by Team Reporter Nate Gordon ’16
After an important first victory at home against Canterbury back on November 22nd and a week off for Thanksgiving, the Williston Boys Hockey team now faces what may be the toughest week of the season. On Wednesday, the Wildcats will travel to Meridan, NH to take on Kimball Union, the team’s first away game. On Saturday, Williston will face Salisbury at home. Both of these teams were ranked as top ten teams in U.S. Hockey Report’s (USHR) 2014-15 New England Preview.
The Wildcats’ convincing 5-2 victory over Canterbury is what the team is looking to build upon in these next two games.
Clash of the ‘Cats: Williston @ Kimball Union Academy (KUA) (Wednesday, December 3, 4p.m.)
With a 26-6-5 record last season, the KUA Wildcats were champions of the Small School division of prep hockey. KUA is ranked as number seven in USHR’s Preview. The Wildcats lost three forwards from last season who have gone on to play Division 1 Hockey. However, KUA already has two forwards who have committed to D1 schools this season. These two are senior Jack McCarthy (Brown) and junior Patrick Shea (Maine). KUA began its 2014-15 campaign with a 4-0 victory over Stanstead College on November 22. Last season, Williston tied KUA 4-4 at home.
Wildcats to host Salisbury (Saturday, December 6, Lossone Rink, 5p.m.)
On Saturday, Williston will host the Salisbury Crimson Knights, who lost just one game last season (21-1-4), for the team’s second home game of the season. Ranked number one in USHR’s Preview, Salisbury is looking to defend its 2013-14 NEPSIHA Championship this season. The Wildcats lost narrowly to the Crimson Knights last season 3-2 at home.
USHR wrote in the preview: “Not only is Salisbury the defending champion, but they have reached the Elite 8 for five consecutive seasons. Thus they are the gold standard – until they aren’t. That said, we expect that they will lose more than one game this time around, and will have to work that much harder to gain the #1 spot again come March.”
Salisbury will open its season tomorrow against Taft before facing the Wildcats.
As always, game updates will be available via the team’s Twitter feed (@WillistonHockey)