JV Hockey Finishes Strong

The following was submitted by Stuart Woodrow:

The Marblehead Boys JV Hockey team headed to Winthrop last week to take on the home team for their third and final matchup of the season.

The Winthrop Vikings have edged the Headers on the season with a 4-4 tie in January and a 4-2 loss on February 2^nd.  Coach Brian Donovan’s squad has been strong all season long with a 13-5-4 record and  his team was looking forward to even the score with Winthrop in this matinee matchup in front a packed crowd at the Larsen Arena.

Marblehead was flying to open the first period and had the Vikings back on their heels.  In early action, Al Fusegni was the fastest skater on the ice and he broke himself free with a nifty self pass up the boards.   Fusegni put a perfect tape to tape pass on the stick of Max Delvento in the slot but the goaltender dove across the crease to deflect Marblehead’s best bid of the 1^st period.

Miles Barry, who saw his first varsity action in Marblehead’s 8-3 victory over Salem on Saturday Night, started the game in net and shut down all first period onslaughts by Winthrop.   Coach Donovan, flanked by Coaches Chris Gallo and Dan Libby,  has done a great job motivating his deep bench and stressing the systems of Bob Jackson’s varsity program throughout the season.  

The game remained scoreless into the second frame as each time worked to find a way past solid goaltending.  Excellent forechecking and passing from Chris Cormier, Michael Femia and Cam McDonald produced lots of opportunity and quality shots but they could not convert past a few dings of the goal post. 

Winthrop went on a timely power play mid way through the 2^nd period but they could not solve the Miles Barry or the James Doughman goalie equation  on the Marblehead side either. Finally ,  It was Marblehead’s Drew Dixey, along with Colby Shepard and Max Delvento, who did their homework  and teamed up to tally the first goal of the game at 8:53 of period two.

Delvento, who has produced some huge goals  for his team on the season with huge determination and effort,  had another bid off a Brian Cohn rush and perfect slot pass but was again turned away by a solid glove save in the Viking crease.

Solid defense by Adler Smith, Brett Souza, Nate Witherall, Cam Woodrow and Ryan Jones thwarted Viking efforts and closed the second frame with a single goal edge.

A costly tripping call, put Winthrop again on the power play to open the third, and they quickly tied the score on a blast from the point and a tip in the crease. Both teams worked to find the game winner as the pace and physical play picked up down the stretch. Brett LeBlanc and Michael McBurney skated hard and found their shot as did Matthew Crawford and Sam Whitmore. Marblehead thought they had the difference on  break out pass from Nate Witherall which found a streaking Chris Cormier at 8:55. Cormier fielded the pass in stride and ripped a shot on net but it was turned away. 

A minute later, Winthrop set the puck free with an odd man rush but a hustling back check of Cam Woodrow drove the puck carrier off his lane and into the boards. Finally,  at 6:11, Brett LeBlanc out hustled the Viking defense and forechecked his pass to Michael Femia who buried the puck at 6:11. It looked like Marblehead was going to edge out Winthrop for the victory.  However, a late slashing call on Marblehead, put Winthrop on the power play at 1:11 and the Vikings walked away with a 2-2 victory with just 40 seconds left on the clock.