Tomahawk Hockey Goes 3-0 in Holiday Action

The Tomahawks returned to Salem this holiday week to play in the Tuscan Classic at the Icenter.

In game one on Friday, Merrimack defeated Thornton Academy by a score of 2-1. The physical game was scoreless until the second period when Tomahawk Assistant Captain Shane Foye beat the Thorton net minder with a low dart on a rush. Thorton would answer and draw even at 1-1 in the third period. Merrimack Freshman Goalie Greg Amato kept the Tomahawks tied with a breakaway stop. The Tomahawks went ahead to stay on a Freshman Hunter Burke goal in the third period on a feed from Sophmore Jeff Gerhard. The final score would be 2-1 Merrimack.

On Saturday’s action, the Tomahawks took on Ludlow MA high school. Merrimack trailed early 1-0 but then got things working as Sophomores John Tianno and Owen O’Brien would each score. Tianno soloed into the Ludlow zone and wristed one far side on the keeper. O’Brien would take a nice cross ice feed from Junior Ryan Downie and deke the goalie to find the back of the net. Foye would add two additional goals including a top shelf bullet from the top of the circles as the Tomahawks supported Senior goalie Matt Brewsters strong effort in net. The final score was 4-2 in Merrimack’s favor.

The weekend drew to a close with the Tomahawks facing their toughest opponent, a seasoned Londonderry Lancer squad. In a penalty filled contest, Merrimack would mark the first tally on a goal by freshman Stephen Licata. Tomahawk Senior Captain Jason Fortin made a tremendous open ice hit in the neutral zone to send Merrimack on a rush but the Londonderry keeper made a point blank glove save to rob the Tomahawks. Downie put Merrimack up 2-0 on a power play goal as the penalties finally came to haunt the Lancers. Londonderry would finally solve Brewster in net on a scramble to get on the board late in the second period. The Lancers finally evened the score at 2 a few shifts into the third period. The score remained tied until midway through the third when Sophmore Defenseman Remy Tupper stood a Londonderry forward up at the Merrimack blue line and led a counter attack rush back up ice. Tupper fed Gerhard in the slot, who after taking the pass, narrowly evaded being leveled by the Londonderry defense causing him to loose control of the puck. Licata, who was trailing the play, fed the loose puck to Gerhard again who did not miss, putting the Tomahawks up 3-2. The Lancers had two offensive zone face-offs with their goal tender pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute of the contest but could not solve the Merrimack defense to convert. The final score was 3-2 Merrimack on a very balanced team effort.

The Tomahawks will now be skating practices only until January 7th when they take on Goffstown in the Tomahawk’s home opener. Game time is 4 pm at the West Side Arena in Manchester NH (1 Electric Street). Tickets are $4 for adults, $2 senior citizens and visiting students, and Merrimack students and staff free with school ID. Season passes are available for all regular season Merrimack home games for $25 for adults, and $12 for senior citizens. All passes are available for purchase prior the game at the rink box office.