knight scored an empty net goal with 17 seconds left, an assist going to linemate Katie MacKinnon. Choate coach Courtney Riepenhoff gave kudos after the game to her netminder, Jocelyn Yokow, who made 27 saves on that night. Choate will play the winner of Loomis-Chaffee/Nobles in tomorrow's Div. I championship game.
Greenwich Academy 5, Middlesex 3 (final) --
Middlesex and GA are tied up 1-1 after one, as Heather Landry scored for Middlesex at 2:38, with an assist going to Kristin Ohanian. Julia Ireland scored for GA from Bray Ketchum at 14:07
After the second Greenwich leads Middlesex 3-2. Danielle Schaevitz scored for GA at 6:57, followed by Ireland from Katherine Pujol at 11:21. Middlesex's only second period goal came from Landry from Caroline Corbett at 1:50.
In the third period Greenwich came out flying and scored two goals right off the bat. The first by Ketchum from Eleanor Castine at 4:58, then at 9:10 Danielle Schaevitz caught Middlesex sleeping on a line change and came down and scored on a break away. Middlesex's only goal of the period came from Landry, her second of the game, with the assist going to Hannah Systrom. Coach Moe Tarrant of Greenwich attributed his team's strong performance to the experience of his nine seniors that won them the game. Greenwich will face Rivers in the championship game on Sunday.
Rivers 3, Brooks 1 (final) --
With both teams coming out flying the period ends with a 0-0 score. Rivers was able to wring out six shots -- all great scoring chances -- and Brooks five. One penalty for Brooks -- Liz Bruno for a trip
After the second Rivers leads Brooks 1-0 with the Rivers goal coming off the stick of Lauren Glynn at 1:55, a rocket through the Brooks netminder' five hole.
The final scores was 3-1 Rivers. The second goal -- the game winner -- was scored by Jacqueline Bouchie to make it 2-0. Brooks cut the lead to 2-1 late in the third period when Marina Moschitto scored to make it 2-1. Jillian Dempsey made it 3-1 Rivers at 14:53. Brooks had a total of four penalties and Rivers had four also. Rivers goalie Andrea Schweitzer absolutely kept Rivers in the game making a total of 28 saves. Rivers coach Kristin Harder said after the game that she thought that both teams were running on adrenaline and in the third period Rivers managed to calm down and really pull out the win. It was a great game from both sides. Rivers will play the winner of Middlesex and Greenwich Academy in the championship game Sunday at 10:30 am.
3/2/07
Prep Semis, Finals on Tap
Here's the official schedule for this weekend's prep girls semifinals and finals at the Southfield School in Brookline, Mass. First game is at 10:00 am Saturday. Driving directions are below. Please check USHR for coverage as the day goes along.
Div. I Semifinal Matchups:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sat. March 3, 2007
Hotchkiss vs. Choate, 2:00 pm
Loomis vs. Nobles, 4:00 pm
The Div. I championship game:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sun. March 4, 2007 at 12:30 pm
***
Div. II Semifinal Matchups:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sat. March 3, 2007
Rivers vs. Brooks, 10:00 am
Middlesex vs. Greenwich Academy, 12:00 pm
The Div. II championship game:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sun. March 4, 2007 at 10:30 am
Driving Directions: There’s a good link on the Southfield School web site that contains directions from whichever point of the compass you’re arriving. We’ve included the link below. Note: When you reach Newton St. keep your eyes peeled for St. Paul’s Ave., which is a small side street, not really an avenue at all, that leads up to the school’s entrance. The rink is all the way at the end of St. Paul’s Ave. There is good parking on the roof -- and a nice view of Boston, too.
Driving Directions to the Southfield School
