All posts by dcunha

Wildcats prevail in OT, bounce back from Gunnery loss

Wildcats Find Winning Touch; Beat Millbrook, 2-1 in OT

After going 1-1 on the road in their past two games, Williston was excited to get reacquainted with the friendly confines of Lossone Arena on Wednesday afternoon as they took on Millbrook in a late afternoon contest.  With Xander Rogers back in net once again for Williston, stingy defensive play, and an auspicious overtime, Williston took the first game of the season series, 2-1.

Williston began the first period as they have begun recent first periods, getting pucks deep into the offensive zone and not giving up many quality shots early on.  Williston was rewarded for their gritty play just 4:12 in when JT Chamberlain collected a puck just below the left dot of the Millbrook zone and let a shot go that was deflected by a Millbrook player and beat junior goalie Greg Brassard on the far side.  Assists were awarded to sophomore d, Tim Rego and senior forward, Brendan White.  The scoring would end for both teams until third period when Williston was assessed a penalty for hooking.  Then, at 13:24, on the power play, Millbrook struck beating Rogers over his shoulder near the left dot to tie the game at 1-1.  Both teams would work hard but to no avail and for the third time this season, Williston headed to overtime.

In a rarity for the extra frame, Millbrook was assessed two penalties, one for interference and one for hooking.  The latter gave Williston the power play for the remainder of the game.  With just :17 seconds left, and the puck in their own zone, senior Nick Schofield won the draw on the right dot to Rego who collected the puck and chipped it off the glass and deep into the Millbrook zone.  Senior Owen Sylvia raced the Millbrook defender to below the circle where said defender passed the puck up the wall to the hash marks to a waiting Schofield.  Schofield gathered the puck and raced to the net with senior JoJo Carbone driving hard for any loose change.  With another Millbrook defender committed to Carbone, Schofield cut to the crease and roofed a nifty backhander under the crossbar, ringing the water bottle.  A celebration ensued and Williston won, 2-1, improving their record to 8-10.

The game was a fairly contested match with only three penalties called all game.  Rogers made 18/19 saves to earn the win, while Brassard made 32/34 saves in the loss.  Williston takes on the Brunswick Bruins on Saturday at 2:45 at Lossone.  Following the game, the Williston girls team will have their annual Pink in the Rink game to raise money for breast cancer.  Following the game, kids will be able to skate with the girl’s team.

At one o’clock, the annual alumni game will be held so come down early to see all your favorite players from yesteryear, including Coach PJ McCadden ‘10.  It will be a busy Saturday at Lossone so please stop by and show your support!

Williston Cannot Complete Season Sweep of Gunnery; Falls 4-2

On Saturday, the Williston Wildcats took to the road once again, this time heading to Washington, CT to take on the Gunnery Highlanders.  Unfortunately, two goals in the third period took down the Cats, 4-2.

The opening frame began with vengeance as Williston dominated most of the first ten minutes of the game, dumping pucks deep, pounding Gunnery in the defensive zone, and not allowing much, if any, formidable offense for their opponents.  But, as it happened, Gunnery was able to take advantage of some sloppy play and went up 1-0 at the 9:02 mark.  Williston mounted the offensive train immediately and just :52 seconds later, Williston senior JT Chamberlain netted his fourth goal of the year with assists to Steven Gower and Kyle Caddo.  Then, at the 14:43 mark, Connor Power scored his first goal of the season letting a blast go from just inside the blue line that beat Gunnery goalie, Cedrick Andree.  Brendan White was credited with the assist.  With the period winding down, and Williston feeling like they were going to go to the dressing room up a goal, a Gunnery clear was unable to be corralled by a Williston defenseman at the red line; Gunnery collected the puck and let a shot go with 1 second left that beat Xander Rogers.  The first period ended 2-2.

The second period saw a barrage of shots from both clubs, but to no avail as both teams went to the break still tied, 2-2.

