They say that a tie is like kissing your sister, however, with Williston trailing the Brunswick Bruins with eighteen minutes remaining in the game, it was more like kissin’ the gal next door.  Williston was down 4-2 with a period remaining when clutch play by the Wildcats tied the game with eleven minutes remaining.  Five minutes of overtime could not solve the tie and Williston would head into the Christmas Holiday, 3-5-1.

Williston got on the board early in the first half when, off a faceoff on the left side in the offensive zone, Brendan Nehmer won a draw back to the pride of Pittsford, NY, Zac Gmerek, who put the puck deep into the corner.  Winger David Novotny retreated from the front of the net, picked up the puck and shoveled a quick pass to a waiting Jake Sacratini who was three feet off the left post and snuck a quick redirect that found a hole through the Brunswick goalie, Dan Dachille.  Brunswick would answer on the power play nine minutes later.

Shaul Mitton made it a 2-1 game when he busted down the right side of the ice, crossed over the Bruin blueline and let a wrist shot fly from the tops of the circle beating Dachille on the far post.  It was Shaul’s fourth goal of the season at the 13:02 mark of the game. But alas, Brunswick again would respond on the power play three minutes later.  The teams would head in to the dressing room knotted at twos.

Brunswick came out smoking in the second half and went up 4-2.  Williston called a time out with eighteen minutes remaining in the half.  In the short respite, Coach Derek Cunha spoke confidently reminding the team that they still had a period left to score two goals.  If they could get the two, they could win it in overtime.  Rejuvenated, Williston started to claw back when Brunswick chipped a puck to the Williston blueline and changed.  Immediately, Alex Berg retrieved the puck and sent a quick pass to Novotny who was cutting into the Brunswick zone.  Number 10 looked up and let a laser go that beat Dachille over the glove and into the top right corner cutting the lead to one at the 12:27 mark.

Then, under two minutes later, Tyler Varin chipped a puck in to the neutral zone where it ping-ponged between players; finally James Belleavoine corralled it and skated into the Brunswick zone on a two-on-one with Cam Marianni driving toward the net.  Belleavoine floated a pass over the Bruin’s defenseman’s stick and Mariani put just enough sauce on the shot to beat Dachille.

The game would remain tied throughout regulation and into overtime.  Both teams had opportunities but to no avail.  Shots were 27/26 in favor of Brunswick.

Williston is off until the night of December 27^th when they will meet up at Nobles for a quick practice and then take on St. Sebastian’s in Needham at 11 am the following day.  Fans will remember that last year, the Wildcats went down 3-0 in the first period only to score four straight to beat the Arrows 4-3 in overtime.  The following day, Williston takes on the number 7-ranked Nobles Bulldogs at noon.  Williston took last year’s game 3-2.

So, from the Williston hockey family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The title for this piece is a stick-tap to John Adams, class of ’64 who spoke to the Williston hockey team in the dressing room before yesterday’s Albany game.  He later sent a picture of his yearbook with this heading.  As the coaching staff read the article, we were amazed at all of the similarities of that team and this year’s club: the Williston’s team’s ice surface (they played on the pond that year—their final season because Lossone was built) gave Coach Carpenter fits; we are playing in a tournament with twenty-five minute halves where near the end of a period looks like a week’s worth of pond hockey on the Erie Canal. They had three returners; we have seven. They had two returning defensemen; and we have two returners. They needed to focus on the defensive zone and let the offense figure itself out; and so do we. They had a brand new goaltender; we have two fresh faces.  The similarities were eerie, but as Coach Cunha talked to the team before the start of the game, he reiterated that nearly 50+ years later, things couldn’t be more similar.  Adams noted in his email what an honor it was to speak to our group and was thankful for the opportunity and so were we.

After the 3-0 loss to Albany last night, the Williston seniors and in particular, our captains, took it upon themselves to figure things out.  They spoke openly and calmly listening to their teammates as they discussed what needed to change.  Whatever was said in the closed-door team-only meeting had a great impression on the entire group because Williston came out today energized and focused taking the 11 am game 7-1 over Winchendon School.

The game started with Williston adhering to their systems and their game plan as they hounded Winchendon in the offensive zone creating turnovers and scoring opportunities.  The first goal came at the 12:28 mark of the period when David Novotny took a puck along his own half wall and made a perfect pass to Brendan Nehmer who skated through the neutral zone, broke into the Winchendon side, cut to his left and let a quick wrister go that beat the Wapiti goalie on the far right post.

Winchendon scored six minutes later on a breakaway that just beat on outstretched Trevor Corsello under his right pad near the post.  Williston responded thirteen seconds later when Mitchell Hansen punched a puck into the left corner to a waiting James Belleavoine who made a move to skate behind the net; he then made a back-diagonal pass to an open Cam Mariani who roofed the puck past the Winchendon’s goalie’s right glove.

