On Wednesday, the Williston hockey team boarded a coach bus and made tracks to snowy Saxtons River, VT to take on Vermont Academy for a 4:30 tilt. Williston was able to overcome a second period, five-minute major penalty to win convincingly, 6-2.
Williston struck early just 1:12 into the first frame when senior Brendan White received a pass from sophomore defenseman Tim Rego on the left wall in the neutral zone. White was able to break wide around a defender and drive hard to the net sliding a puck past Vermont goaltender, Guy Piccolo. Williston maintained nice pressure over the first third of the period, not allowing Vermont to gain any offense. Williston defenders broke up countless plays just inside their blue line, including three or four by junior defenseman Connor Canterbury who led many an odd man rush up the ice. However, the tides would turn momentarily at 7:51 of the first when Tyus Watson-Tummings was able to elude a Williston defender in front of the net and get a stick on a pass from the corner to beat junior goalie Xander Rogers. Both teams would go to their respective locker rooms tied 1-apiece.
The second period began with an early goal by Mike D’Ambrosio on a shot from the point, however, the goal was disallowed because of goaltender interference by JT Chamberlain. While the Williston coaching staff reached for their rulebooks on the call, it was to no avail and the game remained knotted, 1-1.
Williston would break the tie at the 10:00 minute mark when off a Nick Schofield-face-off win, JoJo Carbone let a howitzer go from the right dot. The shot beat Piccolo over the shoulder giving Williston a 2-1 lead. Williston would earn their second goal of the period on White’s second goal of the game when he drove down the right side of the ice and cut hard to the net beating Piccolo on the doorstep. Assists were given to D’Ambrosio and junior Jake Durocher. The period would end with Williston up 3-1.
In the third, Williston continued to roll. At the 1:56 mark, D’Ambrosio at the blue line let go a quick pass to junior Brendan Hansen who was waiting on the doorstep—he made a quick move to his back hand and put it over the leg of Piccolo. White picked up the other assist. At 3:34, Vermont forward Nathan Smith cut the lead to 4-2 but JT Chamberlain put the lead back to three goals with assists going to White and Kevin Lassman. The sixth and final goal for Williston came at the 9:10 mark of the third period. Sophomore and Vermont native Steven Townley scored the first goal of his Williston career in front of his proud parents with assists going to sophomore Tim Rego and junior Connor Power. Xander Rogers earned his third win on the season saving 30 of 32 shots. Williston’s next game is on the road where they face a very tough and seasoned Gunnery team who looks to avenge an early season loss to the Wildcats in December. Game time is at 4:30 in Washington, CT. If you go, dress in layers as their rink is cold.
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On Friday, January 13th, Williston faced Winchendon at Lossone. The ‘Cats got down early and could never regroup, losing 7-4. The closest margin was when Williston pulled within 1 midway through the second at 4-3. Goals were scored by Kevin Lassman, JoJo Carbone, and Sam Milnes with assists on the evening going to Nick Schofield, Owen Sylvia, Tim Rego, Brendan White and Milnes. Williston gets another crack at Winchendon on February 24th.
The next day, Williston traveled to Berkshire to avenge their overtime loss to the Bears the week prior. Unfortunately, it was not to be on this day as Williston lost in a heartbreaker, 4-3. Goals were scored by Nick Schofield, Kevin Lassman, and Steven Gower with assists going to JoJo Carbone, Owen Sylvia, Schofield, Kyle Caddo and JT Chamberlain.