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* * 🏒  HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT GUIDE  🏒 * *

Fri. 2/28/14

A Look Back at the Elite 8 Quarterfinals

First off, the completion was terrific on Wednesday, with eight of the 12 games – across all three divisions – being decided by one goal. We’re going to take a look at the Elite 8 first.  

ELITE 8 (Stuart/Corkery Tournament)

#1 Salisbury 3, #8 Cushing 2 (Double OT)

As you may recall, Salisbury traveled to Cushing on Sun. Feb. 9 and took a 4-3 decision from the Penguins. This was in the middle of Cushing’s four-game losing streak, when it was looking as if the Penguins would crash out and fail to make the Elite 8. But Cushing rallied at the end of the season against so-so competition, squeezed in as the #8 seed and went down to Salisbury. There, they played an epic game, one of those ‘it’s too bad somebody had to lose’ games.

One longtime observer in attendance passed along some thoughts.

“It was a tremendous treat to be at this game,” he said. “It was everything you could possibly expect from a prep school hockey game. Tremendous back-and-forth action. Outstanding team play both ways. It was as good a game as I have seen all season. Both teams played tremendously.”

“Each team played three lines, three sets of D – and they were exhausted by the end. Datz was solid for Salisbury, but Salisbury threw everything they could at (Cushing goaltender) Joey Daccord, and he played a tremendous game. He was my MVP of the game.”

Datz stopped 34/36 for the win; Daccord stopped 55/58 – and took the loss.

The winning goal came off the stick of Salisbury senior Derek Barach, who had also scored earlier, putting his team up 2-1 at 6:26 of the second. Barach had also hit a crossbar in OT. But, with a third OT period looming, the Mercyhurst recruit stepped in just left of center and took a shot from about 20 feet that beat Daccord, a junior, between his left arm and chest at the 14:02 mark. It wasn’t a great shot, but games that go this far are seldom won on great shots.

Salisbury has now won 13 in a row, and this was their seventh overtime game of the season – all of which they have won. They don’t get rattled and -- no matter what the score is -- they stick to their game plan. Will Toffey may take off on a rink-length rush when he sees an opening, because he has that ability, but generally Salisbury makes a half-dozen passes before a shot is taken. Very impressive discipline.

We caught up with a disappointed Rob Gagnon after the game. “I’m so proud of the way these guys competed and battled to the very end,” Cushing’s head coach said. “I think our younger guys learned a lot from this experience, and we will be back next year.”

On the other side, Salisbury coach Andrew Will said, “It was a very exciting, hard-fought game by both teams and I couldn’t be any more proud of our players. They showed a lot of grit, resiliency and, like we have all season, they found a way to win a close game.”

As they move on to the semifinals, we asked Will to compare this year’s team to last year’s prep championship squad.

“Both teams are obviously different but what is similar is that they were both playing their best hockey at this time. This year’s group has been ranked #1 or #2 all season long and have handled those expectations well. We keep the focus in our locker room and try not to pay much attention to what is being said outside of it.”

We asked Will, given their depth, who he was looking at to possibly bring another championship to the school.

“The Smiths and Barach have really answered the call here at the end of games and in key situations and factored in on all three goals tonight. It’s truly been a team effort and no single player is above the team, but those three have really been our leaders up front all season.”


#4 Exeter 5, #5 Nobles 3

This was a tough loss for Nobles, as they were tied with Exeter at 3-3 when, with 4:53 left in the third, Nobles’ junior defenseman Billy Sweezey hit Exeter junior forward Sterling Weatherbie with an elbow at center ice, knocking Weatherbie’s helmet off and sending him spiraling to the ice. After the officials conferred, Sweezey, a recent Yale recruit, was assessed a five-minute major. It proved to be the turning point of the game because, despite Nobles’ impressive PK and shot-blocking throughout, Exeter’s vaunted powerplay was a bit too much to overcome. Sure enough, shortly into the powerplay, sophomore D Spenser Young, whose uncharacteristic turnover five minutes earlier had led to Cam Burke’s game-tying goal, rifled a snap shot past Nobles’ sophomore goalie Brendan Cytulik to put Exeter up 4-3. Shortly afterward, Nobles junior forward Miles Wood nearly tied the game with an aggressive drive to the net, but Exeter senior goaltender Jack Parsons stood tall. Henry Hart sealed it for Exeter with an empty-netter with 21 seconds remaining.

Now that Nobles’ season is over, Miles Wood will make his choice between BU and BC. The junior, a multi-dimensional threat, has had a great season for Nobles. With his rare combination of skill, size, and speed, Wood did a great job on the PK against Exeter’s vaunted PP. More than that, he was the best player on the ice, and a force every time he touched the puck. That said, Exeter PG d-man and co-captain Matt Foley, who missed the first half of the season with a broken collarbone, came up big and did a great job challenging Wood throughout the game. On multiple one-on-one scenarios, Foley came out on top against Nobles’ explosive forward. On one of Wood’s rushes, Foley used great gap control and planted Wood with a stiff check, knocking him hard to the ice. Wood was slow to get up, and was held to only one assist during the game. Foley’s stock rose sharply Wednesday, and we imagine college recruiters will be watching him closely Saturday against Salisbury.

