SPORTS: Patriots End Winning Streak for Icemen
The Third Annual Military night held on February 17 featured a hockey game between Groton-Dunstable (15-4) and North Middlesex (13-3-3)with all proceeds going to the Sgt. William Woitowicz Memorial Fund.
The visiting Patriots defeated Roy Conference leading Groton-Dunstable 3-2 behind stout goal tending by Ryan Twomey who stopped 42 shots. The loss ended the Crusaders 13 game-winning streak. "We'll just have to start another," quipped head coach Phil Rowley.
The evening began with announcer Mark Miller requesting fan appreciation for all veterans, followed by a thoughtful moment of silence for those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. Also included in the evening's events was a concession table with home baked treats, hot chocolate, a 50/50 raffle and a raffle for one of the Military Shirts.
Patriots' Josh Miller opened the scoring with a goal at 5:27 of the first period with assists by Dan McNamara and Ryan McCarthy. The Crusaders got the equalizer on a power play goal from Josh Rabbitt (assists: Derek March and Justin Cole) at 10:41.
Early in the second with NM enjoying a 5-on-3 advantage, GD senior Connor Maguire intercepted a pass, broke up ice through the neutral zone, by the Patriot defense and rifled a shot that Twomey stopped.
In a game filled with penalties, it was not surprising that three goals were scored on the power play. Matthew McCarthy's PP goal (assists: Donnie Frederick, Devon Blanchard) put North Middlesex ahead 2-1 at 7:42 of the second. Minutes later, Josh Rabbitt and Todd Melanson got matching roughing penalties.
Ryan McCarthy scored an unassisted goal early in the third stanza making it 3-1 but Eric Niemoller's (Bermingham, Maguire) power play score in a flurry in front of the net at 7:08 got the Crusaders to within one.
Plenty of time I thought but North Middlesex played hard, killed a penalty and held on for the win.
"When Ryan Twomey is on his game he is one of the best," said North Middlesex coach Michael McCarthy. "He is a difference maker for us. We only had 19 shots but they were quality shots and Jason Robes stopped most of them. This was a huge game for us. They (GD) are up a division and it was nice to come out on top."
"Their defense played very well," said Rowley. "We seemed tentative, did not play with urgency and did not transition well. I hope we learned something tonight," said a disappointed Rowley. District pairings will be on the MIAA site on Saturday.
Congratulations to our Roy All Conference players:
Connor Maguire
Anthony Resca
Jason Robes
Justin Cole
Josh Rabbitt
Also our Central Mass North All Stars:
Connor Maguire
Anthony Resca
Jason Robes
Justin Cole
Josh Rabbitt
James Tardif
Derek March
They will be playing Sunday Feb 23rd @ 5:45 at Fitchburg