Williston got their final of the period when Tim Rego got a pass from Jake Sacratini and blasted a shot that was tipped by Novotny at the 5:41 mark.  The Wildcats went to the dressing room up, 3-1.

In the second half, Williston continued where they left off after the first when Mariani scored his second of the game on the 4×3 power play.  Belleavoine took a shot that hit the post but the rebound came to Mariani in the high slot who buried it past the scrambling Winchendon goalie.  Williston scored their fifth of the game on the power play when Sacratini conjured some Montreal Magic as he drove low around the left side and put a puck that found the back of the net.  Rego and Mariani got the helpers.

Williston got their sixth goal, again on the power play, when Rego let a rocket go that beat Winchendon goalie under his glove.  Nehmer and Mariani were awarded the assists.  Mariani notched a hat trick when, on a 4×3 power play, Belleavoine hit him on the back post where he buried his chance.

The game puck went to Mariani for his five-point performance.  Corsello came up big on a number of occasions making 23 saves.  Williston had 30 shots.  Another impressive stat for the Wildcats was their 26-5 on faceoffs.

Williston will rest for the remainder of the day and take on the Brunswick Bruins tomorrow at 11 am.  Brunswick ended Williston’s playoff run last year in the quarterfinals, 2-0 going on to win the Large School Championship.  We hope to see you at St. Sebs tomorrow!

Williston entered the St. Sebastian’s tournament looking to bounce back after a two-game losing streak but it was not to happen tonight.  The Wildcats were unable to mount much of an offense in the fifty-minute game and lost 3-0.  Penalties once again hurt Williston as they were called for four infractions with three coming in the second half of the game.  Albany was able to capitalize on one of their chances.  Williston was on the power play for only two minutes of the game and never really mounted much of an attack. For a team that was looking to take off from their dominant third period against Canterbury on Wednesday afternoon, Williston just didn’t bring it today.  They will have a chance at redemption tomorrow morning at 11 at St. Sebastians when they take on The Winchendon Wapitis who dropped a 5-1 decision to the host school.

On Saturday, the #13 Gunnery Highlanders dropped by Lossone rink to take on Williston for an evening soiree.  Williston put up a good fight for the first two periods, entering the third period tied at two.  But in the third, Gunnery would get two on-the-crease goals and Williston couldn’t respond.  Gunnery won the game, 4-2

In the first, Shaul Mitton would get the Wildcats on the board at the 10:27 mark when he blocked a shot from the point, drove down the right wing and let a shot go from the right dot beating Gunnery goalie, JP Mella.  The lead only lasted for just under three minutes when Gunnery’s Jimmy Rayhill entered the Williston zone and let a shot go that hit the left post and deflected in; Williston goalie Trevor Corsello was screened on the play and couldn’t make the save.  The teams entered the dressing room after one period, 1-1.

In the second, Gunnery took the lead at the 3:39 mark.  The game would stay like that for over eleven minutes until Williston put a puck deep into the Gunnery zone when a hard-working and tenacious Jack Purcell skated like the Chicago wind, wrestled the puck away from a Gunnery defenseman, and whipped a pass through the crease to junior Matt Pimental who got a stick on the puck and tipped it past Mella.  It was a pretty goal that tied the game.

In the third, below average play in the defensive zone allowed for Gunnery to get two greasy goals to solidify the win.  The winning goalie made 22/24 saves, while Corsello made 33/37 saves.

One Wednesday, the win-less Canterbury Saints came marching into town looking to the heavens for some inspiration and a win.  They got it, taking the matchup, 4-2.

There was no scoring in the first period and while Williston was outshot 11-4, both teams were about even in their play.

In the second, Canterbury took the lead just nine seconds into the period.  They got three more to take a huge 4-0 lead going into the third.

In the third, Williston outright dominated Canterbury, outshooting them 23-2.  A countless number of those shots just missed the twine or slid slowly across the crease and into the corner; pucks just were not just falling for the Wildcats.  Then, at the 11:21 mark, Jack Purcell let a rip go from the right dot on the power play. Assists went to Cam Mariani and James Belleavoine.  Purcell’s energy looked to get the Wildcats going even more as their pressure mounted on Canterbury. Then, captain Tim Rego took a pass from Shaul Mitton in the high slot on a 6×5, wove his way through a myriad of Saints’ players and shuffled off to Buffalo with a nifty backhander at the 16:59 mark of the period.  But that was all Williston would garner in the period.

Williston’s Kyler Breland took the loss saving 20/24 shots while Cal Skwara saved 39/41.

Williston’s effort in the third period was the best of the season and showed that if they can do that for a whole game, they will be tough to play against and beat.

Williston now heads into the holiday break and the St. Sebastian’s tournament.  Last year they entered the tournament 2-2 due to a Gunnery game that was cancelled to snow and the fact that they played Canterbury after New Year’s, so while they are sitting at 2-4, last year at this time they had only garnered two wins so fans should not lose hope.