The third period looked as if the pace of the game would remain the same, and it did, until the 5:03 mark when Gunnery’s Matt Danner scored and then just :09 seconds later, Gunnery’s Marc Gatcomb sealed the deal.  At this point, Andree buckled down and Williston would pull no closer.  The loss was Williston’s tenth on the season and put them three games below .500.

The Wildcats take on the Mustangs of Millbrook on Wednesday at 4:45 at Lossone rink.  The Mustangs are riding a high this season with key wins and solid goaltending and the game should be a good one.  See you there.

 

Williston Beats Vermont, Loses to Winchendon and Berkshire

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.

***

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.

 

Williston Blanks Hilltoppers, 6-0

On Wednesday, the Williston Wildcats welcomed the Hilltoppers of Worcester Academy to Lossone rink for a late afternoon soiree.  A five-minute power play coupled with a Williston club beginning to find an identity as a gritty, hard-working team helped seal the deal for the ‘Cats.

Sophomore Greg Iverson got his fifth start in net for Williston and, though not tested with many high percentage shots, he was a stalwart early in the game making a cross-crease pad save that did not allow Worcester to gather momentum.  After that, it was all Williston.  Brendan Hansen garnered his fourth goal of the season on a hard-working play behind the Worcester goal by Nick Day who was able to slide the puck to the slot where Hansen let a one-timer go beating Hilltopper goalie Olof Djurberg on the near side.  That would be all the scoring for the period.

Williston began the second period with gusto as Sam Milnes was able to find twine 1:05 into the period as he barreled down the left hand side and let a nasty snap shot go beating Djurberg over his glove on the far side.  At around the nine-minute mark, Connor Power drove deep into Worcester territory and was hit from behind by a Hilltopper forward.  The play earned a five-minute power play for Williston who took full advantage of Worcester’s misplay.  At the 9:15 mark of the period, captain JoJo Carbone struck first with assists to Tim Rego and assistant captain Nick Schofield putting Williston up 3-0. Eleven seconds later, Billy Smith broke down the left wing cutting toward the net at the top of the circle and beating Djurberg across the crease.  Jake Durocher and Mike D’Ambrosio were awarded the assists.  And at the 12:27 mark of the period, Carbone earned his second goal of the game and the third goal of the power play as he was knocking on the doorstep burying a puck lost in the crease.  By the end of the period the carnage was nearly complete as Williston lead 5-0.

Williston finished their work at the 16:15 mark of the third period when Sam Milnes found Brendan White driving to the left side of the net.  Just as White looked like he was going to go around the goal, he made a no-look pass behind his back to a crashing Jake Durocher who buried the sixth and final goal.  Iverson earned his fourth win of the season saving all seventeen shots he faced.  Williston mustered sixty-three total shots, the most that this writer has seen a Wildcat team have in his time in Easthampton.  The game puck went to Eagle River, Alaska native and junior defenseman, Connor Canterbury, for his relentless work and contributions to the defensive effort.

This Friday marks the end of the Williston homestand when they take on the Winchendon School at 5:30.  The next day, Williston boards the bus for a rematch with Berkshire looking to avenge last Saturday’s overtime loss.  The puck drops in Sheffield, MA at 3.15.

Williston Loses a Heartbreaker to Berkshire in OT

On a cold and snowy Saturday afternoon, the Berkshire Bears migrated to Easthampton to take on the Williston Wildcats in a matinee at the Lossone Rink.  The game was hard-fought and even for much of the contest before the Bears were able to sneak a nifty shot past Williston goalie Xander Rogers in OT to take home a 3-2 victory.

The first period the had the makings of the 1972 Bobby Fischer/Boris Spassky chess match with neither team willing to concede much ground.  At the ten-minute mark, Williston and Berkshire had only one shot apiece with both teams playing magnificent defense keeping each other’s play to the perimeters and corners.  The period ended with Williston gaining the edge in shots, 7-6.

