Icemen unable to put away budding rival OA
By Jay Turner
Nick O'Connor and Brian Brooks celebrate a first period goal against Oliver Ames (Mike Barucci photo)
For the second time this season, the Canton High boys’ ice hockey team was unable to solve the riddle that is Oliver Ames, as the Bulldogs had to settle for a 4-4 tie at home after squandering leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2.
The Bulldogs are now 0-1-1 against the Tigers — who also knocked them out of the playoffs last season — but are 6-0 against the rest of the Hockomock League. The good news is that Canton remained ahead of OA in the Davenport Division and can secure the title with wins in its next three games, beginning with last night’s tilt against Stoughton (see results next week).
Saturday’s game got off to a promising enough start for the Bulldogs as they built a 2-1 lead in the opening period on goals by Pat Ward and Brian Brooks, with assists going to Nick O’Connor, Steve Mullaney, and Matt Lennon.
But the Tigers stole the momentum in the second period, scoring two goals, including one with about 30 seconds left in the frame to make it 3-3 heading into the third. Will Conroy had the lone goal for Canton in the period, which otherwise belonged to the visitors, according to head coach Brian Shuman.
“We just can’t seem to put three periods together against this team for some reason,” Shuman remarked afterwards.
Meanwhile, after a late goal in the second period, the Tigers then added an early goal in the third to take their first lead of the game. It didn’t last long, however, as O’Connor came through with the game-tying score just a minute later to make it 4-4, which is how the game would end.
Although disappointed with the result, Shuman did make a point to praise backup goalie Kyle Baker, who had a solid performance in net in place of starter Rich Nee, who was out with an illness.
Baker also played well in the Bulldogs’ other game last week, combining with Nick Naples for a shutout in an 11-0 blowout win over Attleboro at home.
Senior captain Matt Malloy led the way with four goals in the victory, while Conroy and Ben Lodge both netted their first varsity goals. O’Connor, Ward, TJ Duggan, and Brian Hagan rounded out the scoring in a game that was never in doubt.
Next up for Canton is an away game at Foxboro on Saturday, followed by a makeup game at Mansfield on Monday, February 6.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=11244
Posted by Jay Turner
on Feb 1 2012. Filed under High School, Sports.
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