Williston will leave early Friday afternoon where they will play in the St. Sebastian’s Holiday Tournament in Needham, MA.  The Wildcats will open the tournament at 4pm against a tough Albany Academy Cadets’ team.  The winner/loser will play the winner/loser of the St. Sebastian’s/Winchendon game the following day.  The rest of the field includes Canadian powerhouse St. Andrews School, New York’s Adirondack prep school, the Northwood School, last year’s Large School Tournament Champion, Brunswick School, and a very strong Rivers School.  See you there!

The Williston Wildcats traveled to Cushing on Wednesday afternoon to do battle with the Penguins at Iorio Arena.  While Williston battled hard, they did not play a full 54-minute game letting lapses in the defensive zone put them on the wrong side of a 4-3 game.

James Belleavoine got the Wildcats on the board in the first period when Shaul Mitton drove down the slot, let a shot go which was saved by Cushing goalie Joe Sharib, a Union recruit; Sharib made the save but Belleavoine was there to drive home a rebound at the 12:50 mark.  Alex Berg got the other helper.

In the second, Cushing tied the game on a power play and then went up at the 13:45 mark of the period.  Mitton would tie the game on the power play when he drove hard to the crease and tipped in a hard pass from d-man Tyler Varin.  Cushing would get another that period but with .03 seconds remaining in the period and with the goalie pulled, Brendan Nehmer put a puck past Sharib off a faceoff to knot the game at threes.

Cushing would take the lead and the game in the third with 5:55 remaining on the power play.  Williston battled, and hit the post two times in the remaining minutes but could not even the score.  Williston played hard and came close but did not play as hard as they needed to in the defensive zone.

Sharib earned the win making 22 saves; Kyler Breland took the loss for Williston making 30 saves.

On Friday night, Quebec City’s Académie St. Louis entered Lossone to take on the Wildcats.  Williston took the cheese in this one, 5-1 bringing them to .500 on the season.

Williston got on the board just 34 seconds into the frame when ASL took a penalty at :07 mark on a hit from behind.  On the power play, off a shot from Jake Sacratini, James Belleavoine put in a hard-fought rebound.  Tim Rego got the other assist.  Then, a little more than two minutes later, Jake Sacratini got his first goal of his Williston career making it 2-0 when he drove hard to the net and caught a pass from Rego and made good on the opportunity.  Tyler Varin also earned his first of the year when he let a shot go from inside the blue that was too much for ASL goalie Emile Savoie.  Assists went to Hunter Sarro and Hunter Wilson.  ASL got off the schneid at the 13:27 mark on an errant play behind the net by two Williston defensemen.  The ‘Cats went into the dressing room after one period up, 3-1.

In the second, Shaul Mitton garnered the fourth Williston goal at the :21 mark of the game when he let a shot go from the slot beating Savoie on the far post.  Tommy Harty and David Novotny earned the assists.  Then at the 13:11 mark, the line earned the Kodak moment of the game when Mitton took the puck at the red line and made a short two-foot pass to Novotny who blazed into the left side of the ASL  zone and then slowed down waiting to hit a trailing Harty in the high slot.  Harty took advantage of the time and space created and buried his first goal of the season.

In the third, Williston worked to maintain the lead and when the buzzer sounded Williston won and the bell would be rung.

Trevor Corsello earned the win saving 16 shots.  Williston outshot Académie St. Louis, 47-17.  The game puck went to Tyler Varin for his first goal and continued consistent and smooth play.

Tonight your Wildcats welcome The Gunnery School Highlanders to Lossone for a 6 o’clock tilt.  If you need a break from shopping and spreading holiday cheer, stop by the ol’ hockey barn for a much-anticipated game!

On Saturday evening, the number 1-ranked Salisbury Scarlet Knights entered Lossone Arena and dropped Williston 4-1.  While Williston put up a solid fight in the first period, the eleven current Division I commitments and the rest of their teammates were too much for the Wildcats who appeared to peter out at times during the matchup.

The game started with excellent pace as both teams worked hard to establish early momentum that would hopefully carry their club through the entire fifty-four minutes.  One fan commented early on in disbelief that the game was so hard-hitting and fast.  While Salisbury mounted substantial offense at times, Williston goalie Trevor Corsello was up to the task making many excellent saves.  At the other end, new junior Nicholas Haas was tested early and often as well.  Williston got on the board first at the 7:38 mark of the period when Jake Sacratini was able to break up a Salisbury offensive zone opportunity at the blue line allowing his linemate Cam Mariani to gather the puck and streak in to the Salisbury zone with Brendan Nehmer driving hard to the net.  Forgoing a pass, Mariani let a rip go from the right dot beating Haas far side.  Williston took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after one period of play.

