Boys Hockey: Woonsocket Falls 16-0 to Cranston East in Home Opener

Woonsocket hosted Cranston East in the season opener for both teams on Friday night at Adelard Arena. The Thunderbolts were relentless in their assault of the Villa Novan net and found the nylon sixteen times on their way to victory.

Cranston East was on the offensive from start to finish in this contest, but Woonsocket Goalie Ian Provencal stymied the ferocious attack of the Thunderbolts for the first eight minutes of play. Woonsocket committed a penalty which cost them too many men early on, but they were able to withstand the barrage of shots and killed off the time.

"He was playing really strong. Our defense was letting a lot of shots through and he kept us in the game early," Woonsocket Coach Nathan Arruda said of Provencal.

Finally, after eight minutes of frustration, the Bolts broke through with 4:04 remaining in the first period, as Thomas Omara was all alone on the counterattack and went short side top shelf to beat the Woonsocket goalie.

Unfortunately for Woonsocket, the goal from Omara took the pressure off the Thunderbolts and the goals started pouring in. Omara found the net a second time two minutes later, cleaning up a shot from Bob Kuczek. The duo collaborated again thirty seconds later in the offensive zone. Omara gained possession off the faceoff and flung the puck across the zone to a streaking Kuczek to make it 3-0 East.

Taylor Provost added another goal to make it 4-0 after one period, through which Cranston East had outshot the Villa Novans 33 to 1.

The superior skill and experience of the veteran laden Cranston East squad continued to be evident in the second period, as the Thunderbolts lit the lamp five times, while only allowing two shots on goal.

Cranston East led 9-0 after two periods and to the surprise of Woonsocket's Arruda, left their top lines in for some shifts in the third period and scored seven more goals in the third.

"He told me if he got up he was gonna hold back. He should've at least called the dogs off. When they were up 10-0 I thought it was a little crazy that they were still trying to ring it," Arruda said, speaking of a conversation he had before the game with Cranston East Coach PJ Bessete.

Cranston East moves to 1-0 with the win and will face a team they eliminated from the playoffs last season when they host Tolman on Saturday night.

"I pulled back in the third period and didn't play my top lines as much. But I still have to have these kids play. I've gotta get my kids ready to play Tolman tomorrow night. Because we eliminated them from the playoffs last season. It's gonna be big test for us," Besette commented.

Woonsocket falls to 0-1, but with a young team experience always matters. 

"We can only learn from this. We've just got to keep working hard. I mean, a lot of these kids have never skated before and it's tough to teach kids to compete on a high school level if they've never skated before. You've really got to start with the basics and work your way up to the more advanced techniques. I just want them to have fun and to see improvement as they year goes on," Arruda said.

Both squads will be back in action on Saturday night as the Villa Novans will take on Johnston/North Providence, while the Thunderbolts host Tolman.