As for Nobles, we felt they did a really good job this season. They had their strengths and weaknesses, the latter most apparent in a few gruesome losses. Most of the time, though, their strengths prevailed. And they rode those strengths as far as they could. Sweezey’s penalty wasn’t why they lost. It just gave an opening for the better team to win.

Salisbury will host Exeter in Saturday’s semifinal (at the Berkshire School, 4:00 pm).


#6 Berkshire 3, #3 Thayer 1

Over half an hour before opening faceoff, the Canton Sportsplex was packed with a huge contingent of Thayer fans.

But they didn’t have much to cheer about, as they were taken out of the game just 40 seconds into the first period, as Berkshire senior Charlie Corcoran hit linemate Craig Puffer with a nice pass, finding him back door for a goal.

Christian Leahy’s power play goal from the top of the crease tied it up for Thayer later in the period at 1-1. And that’s how things stood at the first intermission.

Midway through the second, Corcoran again found Puffer. Another heady play, this time Corcoran passing left-to-right across the top of the crease. Thayer senior goalie Rob McGovern wasn’t able to get across in time and Puffer didn’t miss.

With 2:27 left in the period, Berkshire senior forward Nick O’Connor stretched it to 3-1 on the power play, curling out from behind the net and snapping off a shot – a great individual effort.

Thayer had a chance to make it a one-goal game with a powerplay that covered the last minute of the second and the beginning of the third. But the Tigers weren’t able to generate much. For the day, Berkshire was whistled for five penalties, and Thayer only two. Thayer, however, was able to only convert once on the power play.

After failing to score in the opening minute of the third, Thayer kept pressing. Berkshire, as they had all game, was really effective taking away the neutral zone, forcing Thayer to skate the puck into traffic, try long-range passes, or just dump it in. Indeed, Berkshire had the better scoring opportunities in the third. Thayer had a difficult time all day keeping the puck in Berkshire’s end for any kind of sustained offensive pressure, and when they did – shots favored Berkshire 38-32 – senior goaltender George Blinick, who was excellent throughout, was there to bar the door.

“I thought we played a great road game,” Berkshire head coach Dan Driscoll said afterward. “We kept things simple, and we played our system. I’m really proud of our kids.”

“I thought our special teams did well, too. We kept them to the outside well. I thought killing off that penalty to start the third was big in terms of momentum for us. And our goalie (Blinick) was our best PK guy. He made some big saves and in the last seven minutes he kept them from getting any momentum.”


#7 Gunnery 7, #2 Kent 3

There was a great atmosphere for this rematch of last year’s semifinal, as Gunnery – just 20 minutes down the road -- came to Kent with what appeared to be the entire school. And Kent filled the bleachers and on around the glass with their fans.

Kent jumped out to a quick start as Harvard recruit Lewis Zerter-Gossage scored a pair of goals eight seconds apart to put Kent up 2-0 before the game was even five minutes old. It really looked like Kent was going to run away with it, despite the fact that it was still early.

But Gunnery answered less than a minute later, when junior d-man Mike Lee threaded a pass to a streaking Alec Mehr, who used his speed to get behind the Kent defense – and was off on an uncontested breakaway. Kent senior goaltender Stephen Morrissey sprawled to make the save on Mehr, but Gunnery junior Ryan Dmowski was right in front for the rebound, cutting Kent’s lead to 2-1.

Kent had chances to add to its lead but Gunnery kept them to the perimeter. The visitors were also relentless on the forecheck. With just over a minute left in the first, Lee carried the puck through the neutral zone and threw a low wrister on Morrissey. The Vermont recruit continued around the Kent defense, picked up his own rebound and roofed it – a tremendous individual-effort goal.

Heading into the second tied at 2-2, Kent was frustrated but still in the driver’s seat. Their size and depth presented a challenge to a younger Gunnery team. But Gunnery struck again when Lee passed to Noah Bauld in the neutral zone. Bauld skated into the zone, cut towards the goal at the top of the circle, and placed a wrister under Morrissey’s glove to give his team a 3-2 lead at the 5:04 mark.

Gunnery scored again – it’s fourth straight goal and what would turn out to be the game-winner – on the powerplay with 7:38 remaining in the second, Mehr tapping home a beautiful cross-crease pass from Robert Cerepak.

Things were looking poorly for the home team as the period wound down, but senior James Ricciardi showed some resilience, scoring with just over a minute remaining on a snipe to the top right corner off an offensive zone faceoff to cut Gunnery’s lead to 4-3 heading into the third.