The second period began in much the same way but at the 9:54 mark Mike D’Ambrosio put a cross ice pass from the left dot to a streaking Sam Milnes who was able to able to get his stick on the puck and deflect it between a sliding Thomas Draper’s pads to put the ‘Cats up 1-0.  Nick Schofield was credited with the second assist.  However, the lead was soon vanquished when Berkshire leading scorer Jack Lloyd was able to beat Rogers on the power play, knotting the score at one all.

The third period saw the Wildcats gain the lead when Brendan White gathered the puck in the neutral zone and took off down the right wall, beating a Berkshire defenseman wide sliding the puck past Draper.  Assists were given to JT Chamberlain and Milnes.  However, at 6:07, Lloyd notched his second of the game when he let a shot go from the left dot in Williston’s zone that was able to find the smallest of holes to beat Rogers on the near post.  Play was fierce for the remainder of the period but to no avail sending the game to overtime.  For Williston, this would be their second trip to an extra frame this season while it would be the fourth time for Berkshire.

In the opening shift of overtime, both teams played it close to the vest, careful to not commit any errors.  However, in the third minute, a Williston bounce inside their own blue line sent White on a breakaway with the nearest Berkshire defender at least twenty feet behind.  White took the puck looking to duplicate his second period feat but was denied trying to sneak the puck between Draper’s legs.  A Berkshire defender was able to clear the puck from the crease and a chip out of the zone sent Berkshire forward Briggs Gammill on a one-on-one with Williston defenseman Jake Durocher. Gammill was able to step over the blue line and let a laser of a shot go past Rogers’ shoulder hitting the back pipe and sealing the victory for the Bears.  The Williston bench and fans were silenced as they watched the Berkshire team empty out of their bench in victory.

While Williston was humbled on this day, they were forced to bury the loss; this week, Worcester Academy comes to town on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 while the Winchendon School enters Lossone on Friday at 5:30.  On Saturday, Williston heads west to Sheffield, MA in hopes of evening the season series with Berkshire School at 3:15.

 

Williston Upends Canterbury, 3-1

The Williston boys’ hockey team started the New Year when the Saints of Canterbury came marching into town this past Wednesday.  Williston took the opening game of the two-game series, 3-1, and inched even closer to the .500 mark on the season.

Greg Iverson got the nod in net for the first time since before Christmas vacation when he helped defeat Academie St.Louis, 5-1 on December 9.  He did not disappoint the eager Williston faithful.

The first period was tightly contested as Canterbury had a game plan and stuck with it nicely.  Canterbury ran a well-played 2-3 forecheck that initially stymied the Williston team as they continued to get hemmed into their own zone.  However, a mid-period tactical alteration opened up the zone and allowed Williston the opportunity to break out consistently.  For much of the period, play was tight with few grade-A scoring opportunities as both teams were trying to feel one another out.  At the horn, both teams retreated to their dressing rooms with the game knotted at zeroes.

The opening minutes of periods have, at times, been killers for the Williston Wildcats and Canterbury took advantage 53-seconds into the second frame.  Williston won an offfensive zone faceoff on the left side to our defenseman who let a cannon go but missed the net.  With the puck careening around the boards, another Williston player unsuccessfully attempted to keep the puck in the zone which sent away Canterbury’s Nick Parody—who interestingly enough, needed his skates sharpened between periods.  The job was left to assistant coach Kyle Hanford, who, upon giving Parody’s skates back to their coaching staff commented: “If he gets a goal, he better mention me to the papers.”  Time will tell if that came true.  Either way, the Wildcats were down, 1-0 early in the second period.  Parody blasted down the left wing on a two-on-one and was able to beat Iverson near-side putting the Saints up 1-0.

Williston would even up the score on a power play bid when senior Nick Schofield let a shot go from the high slot forcing Canterbury goalie Dan Seitz to make the initial save, however, he could not corral the rebound and a heads up hustle play by sophomore Tim Rego on the crease shuffled the puck to a patient JoJo Carbone who netted his fifth goal of the year at 10:49 of the second period.  Williston and Canterbury continued to trade jabs but to no avail and both teams entered their dressing rooms tied 1-1.

