Icemen have solid week against top competition

After a four-day layoff due to the recent blizzard, the Canton High boys’ ice hockey team returned to action last week and showed little signs of rust, extending their unbeaten streak to a whopping 12 straight games with a win and a tie against Division 2 contenders Mansfield and Newburyport.

Kurt Leavitt (Mike Barucci photo)

All three teams are headed to the MIAA playoffs, and the Bulldogs proved last week that they can be the best of the bunch — and possibly one of the best in the state — if they can limit their mistakes and remain confident and focused when the going gets tough.

Last Tuesday, the boys showed what they are capable of in a 3-0 dismantling of Mansfield at the Foxboro Sports Center — Canton’s tenth win in as many tries against Hockomock opponents this season.

“It was an excellent game,” noted head coach Brian Shuman. “We came out flying and pretty much controlled the pace of play.”

The Bulldogs were particularly dominant in the first two periods as they built a 2-0 lead behind goals from senior JC Marcone and junior Brian Brooks, who continues to lead the team in both goals (18) and assists (21). Senior captain Pat Ward, who assisted on both scores, is currently second on the squad with 28 points.

In the third period, Mansfield stepped up its play and produced several quality scoring chances, but senior goalie Rich Nee was simply impenetrable as he picked up his fifth shutout of the season. Senior captain Mike Denehy added an empty-net goal with under a minute remaining to seal the victory for Canton.

Later in the week, the Bulldogs hosted north shore power Newburyport in a rematch of the 2009 and 2010 state finals, and the game lived up to the hype, ending in a 2-2 draw after the Clippers stormed back with a pair of goals in the third period.

Overall, Shuman felt his team had the better performance, highlighted by a strong second period in which the Bulldogs went up 2-0 on goals by Brian Hagan and Ward. Canton also outshot the Clippers for the game (30-19) and had a chance to win it on the power play late in regulation.

After the game, Shuman called Newburyport the best team they have faced all season. “They’re so tough to play against,” he said. “They’re very physical and gritty. We just had a couple of mistakes in the third period, and it just can’t happen against a good team like that.”

Prior to the opening faceoff, the Bulldogs honored their 13 seniors, led by team captains Ward, Denehy, Kurt Leavitt and Steve Mullaney. The decorated class also includes Marcone, Matt Lennon, Yanni Folkes, Jake Paschal, Justin Rudy, Michael Videtta, player/manager Kevin McNeil, and goalies Nee and Luke Shepter.

Now 14-3-1 overall, the team will wrap up the regular season with two games this week in the Quinn Memorial Tournament, which features host Coyle Cassidy, Franklin, and Boston Latin. Then it’s on to the Division 2 playoffs, where Canton will look to make a run at the south title, and if all goes as planned, another trip to the Boston Garden.

“I think we have as good a shot as anybody else,” said Shuman when asked to assess the team’s title chances. “It’s a matter of which team catches fire during the next three weeks. If we play to our potential and our ability, I think we’ll be right in the thick of it.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Feb 21 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.