In the second, penalties and lack-luster efforts by the Wildcats led to three Salisbury goals, including the third on a breakaway by Nick Capone for a short-handed try.  Salisbury went into the second intermission, 3-1.

In the third, Salisbury iced the game at the 2:05 mark when Capone earned his second goal of the game.  Williston battled but Salisbury had too much depth.  Corsello made 25 saves on the day while Haas made 26.

Williston looks to rebound with a three-game week.  On Wednesday,  Williston makes the hour-and-a-half trip to Ashburnham, MA to take on the #5-ranked Penguins of Cushing at 3:30, a team that they have not beaten in many tries.  On Friday, Williston is back home to take on Academie Saint-Louis at 5:30 and then #7 Gunnery on Saturday at 6.  Great seats are still available for both home games and offer a great environment for family and friends.  See you there.

 

Williston opened the 2018-2019 season in style, beating the #11^th ranked Avon Old Farms Winged Beavers on the road, 5-2.  The matchup saw an array of new faces on the ice as graduation and underclassmen defections took its toll on both clubs in the offseason.  On this day, it was the Wildcats who were able to find their identity and take the win.

Avon got on the board first at the 3:53 mark in the first period as forward Tim Heinke took a pass from winger, John Turner, and single-handedly entered the zone, split the Williston defense, and tucked in a nifty goal past new Williston goalie Kyler Breland from Drayton Valley, Alberta.  The lead would not last however.  Fielding a dump-in behind the net, Avon goalie Alex Aslanidis (a Providence recruit) was outworked for a puck by new junior Shaul (pronounced SHOW-el) Mitton of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, who used his big 6’2, 175 frame to disrupt the play, gather the puck and make a pass from behind the left side of the net to returning (and wide open) sophomore David Novotny (Boca Raton, Florida) in the low slot who fired a low shot in the right corner tying the game at 1-1 at the 6:35 mark.

Senior Captain Tim Rego (Mansfield, MA) would break the tie on the power play at the 8:19 mark of the period when Hunter Sarro (North Attleboro, MA) worked hard in the corner for a puck, made a quick pass to Rego at the left point who let a quick rip go beating Aslanidis.  Williston arms went up; Avon heads went down.

The lead was short-lived as Avon tied the game on a goal from John Tuner with assists to Nick Cyprian and Tyler Boucher in a scrum in front of Breland at the 10:50 mark.

Williston would take the lead for good at 16:37 when the pride of Western Mass and post-graduate from Pope Francis, Brendan Nehmer (East Longmeadow, MA) would net the first goal of his career on a shot from the slot that beat Aslanidis over the shoulder. Williston would enter the dressing room at the end of one, 3-2.

The second period was riddled with penalties including 5x3s for both squads.  The first of the two was successfully killed off by an incredibly stingy Williston penalty kill unit.  Within thirty seconds of the final penalty expiring, David Novotny collected a puck at his own blue line and drove down the ice on a 2 on 1 with new junior Tommy Harty (Billerica, MA) streaking toward the goal.  Novotny looked off Harty and blasted a shot past Aslanidis for the fourth Williston goal and his second of the game.  An interesting note is that last year as a freshman, Novotny did not see any time in the Avon game because the coaching staff did not feel he was “ready.”  My, how a year can change things!

In the third period, Williston put the screws to Avon and did not allow any grade-A chances.  Breland saw almost every shot and was up to the task on every Avon opportunity.  You could see the Winged Beavers frustration because they could never get anything going offensively.  Meanwhile, Williston put the final nail in the metaphorical coffin when senior Cam Mariani (Wilbraham, MA) took a pass from newcomer Jake Sacratini out of the left corner and let a low blast go; Aslanidis made a beauty kick save that landed on the stick of Nehmer in the slot who buried the puck into an open net for his second goal, solidifying the win.  Avon had some good opportunities late but could not bury chances.  When zeros hit the scoreboard, Williston took the win, 5-2.

The game puck went to Breland for his stellar play in goal and being the steady pillar the Wildcats needed, making 41 saves on the day.  Aslanidis saved 26 of Williston’s 31 shots.

This year, the Wildcats return only seven players from last year’s playoff-bound club.  Breland’s partner in nets is junior Trevor Corsello from Seldon, NY on Long Island.

Returning on defense with Rego is Alex Berg from Tampa Florida who has picked up where he left off last year as the steady, stalwart defenseman.  Williston fans will notice the name Hansen on the blue line and may wonder if former Williston forward Brendan Hansen shot up six inches over the summer and switched positions.  In fact, Hansen is playing at the University of Colorado at Boulder, while his younger brother Mitchell takes the reigns to live on the family name in Easthampton.  New sophomore defensemen include Hunter Wilson of Westport, CT; Tyler Varin from Smithfield, RI; and Zac Gmerek from the greatest little city east of the Mississippi, Rochester, NY.

