Cougars Blow Hurricanes Away

The Johnston/North Providence Cougars (9-1-0 Division III, 10-1-1 overall) exploited their numerical superiority January 17, downing the Hurricanes of Warwick Veterans High School (1-7-0 Division III, 1-7-0 inter-divisional), 8-0, in Smithfield.   

Twenty Cougars skated alongside nine Hurricanes Monday, easily securing another victory and exemplifying the beneficial co-operative relationship.

“[It’s] unfortunate to play a team that’s struggling for players,” said Fred Morrison, head coach of the Cougars. “[The] fortunate thing is I got to play pretty much every one of my players, pretty much the entire game.”

Sophomore defender Tyler Delicio contributed two assists Monday, and rarely used senior goaltender Christopher Casto stymied the Hurricanes’ attackers. Freshman forwards Stephen Morrison and Joseph McDonald also skated effectively.

“[Morrison and McDonald] didn’t score, but they played well,” Morrison said.

Senior forward and captain Damon Ascenzi netted three goals, but garnered praise because he sacrificed opportunities to boost his own stats by sharing the puck with teammates.

“I thought Damon Ascenzi showed a lot of generosity tonight, giving the puck up when he could have shot it,” Morrison said. “He scored three, but he was really dishing the puck a lot.”

Nicholas Fournier scored the Cougars’ first goal, with an assist from senior defender and captain Andrew Delicio, at 3:26 of the first period, before Ascenzi tallied Johnston/North Providence’s second at 10:18.

Senior forward David Delgizzo added another Cougars’ goal prior to the first intermission, and struck again during the second period’s first minute, expanding the Cougars’ margin to four.

Freshman defender Antonio Manzotti scored Johnston/North Providence’s fifth goal, with help from senior captain Andrew Delicio (two assists) and junior forward John Rappa. Then, Delgizzo potted his third, before hurting himself during the game’s final stanza.

“[Delgizzo] was being unselfish,” Morrison said. “He was taking the puck wide. He was trying to pass in front of the net, caught an edge [and] fell into the boards.”

Delgizzo did not play throughout the remainder of the contest, finishing the contest with four points. Ascenzi notched the Cougars’ seventh and eighth goals during Monday’s third period, with a bit of help from T. Delicio and sophomore Matthew Charello (two assists).

The Cougars return to Smithfield January 28, when they host the Spartans of Scituate High School (3-6-0 Division III, 3-6-0 overall).