Groton-Dunstable Icemen Remain Unbeaten; Improve to 6-0-1 with Wins over Wachusett/Minnechang
Prior to the game, Wachusett Regional was ranked No.1 and Groton-Dunstable was No. 3. This was a huge early season game!
A goal at 12:09 of the middle period by GD's Brad Garside broke a 2-2 tie and the Crusaders went on to defeat Wachusett, 3-2.
The Crusaders held a 2-1 lead at the end of one period on goals by Kip Strong (penalty shot) and Brad Zadrozny.
Colin O'Brien got his first career goal and Jack Watkins also scored, both coming on a power play for the previously undefeated Mountaineers (4-1-1). "We have been hit with the penalty bug and are picking up way to many penalties," said GD coach Phil Rowley. "In practice we stress to the players that those mental errors need to be worked on."
GD keeper Jason Robes had an outstanding 25 save performance while Wachusett netminder Jake Strasser stopped 26 of the 29 shots he faced.
In the game Saturday against Minnechaug, visiting GD came home with a 5-2 decision. Alan Haynes and Brad Zadrozny, each had a goal and an assist while Adam Kmetz, C.J. Kenney and J.J. Tardif also scored for the unbeaten Crusaders (6-0-1). The Falcons fell to 0-0-6.
Minnechaug Regional High School (MRHS) is a public high school located in Wilbraham, MA and has a student population of approximately 1,400. The Groton-Dunstable enrollment is approximately 852.
"So far this season, we are playing well but we need to keep on working on improving our play at both ends of the rink. Our intensity and skill levels are very high but we continue working every practice to get the little things even better," said Rowley.
"Offensively we are averaging over four goals per game while defensively keeping our opponents to just one goal per game. With the rash of penalties we have, we are averaging just over 88 percent on penalty killing. So we are working hard on improving that while trying to reduce those mental errors. Our power playing is converting just over 23 per cent of the time," added Rowley. The Bruins would die to have power play production as consistent as the Crusaders!
"Our goals are coming from all over the roster, our defense and forwards, so we are very pleased that everyone is contributing," he concluded.