At forward, Williston returns five players.  Seniors Cam Mariani, Hunter Sarro, and James Belleavoine (Smithfield, RI) look to carry some of the Williston scoring load this year and already have proven how much a year can change a player, while Sophomores David Novotny and Brandon Barrett (West Palm, FL) look to be contributors as well.  The Williston faithful will also notice a number of new faces on offense this year.  Along with Nehmer, post-grad Jack Purcell of Chicago, Il has already shown his worth with excellent penalty killing and leadership.  The junior class will be well-represented with the likes of not only Mitton, Sacratini, and Harty, but also the workhorse and Portuguese Power, Matt Pimental from East Providence, RI.  Sophomore Richard Stefanik (Whitehouse Station, NJ) rounds out the sophomore class and looks to hone his craft for the Lossone fans.

Behind the scenes of this year’s operation, the team will be in the hands of our willing and capable managers, senior Ethan Bradway (media and tech engineer) and sophomores Oscar Nguyen (hydration and statistics extraordinaire) and Lucas Boyd (sound and hype man).

The Wildcats will be led by 13-year coach, Derek Cunha.  Dave Cunningham will be working with the defense and goalies while Kyle Hanford will try to harness the forwards.

Williston is back in action on Saturday night at 5 o’clock as the Salisbury Scarlet Knights come to town.  Salisbury is a perennial power and is ranked number #1 in New England this year.  Great seats are still available, so bring the family down for an exciting night of hockey.

Williston has secured the number four spot in the New England boy’s hockey tournament and will play the Brunswick Bears on Wednesday at Lossone Arena.  The road to the tournament was not paved with roses and this team worked hard and battled adversity to get there.

It began on Valentine’s Day when the Canterbury Saints came to town.  Williston was looking to avenge a loss in the waning seconds in New Milford at the beginning of the New Year.  Fortunately for Williston, Cupid shot his arrow in the ‘Cats direction and they won in overtime, 4-3.

Williston dominated play in the first period outshooting Canterbury by a three to one margin.  Sam Milnes got the home team on the board when he took a pass from Cam “The Sauce” Mariani and the Captain nipped top shelf to put Williston up 1-0.  A few minutes later Canterbury would tie the game on a short-handed goal knotting the game at one.

There were no goals in the second though again Williston outplayed Canterbury, outshooting them mightily.

Early in the third, Canterbury went up 2-1 before Milnes scored his second of the night on the Canterbury doorstep.  The Captain was able to tip an Alex Berg shot and bang home the rebound.  Brendan Hansen earned the other assist. Ethan Agostoni put the Wildcats up 3-2 when Kyle Caddo took a pass from Connor Power in the neutral zone and ripped a shot that was saved by the Saints goalie, however Agostoni drove hard to the net and poked a rebound between the goalie’s legs.  Things were looking good until the 16:38 mark of the period with the Canterbury goalie pulled.  Canterbury won an offensive faceoff and took a shot that beat Greg Iverson.  Williston was stunned but headed to overtime.

Williston successfully killed a penalty and then in an identical play to Canterbury just four minutes earlier, Hansen won an offensive faceoff to Milnes who beat a well-screened Canterbury goalie.  The Williston bench cleared, arms when up, and metaphorical hats flew on the ice for Milnes third goal of the game.

Williston outshot Canterbury 41-21; Iverson made 18 saves on the day and Milnes earned the game puck.

Williston traveled to Deerfield that Friday for a battle of Western MA foes.  Not much to report here.  Williston out-played Deerfield for the majority of the game but for a 20 second stretch where they were able to beat Iverson on a break away with Kevin Lassman draped all over the eventual scorer.  Williston battled hard but could not even the game.  Williston outshot Deerfield 33-25.

Williston took the weekend off as they prepared for a three game week.  The first game was on a balmy 70 degree day in Albany, NY.  Temps were up and the bus A/C was broken!  No worries as our bus driver converted the escape hatches into sunroofs and the team rested comfortably in the breeze. Great to be back to the home state for this writer!  God’s country!

Williston got up on Albany 2-0 in the first period when Billy Smith was able to net a goal from Logan Geisness, and Kevin Lassman scored on the power play on a blast from the point.  Assists went to Geisness and Rego.

In the second, Albany scored three straight goals to go up 3-2.  Williston battled for the remainder of the period and was rewarded on a backhand shot from Brandon McGill.  See assists from Lassman’s goal.

In the third, Geisness was able to score Williston’s first of three short-handed goals in their final three games.  Connor Power was able to get a puck to Smith along the wall.  Smith was able to bump the puck around a defensemen and squeak a puck to Geisness who took care of business from there.

Williston outshot Albany 41-23.  Iverson got the win and Geisness earned the game puck.

