Crusader Icemen Ready for Second Season
Groton-Dunstable (16-4-0) bounced back from its 3-2 loss against North Middlesex with a 3-1 decision over Algonquin (10-7-2) in Roy Conference action. It was the final game of the regular season for the Crusaders.
The less than stellar performance for G-D versus the Patriots was followed by a lackluster first period against the T-Hawks on Wednesday prompting a 'firm discussion' from head coach Phil Rowley.
Shots on goal were fairly even in the first period, five-to-four in favor of GD. But in the middle session, the Crusaders took it to Algonquin, out-skating the visitors as well as outshooting them, 10-2.
Trailing 1-0 after 15 minutes, GD responded. "Something had to change," recalled Rowley.
Following a rush and shot by Josh Rabbitt that T-Hawks goalie Connor Henry swept aside, senior forward Derek March put the Crusaders on the board at 4:42 of the second stanza, tying the game at 1-1. The helpers on March's goal were from Justin Cole and Rabbitt.
Looked like the team we saw during the 13 game winning streak.
With an assist from Derek March, Josh Rabbitt gave G-D its first lead of the game, scoring a power play goal at 2:11 of the third.
Algonquin kept skating hard trying for the equalizer but when March (assists: Justin Cole, Josh Rabbitt) tallied his second goal of the game at 13:33, it became an uphill battle for the T-Hawks.
"We are not a team loaded with super-stars. Everyone has to work/contribute for us to be effective. Our goal is the conference title, and hopefully to go to the states," said a determined Coach Rowley.
Central Mass. Division 3 Hockey Bracket
1. Shrewsbury (17-2-1) .875
2. Groton-Dunstable (16-4-0) .800
3. Wachusett (14-4-2) .750
4. Leominster (11-7-2) .600
5. Algonquin (10-8-2) .550
6. Westborough (9-10-1) .475
Shrewsbury and Groton-Dunstable have a bye in the Quarter-finals which begin on March 1. In the Semi-finals, G-D will play the winner of the Wachusett /Westborough game while Shrewsbury will face the Leominster/Algonquin winner. Finals will be played at the Wallace Civic Center on March 10.
The teams split their season series with Shrewsbury winning 4-2 in December and GD taking a 2-1 decision January 15. The Colonials outscored their opponents 116-30 while the Crusaders tallied 71 goals, allowing only 26 on the season. No predictions here but looking ahead, Watertown (10-2-4), Division 3 North, had a good year playing in the Middlesex League against the likes of Reading and Winchester. Then there are the South Shore teams, Norwell (11-6-4), Hanover (13-7-0) and the top Western MA teams, Agawam and Westfield. Lots of good programs out there. If the Crusaders could get by Shrewsbury it could be very interesting.