The third period was a continuation of the first two periods with both teams and both goaltenders making play after play, save after save, with some great chances coupled with some great saves. The Wildcats finally solved the tie when a hard working Steven Gower muscled his way with the puck through the neutral zone and let go a shot that got parlayed into the corner.  However, strong work by Kyle Caddo and Kevin Lassman eventually lead to the puck bouncing sweetly onto senior Owen Sylvia’s stick.  Upon collecting the puck, the Dartmouth, MA native took two strides off-center to the right of the goal and was able to beat the outstretched arms of Seitz putting the boys in blue up 2-1.

The Wildcats would take an unfortunate too many men on the ice penalty with 1 minute left in the game. With Seitz pulled for the extra attacker the Williston PK core of Gower, Nick Day, Brendan Hansen, and Sam Milnes were up to the task to defend. Milnes would end the game on an empty net goal.  Milnes lives by a strict “empty net goals are soft” credo and thus his celebration was one of little jubilation.  Still, Williston won, 3-1 with Iverson getting his third win of the season and stopping 35 shots.  Sylvia received the game puck and earned the right to lead the boys in the singing of “Sammy” sung in the dressing room upon every win.

This Saturday, the Wildcats take on a very skilled Berkshire School at Lossone Arena at 3.15.  Very good seats are still available.

 

Wildcats Can’t Duplicate Earlier Feat Versus St. Sebs; Nobles Wins

Before it was time to say goodbye to an auspicious 2016 for the Williston boys hockey team—a November and December that saw Williston defeat Salisbury, Gunnery, and St. Sebastians—the Wildcats headed down the Mass Pike for two final games—one, a rematch against St. Sebastians, and the other against traditional New England power, Noble and Greenough School.

In the first game versus St. Sebastians in Needham, the boys fought valiantly but produced zero goals losing to the Arrows, 1-0.  Xander Rogers got the nod once again in net for Williston having defeated Sebs 2-1 in overtime before Christmas break in the St. Sebastian’s Holiday Tournament.  The first period saw Williston come out sluggish with little giddy-up, and just 2:04 into the game, Sebs’ senior captain Brendan Goostray scored the first and only goal of the contest beating Rogers between his pads.  The first period was rather lackluster for the Wildcats as they went to the dressing room down.  After a spirited pick-me-up from head coach Derek Cunha, Williston worked hard and showed resilience through the final two frames but it was for naught.  Even an eighteen shot outburst by Williston in third period could not help the boys from Easthampton.

The next day Williston traveled to Nobles and came out on the losing end of a 4-2 contest.  This game saw senior Donny Battimelli get his third start of the year in net.  Nobles took the lead early in the fisrt period when a Nobles player took a shot from the right inside hashmark that hit Battimelli in the head.  The puck dropped by his feet and Sean Wrenn was on the doorstep for an easy tap-in goal.  Nobles would head to the first intermission ahead 1-0.

Nobles got its second goal of the game early in the second period when a shot was taken on the left faceoff dot.  Battimelli made the initial save and deflected the puck in the corner.  A Nobles winger scooped up the puck and drove hard to the other side of the net and made a cross-crease pass that Zach Janfaza buried.  Williston looked defeated for a time but on the power play with 3:01 left in the second, Brendan White took a puck from the right corner and used his big 6-2 frame and jammed the puck at the feet of goalie Matt Lane; the puck took a fortuitous bounce and hit the mesh at the top of the net.  The period ended with Nobles leading 2-1.

Once again the beginning of periods was not good for Williston on this day and in the third Nobles winger Sean Wrenn took advantage.  Driving down the right wing, with senior defenseman Mike D’Ambrosio in front of him, Wrenn stepped over the blue line and let a shot go on net that beat Battimelli over the blocker giving Nobles a 3-1 lead.  However, a little over two minutes later, White was back to his old tricks, this time driving from the left corner and finding a small opening between Lane’s pad and the post cutting Nobles’ lead to one.  However, Nobles’ Ryan Stevens, son of former BC and NHL star, Kevin Stevens, gathered a bumbled puck at their own blue line and went down on a breakaway gingerly sliding the puck between Battimelli’s pads for the fourth and final goal by either team.  While Williston mounted intense pressure at the end of the game, Matt Lane stood tall to the task.

