Icemen Start Second Season; Crusaders Seeded No. 1 in Division 3
Groton-Dunstable, winners of the Division 3A State Hockey Championship last year, playing their first season in Division 3, finished 6-0-2, 15-1-4 overall, claimed the number 1 seed in the MIAA 2013 Boys Ice Hockey - Central Division 3 brackets. The Crusaders have a first round bye and will play in the Central Semi-Finals on March 6 against the winner of the Marlborough/Auburn quarter-final game.
Marlborough (12-8-0) defeated GD 2-1 earlier in the season and for GD, their only loss. The Panthers boast four players with 23 or more points led by Jake Chiasson's 16 goals and 8 assists. Auburn's (8-8-4) Derek Piekarczyk scored 10 goals with 20 assists for 30 points. Goal tending for both teams is "ok" so this figures to be a high scoring affair.
"We really don't care who we play but we would certainly welcome another shot at Marlborough if that's the way it works out," said Groton-Dunstable head coach Phil Rowley.
Allan Haynes (8 goals-9 assists-17 pts.), Brad Zadrozny (12-4-16 pts.), CJ Kenney (8-8-16 pts.) lead the Crusaders' offense. But the Crusaders are deep with nine players having 10 or more points and all 20 players on four lines figuring in on the scoring.
GD's Jason Robes (1.17 GAA) and Jack Niemoller (1.46 GAA) share goaltending duties. "I am so fortunate to have two outstanding goalies," said Rowley.
"We have a scrimmage scheduled for Saturday against Worcester and hopefully another if our schedules allow. We'll have a few practices to keep focused and work on different situations that may come up in the playoff games," concluded Rowley.
Sports Factoid for Crusaders hockey fans: The Crusaders have four pairs of brothers on the team: Mike and Pat Keating, Justin and Mike Cole, Josh and Nathan Rabbitt, and Jack and Eric Niemoller. Must be some sort of record.
Please visit MIAA website for more information: www.miaa.net
Central Division 3 Bracket:
1. Groton Dunstable (15-1-4) .850
2. Wachusett (15-3-2) .800
3. Shrewsbury (15-4-1-) .775
4. Marlborough (12-8-0).600
5. Auburn (8-8-4) .500
6. Algonquin (8-9-3) .475