On Friday, Winchendon came to town.  This was Williston’s third game against the Wapitis having taken the first game in a shootout at the St. Sebastian’s Christmas Tournament.  Williston then beat them up in Central MA 3-2.

Winchendon got on the board in the first after killing a five minute major.  Williston outplayed Winchendon but could not score.

Williston scored its second short-handed goal in two games when the penalty-killing duo of Billy Smith and Logan Geisness went in on a 2-0.  Smith drove to the net and looked like he was going to shoot before he slid a cross-crease pass to Geisness who buried the puck.  One of the sweetest goals of the season for this writer.

Geisness would score the game-winner in the third when he drove home a loose puck on the crease.  Assists went to Novotny and Smith.

Williston outshot Winchendon 35-20 as Iverson got the win and Geisness earned the game puck.

Friday was Senior Night for twelve of our players.  Parents flew and drove from as far away as Alaska, California and Wisconsin; as close as Southampton, MA; and everywhere in between.  The evening concluded with a wonderful dinner with parents of our boys.  Tip of the cap to Peggy Hansen and all of the other Williston mothers and fathers for their help!

Even with the win against Winchendon, Williston was still not guaranteed a spot in the tournament.  So with their destiny in their own hands, Williston boarded the bus and headed to the Pomfret School for a tilt with the Griffins.

The game started promptly at 2:30 and Williston forgot to get off the bus going down 2-0 in the first.

After a riveting, nay, motivating speech by Coach Cunha, the Wildcats decided to join in the festivities of period two.  Billy Smith kicked things off on the power play when he let a Hyde-Park howitzer go from the blue line with assists going to Jake Durocher and Hunter Sarro.  Pomfret answered four minutes later with a tally.  However, just twelve seconds after that, Brendan Hansen took things into his own hands and brought the game back to one with a blast from the slot.  Kyle Caddo and Milnes got the helpers.  Williston went into the dressing room down one but with momentum well in their favor.

The third period was all Williston when David Novotny evened things up at the 2:05 mark when he took a pass cross zone from Smith and rifled a shot into a wide open net.  Geisness was the second assist.  Then Brendan Hansen capitalized on a short-handed bid with an assist from Milnes to put the Wildcats in the driver’s seat and with continued momentum.

Then things got interesting.

With 11:43 left in the period, Tim Rego carried the puck into the Pomfret zone and took a routine hit into the boards.  What appeared to be routine turned chaotic when the glass shattered at the impact of the 200 pound Tim Rego.  Play was stopped and both benches went to their respective dressing rooms.  A little less than hour later, play resumed.

Sam Milnes put the final nail in the coffin when he took a home-run pass from Brendan Hansen at the Pomfret blue line, drove down the slot, cut back against the grain getting undercut by a Pomfret defenseman.  For a player like yours truly, a yard sale would have ensued, but Milnes was able to corral his stick, his wits, and the puck, and put a low shot past the Pomfret goalie.  Williston would continue its onslaught giving Pomfret very low-grade chances and take the game, 5-3.

Shots in the game were 32-27 Williston, with Iverson making 24 saves.  Hansen earned the game puck.

On Sunday Williston learned it would be playing Brunswick at Lossone at 3:45.  At that, many of the Williston players decided to introduce themselves to the clippers and try their hands as barbers.  The results are interesting to say the least.

So come on down to the old hockey barn in Easthampton on Wednesday afternoon.  Watch the game, stay for the hair.

 

The Williston hockey team dropped its fourth straight game when it lost to Millbrook 5-3 last Saturday afternoon.  However, with a change in the game plan, some tenacious play, and a hat trick by captain Sam Milnes, Williston was able to defeat the Canterbury Saints, 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday afternoon.

When Millbrook came to town on Saturday, they were riding a three game win-streak and it looked like early on, they were about to take it to the Wildcats when they scored on the power play at the 6:19 mark of the first period after a sluggish start by the home team.  They took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after one.

In the second, Brendan Hansen was able to capitalize on the power play when Logan Geisness corralled a pass from Tim Rego and broke into the Millbrook zone down the left side.  Geisness then made a tape-to-tape pass to a streaking Hansen who had an open net.  With increased pressure, David Novotny made it 2-1 at the 5:24 mark of the period and things looked like they were rolling for the ‘Cats.  James Belleavoine got the assist.  Unfortunately penalties cost Williston as Millbrook scored on a 5×4 and then on a penalty shot while Williston was on the power play.  Millbrook went up 4-2 at the 16:54 mark when a loose puck out front was banged home.

Williston let up another goal at the beginning of the third to go down 5-2.  At the 4:41 mark, Billy Smith found Cam Mariani in front of the net who was able to power in a goal, however that would be all the scoring for the day.  Williston was outshot, 31-26.

Yesterday, the Canterbury Saints came marching in looking to sweep the season series but the Wildcats were ready for the task.