Williston has lost 4 or its last five but looks to rebound early in the New Year when they take on Canterbury at Lossone on Wednesday, January 5th at 4.  See you there.

 

Williston Beats Number 10 Ranked St. Sebs; Loses to Rivers and Thayer

As many Williston students packed their bags and headed for home on Friday, December 16, the Williston Boys’ Hockey Team loaded up the busses and headed to the St. Sebastian’s Holiday Tournament to take on host, the St. Sebastians Arrows in Needham, MA.  Xander Rogers was named the starter of the game thanks to his performance against Gunnery less than a week before as the Wildcats took the ice against a riotous student section and with families, friends, coaches and scouts looking on.

Williston opened the scoring 1:11 into the first period when a hard-forecheck by JoJo Carbone led to a takeover in front of the St. Sebastian net; Carbone corralled the puck and took a quick shot beating senior goaltender Alex Zafonte over his glove giving the Williston faithful reason to cheer.  The rest of the period would be back and forth with Rogers and Zafonte trading saves.

The second period began with weak defensive play by the Wildcats leading to the Arrows first and only goal.  With St. Sebastian’s hemming Williston into their own zone, freshman forward Liam Connors came out of the corner untouched and backhanded a nifty goal over Rogers shoulder to tie the game 1-1.  The period would remain dead-locked as the two clubs would head to overtime.

The overtime frame began with St. Sebastians coming out the gate with vengeance entering the zone and getting a great shot on net from the right point, through a screen, that Rogers was able to waffle-board away.  Play went back and forth for a short time until senior Owen Sylvia broke into the St. Sebs end and let a shot go that was blocked by Zafonte only to have the puck bounce fortuitously onto senior Steven Gower’s stick who let a quick snap shot go over the outstretched glove of Zafonte.  It was a gutsy win and the first overtime victory for Williston in more than a year.  The player of the game for the Wildcats was Gower.  Rogers stopped 24/25 shots on the day.  The win would put Williston into the winner’s bracket of the tournament where they would play Thayer the next day at 3pm.

A win against Thayer would put the Wildcats into the championship game for the first time in many years but sadly, it was not to be on this day as the Wildcats could only muster one goal and give up five to a strong Thayer club.  The first line of Thayer, Jay O’Brien (Providence), Casey Carreau (Boston College), and Aiden McDonough (Undecided) proved to be too much for the Wildcats figuring in three of Thayer’s five goals.  The lone goal for Williston came as JoJo Carbone beat junior goalie, Jimmy Scannell cutting the Thayer lead to 2-1 midway through the second half.  Unfortunately for Williston, this would be as close as they would get as Thayer would answer right back and then add two late goals.  Rogers saved 37/42 shots for the loss.

On Sunday, the Wildcats played Rivers School at 1pm losing 3-0.  Down 1-0 heading into the second half, a five-minute major against Williston proved to be too much for the squad as they allowed two goals in that span.  Williston could never get any offense going as they were thwarted time and time again by a strong Rivers team.  Donnie Battimelli made 30/33 for the loss.

Williston is off until December 30 when the travel back to Boston and take on St. Sebastians in Needham, MA.  This writer would like to wish all a Happy Holidays.

Williston Strikes Again—Takes Down New England Champions, Gunnery

Williston Strikes Again—Takes Down New England Champions, Gunnery

10 December 2016

Saturday nights at Lossone Arena have been good to the Williston Wildcats early in this 2016-2017 season.  Last Saturday, the Wildcats brought Salisbury to their knees with a 6-1 victory (December 3).  This Saturday, the Highlanders of Gunnery saw the same fate, losing to the boys in green and blue, 4-1.  For Williston, it was their first win over Gunnery in nineteen games dating back to January of 2003.  Williston entered the contest looking to rebound from a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Cushing on Wednesday night, while Gunnery was coming off of a convincing win over Exeter, 4-1.

