Squirt B2s top Brewins, ready for playoffs

By Guest

The Canton Squirt B2s came into the last weekend of the season with a record of 17-5 and with the goal of winning a South Shore Conference title. All year long the team has improved and learned the finer nuances of the game, and they are now poised to win the coveted South Shore crown.

Last week the Canton kids came out flying against the Brewins Black, a big, strong team that was determined to beat the green into submission. From the start, bodies were flying as the Black and Gold popped Bulldogs all over the ice. Their banging and grinding looked like it was working until the 3:24 mark, when hardworking playmaker Jason Christie slammed in a Vinny O’Brien rebound for the 1-0 lead. The Brewins responded just one minute later with the first of two from Etienne Drouin.

The second period started 1-1 with both teams playing physical. Olivia Lanci bundled several Brewin skaters as the teams traded hits and the referees let it all go. The Brewins continued to take liberties with the Bulldogs, tripping, slashing, and drilling them at every turn. It seemed to finally be working as they scored another goal at the 11:15 mark of the second. But their lead was short-lived as Dave Allen, who has been a go-to guy for Canton all season, swooped in by several defenders and blasted a shot home with 4:37 remaining in the period.

The third period opened with the two teams knotted at 2-2 and a likely first-round bye in the playoffs at stake. Both Canton coaches, Chris Lanci and Steve Bainton, stressed the need for a hard period with no penalties. The refs had seemingly lost control of the game and many flagrant fouls were being overlooked.

The third started with very chippy play, until just inside the Brewins’ blue line, a player had his head down and Olivia Lanci trucked him in open ice. As that gentleman crawled to his respective bench, Will Ferrara flew in, deked and juked by the whole team, and finished with a sweet tuck to give the battered and bruised Bulldogs a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. Ferrara, the assistant captain on the team, has steadily been getting savvier with the puck and looks to be just another weapon on this deeply talented club.

The onslaught continued moments later when fleet-footed Shawn O’Connor made his mark with a goal, assisted by speedster Jake Crugnale and solid, returning defenseman Shane Dailey. Seconds later, the captain, Eamon Kelly, scored his 55^th goal on a nifty shuffle and score. Kelly must have made a St. Patrick’s Day promise to mom and dad to bring home the pot of gold.

With the wind all but gone from the Brewins’ sails, Canton continued their great defense. Joe Bainton, Jack Hernon, Allen, and Dailey defended Mr. Zero, Rylan Morgan, who has stymied team after team with his stellar goaltending all year long.

This group of boys and girls should go deep in the playoffs and make Canton proud for many years to come.

Submitted by Chris Lanci

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