Agawam Youth Hockey Ties Natick After Move to Top Division

Agawam Squirts Duel Natick to a 2-2 Tie

The Agawam Chief Squirt AA youth hockey team continued their successful season even after being moved up to the Valley League’s highest division on Sunday, skating to a 2-2 tie against Natick.

Showing they could compete at the league’s highest level, the Chiefs skated hard against Natick despite being without their starting goalie, Henry Cabot, who was sidelined with an injury.

In Cabot’s place, goalie Jared McLaughlin stepped up immensely, continually protecting the Chiefs’ net against quality shots on goal.

McLaughlin benefitted from ferocious overall team defense and backchecking from Michael Ayers, Conor Evers and Cooper McNinch who thrwarted several Natick trips into the offensive zone.

The Chiefs got on the board first, with a nice rebound from Cameron Guyer off a shot from Billy Curtis. Following a controversial Natick goal, Colby Guyer rushed the puck and Aidan Cann finished to give the Chiefs a 2-1 advantage.

Despite McLaughlin’s efforts, Natick showed they belonged in the league’s highest echelon as well, firing a shot past the goalie to knot the game with less than two minutes to play.

Agawam Coach Matt Cann lauded the play of the entire team, especially the solid, two-way play of Will Jones, George Gibson and Clint Gourdeau.  The Chiefs return to action next weekend against Marblehead.

Agawam Mite AAs stay undefeated in Valley League play

The Agawam Mite AA travel hockey team posted another narrow victory Sunday evening at the Kasabuski Arena in Saugus against new league rival North Reading.

The game started out fast, with the line of Jimmy Ayers, Charlie Faldi and Lucy Werner swarming the net and peppering the North Reading goalie. Despite the pressure, North Reading struck first, slipping a top shelf goal over Goalie Sam Curtis's shoulder.

In what has been customary in Agawam Mite AA games, the game went back and forth. Ayers tallied twice and Luc Moruzzi took a feed from linemate Jack Erdmann to give the Chiefs the lead midway through the second period. Another Ayers goal, this time off steady defenseman Chase Davis's shot from the point, gave the Chiefs a little breathing room going into the third.

The Chiefs held on for the victory 4-3 thanks to the excellent backchecking by forwards Emmett Harris, Herbie Collins and the rest of the defensive corps including Drew Dolan, Dylan Cole and Jack Curtis.

The Chiefs travel to Lawrence next Saturday to face league opponent Melrose.

Agawam Pee Wee 2s continue their winning ways, defeat Wakefield 10-3

Agawam Pee Wee 2s youth hockey team improved their record to 10-2-1, defeating Wakefield 10-3.

Defenseman George Wright got the Chiefs on the board following a nice end-to-end rush. Less than a minute later, Henry Jones popped in a rebound to make it 2-0.

Jones made it 3-0, potting a nice feed from Mark Roselli.

Roselli made it 4-0, as he knocked in a rebound.

Wakefield cut it to 4-1, but Tucker Spencer raced through the opposition to make it 5-1. Connor Gilligan then rocketed a faceoff win from Jones for a 6-1 lead.

Jones then completed his hat trick, scoring following a nice rush. Wakefield scored two more times, but the Chiefs’ Jason Francis, Spencer and Sam Cabot responded to complete the victory.

Drew Beaulieu and Will Davis performed well in net.