Boys’ hockey wins 2nd straight Hock Classic Cup

The Bulldogs celebrate with the cup after beating Franklin. (Mike Barucci photo)

Matched up on paper, the Canton High boys’ ice hockey team sits just a notch below its counterpart from Franklin, with the Panthers owning a slightly better winning percentage as well as more goals scored and fewer goals allowed.

Throw these two on the ice, however, and the advantage suddenly goes to the Bulldogs, who last week won in convincing fashion on Franklin’s home ice to claim their second straight Hockomock Classic Cup.

Saturday’s victory over the big, bad Panthers was reminiscent of last season’s cup victory, when the Bulldogs took down a Mansfield team that was widely considered to be the best in the league. And just like last season with the Hornets, Canton has now accounted for Franklin’s only two losses to date — the other one being a 4-3 decision back on January 16.

In that game, which was also played at Franklin Ice Arena, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead before allowing three unanswered goals in the third period and hanging on for dear life. On Saturday the visitors got off to a similarly hot start, but other than a brief lapse in the second period that led to Franklin’s only goal, they remained in control and avoided a letdown.

Despite the lopsided score, head coach Brian Shuman had nothing but praise for the rival Panthers, calling them the most talented squad he has seen all season. The difference maker, he said, was Bulldog goaltender Rich Nee, who rose to the occasion in a hostile environment.

“He was just phenomenal,” said Shuman. “It was his best game of the season. He made a bunch of key saves and never really gave Franklin any easy chances.”

Another standout for Canton was sophomore Ben Lodge, who netted the all-important first goal halfway through the opening period, assisted by Matt Malloy and Pat Ward. TJ Duggan would add another goal three minutes later off a rebound from Andrew Howlett, and then Kurt Leavitt made it 3-0 with a hard wrist shot over the Franklin goalie’s shoulder just 30 seconds into the second period.

The momentum started to shift about halfway through the period, as the Panthers came roaring back and managed to cut the deficit to two with a goal at the five-minute mark. Franklin’s strong play then carried over to the third period, but the Bulldogs regained their groove before icing the game late in the period with a goal by junior Nick O’Connor.

It was a satisfying victory for both the players and coaches, and it was also therapeutic as it helped erase the memory of a disastrous showing last Wednesday, when the Bulldogs had to settle for a 2-2 tie against North Quincy at home.

Up 1-0 going into the third period, the Bulldogs lost their cool — and eventually the lead — after a series of highly questionable calls by the officials, including one that resulted in a rare six-minute penalty.

On the bright side, Canton did a nice job on the monster penalty kill, allowing just one fluky goal, and Brian Brooks deposited a late goal for the Bulldogs to help salvage the tie.

The team is now 14-1-2 and will close out the regular season this week at the eight-team Bridgewater Tournament, with three games scheduled in a span of four days.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Feb 22 2012. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.