Williston began the period with gusto controlling much of the play and outshooting Canterbury, 12-3.  Sam Milnes got Williston on the board at the 7:34 mark of the period when he took a pass from Logan Geisness, streaked down the right boards, and let a shot go from the circle tops that beat the Saint’s goalie far side.  Zach Riccitelli would answer the call on a short-handed goal at the 15:48 mark of the period.  The teams would go into the dressing room knotted at one.

In the second period, Williston continued to dominate play for much of the period outshooting Canterbury 13-3 but neither team could find the net.

In the third, the goals started coming.  Canterbury got on the board first on a shot from the slot.  Williston’s Sam Milnes answered on the doorstep after a low blistering shot was released by Alex Berg, knocked around by Logan Geisness, and eventually buried by Milnes for his second of the game.  Williston went up 3-2 just over a minute later when Kyle Caddo took a shot and Ethan Agostoni buried a rebound.  Connor Power got the other assist.  Then, at the 16:38 mark and with the goalie pulled, Canterbury tied the game on a shot off a draw that beat Williston goalie Greg Iverson.  Following the goal, Williston would face more adversity as they were called for an interference call giving the Saints even more momentum. Down, on the penalty kill, but not defeated, Williston went to overtime.

In the overtime frame, Williston killed the Saint’s penalty and at the 2:33 mark and off a Brendan Hansen faceoff win, Sam Milnes buried a laser past a screened Canterbury goalie.  Players’ arms went up, mammas’ tears came down, and Williston snapped a four-game losing streak.

Williston outshot Canterbury 41-21, with Iverson getting the win.  Game puck went to Sam Milnes for his hat trick.

On Friday night Williston plays Deerfield at Eaglebrook at 6pm.  Be there. (But if you can’t, you can check it out at: https://deerfield.edu/athletics/events/2018/02/hockey-boys-varsity-vs-williston/10251371/)

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Williston Drops Two Games to Connecticut Foes

Last week, Williston dropped a pair of games to NEPSAC rivals Westminster and Loomis Chaffee.  While the Wildcats played hard, they were unable to secure the win losing the first contest 4-1 and the second 2-1.

On Monday, January 29^th, Westminster rolled into the Lossone Ice Palace ranked in the top ten and looking to avenge an overtime loss from the year before.  The game began with great pace and both teams battled hard in the first period.  Williston got on the board first when Billy Smith screamed down the left wall and let a rip go from the tops of the circle.  The Westminster goalie made the save but Wisco-native Logan Geisness, in a you-can’t-draw-this-up-any-better play, slammed home the rebound giving Williston a 1-0 lead at the end of the first.

In the second, Westminster got on the board when Williston failed to get the puck deep and tied the game a few moments later.

In the final frame, with the score tied 1-1, Westminster got the eventual game winner on a shot from the circle tops that beat goalie Xander Rogers.  A few minutes later, Westminster scored again to make it 3-1.  Westy would get an empty netter to seal the deal for the Martlets.  Williston was outshot in the game 26-25.

On Wednesday, Williston loaded up the coach bus and headed to Loomis Chaffee.  Greg Iverson got the start.

The first period saw Williston get down early when a fortuitous bounce behind the net and a quick pass to the slot put Loomis up 1-0.  Then, just over a minute later and on the power play, Loomis went up 2-0 when a Loomis player stepped up from out of the corner and beat Iverson over the shoulder.  Williston, however, would not go down without swinging.  Two minutes later, defensemen Tim Rego joined a Williston rush, picked up a loose puck on the side of the net, cut hard across the crease and was able slide the puck past the outstretched leg of the Loomis goalie.  Unfortunately that would be all the scoring in the game.  Williston battled hard and carried the play for much of the game but struggled to generate any grade-A scoring chances.  Shots were 25-22 in favor of Williston.

Williston welcomes the Millbrook Mustangs this Saturday at 4 pm at Lossone for what looks to be a battle.  Williston took the first game against Millbrook 4-3 in overtime and the Mustangs are seeking payback.  Good seats are still available.

Also, after the boy’s game the Williston girls will have their annual Pink the Rink game against Andover starting at 6.  Bring your money for baked goods and a raffle with excellent prizes.  See you there!

 

 

After defeating Berkshire at home, the Vermont Wildcats entered Lossone last Wednesday afternoon and your host Williston Wildcats earned the victory behind a 13 save performance from Xander Rogers, 6-2.

Williston was down early in the game when a Vermont player was able to deflect a point shot on the power play.  However, at the 15:07 mark, James Belleavoine took exception to the lead and buried a puck past the Vermont goalie Dylan Regan on an assist from the Sauce, Cam Mariani.  Kyle Caddo wanted a piece of the action and just a minute later, beat Regan on a blast with an assists from Belleavoine and Tim Rego.