Williston got on the board at the 5:07 mark when senior JT Chamberlain won an offensive draw on the right side to junior Connor Power who let a dandy of a shot go from the point.  Senior winger Nick Day was able to get a stick on the shot that deflected off Gunnery goalie Cedric Andree’s pad only to bounce onto the fortuitous stick of Chamberlain who banged in the rebound passed a sprawling Andree.  Williston would add to their lead 12 minutes later with under a minute to go in the period when Chamberlain again found the back of the net on a blast from inside the blue line.  Seniors Day and Steven Gower were credited with the helpers.

In the second, Gunnery attempted to ride their high-powered offense to cut the lead but junior goalie, Xander Rogers, was up to the task kicking out all shots he faced.  Both teams were assessed a number of penalties in the period and both penalty kills proved successful.  While it looked like the period would end with Williston hanging on to a 2-0 lead, sophomore Kevin Lassman intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and make a shifty dish to senior Nick Schofield who zipped a pass across to junior Sam Milnes. Milnes let it fly with a quick snap shot that may or may not have hit the back post under the crossbar. While the officials did not see the goal, they didn’t miss Schofield shuffling in the rebound.  While attempts to go to Toronto for goal review failed, the Wildcats had a comfortable lead going into the dressing room after the second.

Early in the third, Sam Milnes all but sealed the win when he let a rocket of a shot go from the right circle beating Andree over his left shoulder.  While the third period was offensively controlled by Gunnery, to this writer, it was Williston’s commitment to selfless defense that stymied their attempts.  While Gunnery was able to best Williston in shots, they only generated a few quality scoring chances.  Williston defenders blocked countless shots and Rogers stood tall making 37 saves.  Gunnery was able to get on the board with six seconds left in the third on the power play but the damage was already done securing another rendezvous at the victory bell after the game.

Xander Rogers was awarded the game puck for his efforts.  Williston is now 3-2, their best record in years.  The Wildcats are off this Wednesday but resume play Friday afternoon at the St. Sebastian’s Holiday Tournament in Needham, MA versus the host school.  Puck drops at 4pm.

***

On Friday night, the Williston Wildcats defeated Academic St. Louis, 5-1 at Lossone Arena.  Junior Billy Smith lead the way with 1 goal and three assist, followed by Senior JoJo Carbone with a goal and two assists.  Brendan Hansen netted two goals, won 17-21 faceoffs, blocked countless shots from the point and earned the game puck.  Greg Iverson got the win kicking out 21/22 shots.

Williston Falls to Cushing

Williston Falls to Cushing

On Wednesday afternoon, the Williston boys’ hockey team traveled to Ashburnham, MA to take on the Cushing Penguins but came up on the losing end of a 6-2 final.

Sophomore Greg Iverson got the nod in net for this matchup and while he made a valiant effort making ten strong saves, he allowed three goals and was relieved after nine minutes into the first period.  In short, the defensive effort was not what it was on Saturday night and after a timeout, junior Xander Rogers entered the game.

After the short respite, Williston came back rejuvenated and mounted sustained pressure with multiple scoring chances while Cushing took multiple icings in hopes of gaining back the momentum.  Cushing’s Andrew Engel played exceptionally well during this flurry and Williston failed to find the back of the net.  The period ended with Cushing holding onto a 3-0 lead.

The second period began with Williston continuing to mount the pressure on the Penguins and at 5:49 of the period, senior Brendan White blocked a shot from the point that deflected to senior linemate Nick Schofield.  White took off out of the zone and was gifted a pass by Schofield sending him on a breakaway with two Cushing defensemen three strides behind.  White streaked in on Engle and beat him between the pads to cut the lead to two.

