Pee Wee B White punches ticket to state tournament
By Guest
On a cold, dreary February night in front of a jam-packed and boisterous crowd, the Canton Pee Wee B White hockey team qualified for the state championship tournament with a resounding 7-2 victory over their long-time rival Milton. It wasn’t so much a victory as it was a reckoning. Throughout the season these two teams have engaged in some fierce battles, but on this night, Canton would leave no doubt as to who was the better team.
In order to qualify for the prestigious youth hockey championships, teams must win a series of single-elimination games throughout the season. Canton won their first two games over Braintree (5-1) and Norwood (5-1) in workmanlike fashion. Then in the semifinal they played against the lower ranked of the two Milton teams in their district. What appeared to be a mismatch turned into a nail-biter as a hot Milton goalie kept the visitors in the game until a heroic goal in overtime pulled it out for the Bulldogs at 2-1.
The stage was set as the top-ranked Milton squad bulldozed their way into the final and came into the game brimming with confidence. That confidence was short lived as Canton streaked down the left wing in the early stages and scored with some nifty passing to make it 1-0. Canton scored next on some incredible work by the forwards on the fore check. Just when it looked like a runaway, Milton finally broke through to pull within one. Moments later as the first period wound down, Canton again found the back of the net on a great breakout play started by the defense to make it 3-1. Period two started in similar explosive fashion for the Bulldogs as a couple of highlight-reel breakaway goals were produced by the attacking Canton squad to pull ahead 5-1. Once again Milton tried to claw back as they scored on a scrum in front of the net. At 5-2 with the game still hanging in the balance, the Bulldogs extended the lead again with some gritty defensive work, which lead to another breakaway goal. Rounding out the scoring was a slick third period goal that literally and figuratively silenced the opposing crowd and put this one to bed.
“This team plays an aggressive, gritty style of hockey,” noted Canton hockey enthusiast Chris Gillis, a former semipro player and alumni of the South Boston Junior IBC Root Beer League.
This Bulldog squad wins from the back to the front and is anchored by one of the best goalies in the state in Gavin Durand, who boasts double-digit shutouts on the year and makes all the extraordinary saves look easy. An elite defensive corps not only suffocates opponents in the defensive zone, but also gets involved in the offense, providing secondary scoring from the blue line. This group is made up of skilled skaters who are not afraid to play physical. The Fearsome Fivesome includes Kevin McCabe, Liam Doherty, Jacob Strojny, Jimmy Podgurski, and Georgia-Anne “GA” Penders.
Providing the scoring punch is a group of forwards that combine speed, power, grit, and overall skill that leave opposing defenders and goalies muttering to themselves. This scoring machine is blessed with talented players across all three lines, but it was their commitment as a group toward team play and sharing the puck that has turned this team from good to great. The snipers include Patrick “All Night” Long, TJ Gannon, Darragh Curran, Graidy Carr, Gavin Davis, Will Young, Nora McLean, and Ryan DeLello.
Canton will look to continue their success as they head off to Marlborough for the state championship!
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=64725
Posted by Guest
on Feb 20 2020. Filed under Sports, Youth Sports.
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