In the second, Williston added to their lead at the 1:49 mark when Captain Sam Milnes went in on a 2-1 with freshman David Novotony charging down the center of the ice.  In a move taken from the St. Sebastian’s game, Milnes put a puck right on the tape of Novo who buried the puck.  At the 14:14 mark, the exact same thing happened again. (No need for a recap, just read above.)  Connor Canterbury decided to get in on the action when he took a puck on the left point, walked in a few strides and let a blast go just above the circle tops.  For the Alaskan Assassin, this was his first goal of the year.  Logan Geisness and Billy Smith earned the helpers.  Then just two minutes later, Sam Milnes made the game 6-1 when he put in a greasy goal on the doorstep with assists from Geisness and Brandon McGill.

The third period featured only one goal by Vermont, but was highlighted primarily by the text book game management of the Williston group.  Canterbury earned the game puck.

On Saturday, the Gunnery Highlanders came to town.  This would be the only meeting of the season between the two clubs due to a snowstorm that cancelled the Williston trip to Washington, CT. In a highly physical and contentious game, there were no goals scored in the first period.  In the second, Gunnery was able to score when the puck could not be cleared by Williston.  Gunnery scored their second goal on the power play at the 11:47 mark.  Later in the period, Kevin Lassman pulled the ‘Cats to within one when he skated into the Gunnery zone and beat goalie, JP Mella. Assists when to Geisness and Smith.  However, that would be as close as Williston would get.  The Wildcats dropped the contest 2-1.  Goalie Greg Iverson played very well making 32 saves in the loss.

This past Wednesday, Williston packed their bags once again and headed out to the great state of New York and home of the New York Yankees and the Erie Canal!  Millbrook was battling a bout of illness but their Pink in the Rink game gave them extra strength to make a game out of the day, but Williston would overcome and win 4-3 in overtime.

Not making the trip was captain Sam Milnes who battled his own illness.  Keeping him home was like trying to put a ten foot tiger into a nine foot cage, but health services was able to do it.

Williston started the first period with a set game plan and executed it swimmingly.  Williston maintained heavy pressure all period and even gaining a 5-3 advantage at one point, but to no avail.  Both teams entered the dressing rooms locked a zeroes.

In the second period, Millbrook got on the board on their own 5-3 at the 3:10 mark. Williston would even the frame at the 15:35 mark when Billy Smith worked the puck to Tim Rego who skated in the zone on the left hand side, took a shot, collected his rebound, went behind the net and slid a sweet pass to Brendan Hansen right on the doorstep.  The puck went through a hole and Williston was happy.

In the third, Williston took the lead at the 2:43 mark when Hunter Sarro took pass from Brendan Hansen and buried shot from 20 feet out.  Canterbury earned the assist.  Cheese-head Brandon McGill made it 3-1 when he let a laser go from the right wing that beat Millbrook goalie Cam Fernandez on the far side at the 8:30 mark.  Williston was feeling good about itself but two untimely penalties got Millbrook to even the score, the final goal coming with just 50 seconds left. Overtime was to determine the fate of the two teams.

In OT, both clubs had a number of scoring opportunities and Williston goalie, Xander Rogers was up to the task.  Williston, on the other hand, wanted to leave Upstate New York with a win and it came with just 12 seconds left when Geisness let a shot go from the right half-wall that Billy Smith, with hands like a surgeon, was able to corral between Fernandez’ five-hole.  Williston’s arms went up, moms’ tears fell down, and Williston boarded the bus with Four Brothers Pizza and a win.  Smith earned the game puck.  Rogers made 35 saves.

On Saturday Williston headed down to Southwest Connecticut to face the Brunswick Bruins.  While the Wildcats would lead by two goals twice in the game, penalties proved to be their Achilles heel as the Bruins converted on three power play opportunities.  Brunswick took the game 4-3.

The period opened with both clubs feeling one another out. Ethan Agostoni got Williston on the board at the 12:32 mark of the first period when he jammed in a puck on the side of the net.  Connor Power got the assist.  Sam Milnes put Williston up by two a minute later when he took control in the offensive zone skated around a myriad of players and beating Bruin goalie Dan Dachille in the slot.  Brunswick got a late goal in the period on the power play on a rebound opportunity.

Williston looked like they would continue to roll when a 1:23 into the 2^nd period, Mariani pick-pocketed a Bruin defensemen behind the net and put a shot on Dachille that was saved, but Billy Smith poked in the rebound.  However, Williston would go on the penalty kill and Brunswick took advantage netting two opportunities.  They would get eventual game winner with 8:46 in the period.

While Coach Cunha tried to rally the Wildcats with a Charles Dickinson-esque speech between periods, it was to no avail.  Greg Iverson made 31/35 saves on the day.

Williston plays Westminster tonight at Lossone at 5.  Williston beat Westminster last year in overtime and no doubt the Martlets would like to repay the favor this year.  Great seats are still available.