Girls' Ice Hockey Opens Season, Falls to Burlington

Last year for the Lady Tanners, they were faced with the challenge of finding a net minder at the last minute. This season is no different, with Peabody lacrosse goaltender Joanna Ambeliotis suiting up to fill the gap.

It was actually Ambeliotis' first ever hockey game as she stepped onto the ice at the Saturday against visiting Burlington.

“She played awesome!” said head coach Larry Minehan. “This was the first hockey game of her life, and she did way better than expected.”

Not enough to keep the Red Devils fully in check, however; the visitors ended the night, 10-2, handing the co-op team of Lady Tanners an opening loss. Lynnfield and now North Reading, as of this past spring, form a co-op program with Peabody for varsity girls' ice hockey.

Burlington came to Peabody as a powerhouse and proved that as the Red Devils skated four lines against Peabody’s two, mostly inexperienced lines.

“We are about 80 percent new, with a brand new goalie. They are are a young, fast team,” said Minehan.

The Red Devils netted five goals in the first period as the Lady Tanners got fatigued. After the break, Peabody came out and held its own as the play went end-to-end. And at 2:55 (No. 24), sophomore Courtney Smith would put one past the Burlington net minder for Peabody’s first of the year. Assisted by (No. 18) Ciara Disalvo. 

Smith would add her second of the night at 12:28 of the third period on a feed from (No. 20) senior Captain Tristina Buckley.

The Lady Tanners again would fatigue late in the game as the third period would wind down and the scoreboard leaned heavily toward Burlington. Still Minehan only saw the positive in Saturday night's game.

“We are improving and will improve more as all the girls are gaining a better sense of the game, every game and practice. Our team goals are to improve every night and get one more win than last year,” he said. That number was two.