Less than three minutes later, Williston struck again, this time with a strong forecheck effort by junior Billy Smith who stole the puck from a defender in the mid-slot, just right of Engel. While Engel was able to make a pad save on Smith’s shot, a fortuitous bounce to senior Jojo Carbone on the left post put the Wildcats to within one.  However, less than two minutes later, Cushing forward Alec Andreucci separated himself from a Williston defender in the left slot and found a space above Roger’s right shoulder to put the Penguins up 4-2.

The third period saw Cushing put two more goals away sealing the deal for Cushing who improved to 1-2-1 on the season. Rogers, who came in relief, finished the night with 30 saves.

While the Wildcats were disappointed by their effort for the night, they must regroup quickly with only one day of practice separating them from Academie St. Louis on Friday night at 7pm and Gunnery on Saturday night at 6pm both a Lossone.  Williston hopes to regain their winning ways over the weekend.

 

Williston Stuns New England Powerhouse, Salisbury, 6-1

Williston Stuns New England Powerhouse, Salisbury, 6-1

On Saturday night, the Williston boy’s hockey team soundly defeated the Salisbury Crimson Knights 6-1 in the Wildcats home opener.  The teams entered the campaign riding two vastly different waves into Lossone Rink; just seventy-two hours earlier, Salisbury defeated Founders League rival Taft with a convincing 5-0 win, while the Wildcats were licking the wounds of a 7-1 defeat to Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire.

Early in the first period it looked as if Salisbury was going to use the momentum of their Wednesday victory by controlling the play off the draw putting solid pressure on the boys in blue.  However, Williston settled in quickly and at the 16 minute mark, senior Brendan White got the ‘Cats on the board with his first goal of the season, a power play, assisted by senior Mike D’Ambrosio and new Junior Jake Durocher. Six-and-a-half minutes later on a power play, Durocher scored on a quick snapshot from the left circle-top with a nifty pass from Schofield to put the Wildcats up 2-0.  The period was back and forth and the Wildcats entered the dressing room leading.

The second period was dominated by Salisbury who, with excellent transition work and the help of a number of power play opportunities, peppered new sophomore goalie, Greg Iverson, with shots, early and often.  The Williston penalty kill was up to the challenge and with 7:24 left in the period and killing another penalty, junior Sam Milnes intercepted a Salisbury pass and powered his way down the ice to the net, cutting across the crease and beating Trinity-bound goalie Nick Sorgio on a deceptive backhand to forehand move putting the Wildcats up 3-0.  Salisbury continued to pressure Williston but could not solve the riddle of Iverson.  The period ended with Williston holding onto the lead.

With a renewed sense of urgency, Salisbury opened the third period with a hard-working goal by Jacques Bouquot assisted by Alex D’Paolo just fourteen seconds in.  The Williston faithful secretly wondered if Salisbury had found the Wildcat’s number but at 11:47 on the power play Jake Durocher wheeled with the puck in the zone and made a touch pass to second-year senior Owen Silvia, camped out on the bottom of the right circle, who found Nick Schofield streaking to the far post.  Schofield one-timed the pass by Sorgio and Williston’s lead was 4-1.  A little over five minutes later, new junior, Billy Smith, made an almost identical pass to Schofield on the far post beating Sorgio near-side to put Williston up 5-1.  Williston put the proverbial nail-in-the-coffin with 3:24 left in the game when Smith took a shot in the low slot from Sam Milnes that got caught under Sorgio’s pad but Milnes jammed in the rebound.  The game would end in 6-1 victory for Williston.

For his 52 save effort, Iverson garnered the player of the game sending the Wildcats to the victory bell for its first win of the season.

Williston is headed to Ashburnham, MA this Wednesday for a 4:45 tilt against another New England powerhouse, the Penguins of Cushing Academy.  Williston will be back at Lossone on Friday night against Academie St. Louis from Quebec on Friday night at 7 and on Saturday night at 6 against defending New England champions, the Gunnery Highlanders.  Good seats are still available for both contests.