Kent came out with a vengeance in the third, playing with intensity and heart. But they also appeared to be gripping their sticks a little tight at times and just couldn’t convert on their chances. The first half of the third period was intense and the momentum was all Kent. However, with 8:11 remaining, d-man Keanu Hilaire tried to make a stretch pass to his center but it was picked off by Mehr, who rushed into the zone with Dmowksi, faked a pass, and beat Morrissey five-hole with a quick, low snap shot. 5-3, Gunnery. Just 26 seconds later, Gunnery’s Dmowski drove hard to the net, drawing the center and D to him. Dmowski then had the poise and vision to execute a brilliant diagonal pass to Nathan Sucese, who fired a mid-level wrister past Morrissey, putting the game out of reach.

Sucese would add an empty-netter later in the period. The big offensive performances came from Dmowksi (1g,2a), Lee (1g,2a), Mehr (2g,1a), and Sucese (2g).

Afterwards, Gunnery head coach Chris Baudo was asked if his team felt like underdogs.

“We knew what we were up against and even though we have tremendous respect for Kent and their staff, we believed in ourselves and what we have been able to accomplish these past two months.”

As for the game itself, Baudo said, “I thought it was a great back-and-forth game. Alec (Mehr) scoring mideway through the third to stretch the lead to two was the game-changer. But overall I was very proud of our team and how they competed tonight against a great Kent team.”

We asked Baudo about the next round. “We are really excited. We’re playing our best hockey at the right time of the year and will just go out and play our game and see what happens.”

The shots in the game were 29-27 in favor of Kent so the game was not as lopsided as the score would indicate. At times it appeared that Gunnery was playing as if they had nothing to lose while Kent was playing more with a “not to lose” mentality.  Normally, the Lions don’t give up two-goal leads.

Berkshire will host Gunnery on Saturday at 2:00 pm.


LARGE SCHOOLS (Martin/Earl Tournament):

#1 St. Paul’s 8, #8 Proctor 3
#4 Choate 4, #5 Belmont Hill 3 (OT)

St. Paul’s will host Choate in a semifinal on Saturday (3:00 pm at Groton).

#6 Loomis 3, #3 NMH 2
#2 Andover 3, #7 Taft 2

Andover will host Loomis in a semifinal on Saturday (2:20 pm).


SMALL SCHOOLS (Piatelli/Simmons Tournament):

#1 Dexter 3, #8 Canterbury 2
#5 Groton 3, #4 Westminster 2

Dexter will host Groton in Saturday’s semifinal (2:00 pm).

#6 Brooks 3, #3 Rivers 0
#2 Kimball Union 5, #7 Millbrook 4 (OT)

KUA will host Brooks in Saturday’s semifinal (4:00 pm).


SUNDAY, MARCH 2 @ Yale University’s Ingalls Rink

2:15 pm – Dexter/Groton winner vs. Brooks/KUA winner
4:45 pm – St. Paul’s/Choate winner vs. Loomis/Andover winner
7:15 pm – Salisbury/Exeter winner vs. Berkshire/Gunnery winner

All three championship games will be streamed live on Sunday. If you can't make it to New Haven, go to NEPSAC.org and connect from there.

Mon. 3/3/14

Prep Girls 2013-14 All-Stars
Division I:

First Team

Forwards:
Lexie Laing - Nobles - '14 – Player of the Year
Makenna Newkirk - Pomfret - '15
Caitrin Lonergan - St. Paul's - '16

Sun. 3/2/14

2014 Champions: Westminster & Gunnery

Div. I:
Westminster 3, Nobles 0

First period:
W -- Tori DiAngeles (Cat Crawley) 7:37

Sun. 3/2/14

Today’s Championship Schedule

Both the Div. I and II championship games will be held at Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass.

Div. II:
12:30 pm – Gunnery vs. Brooks

Div. I:
3:00 pm – Nobles vs. Westminster

***

Saturday’s Semifinal Results:

Div. I
Nobles 5, Tabor 2
Westminster 1, St. Paul’s 0

Div. II
Gunnery 3, Rivers 2 (OT)
Brooks 2, Millbrook 1

 

Fri. 2/28/14

Semifinal Schedule

 
Div. I
#1 Nobles vs. #4 Tabor, 4:30 pm (at Nobles)
#2 St. Paul’s vs. #6 Westminster, 4:30 pm (at St. Paul’s)

Div. II
#1 Rivers vs. #4 Gunnery, 3:30 pm (at Rivers)
#2 Millbrook vs. #3 Brooks, 4:00 pm (at Loomis)


***

Wednesday’s Quarterfinal Results:

Div. I
@ Nobles 1, Loomis 0
Westminster 2 @ Pomfret 1 (Triple OT)
@ St. Paul’s 7, Williston 1
@ Tabor 4, Choate 1

Div. II
Millbrook 2, Governor’s 1 (at Loomis)
Gunnery 3, Proctor 1 (at Williston)
@ Rivers 2, Berwick 1 (OT)
@ Brooks 7, Worcester 0