Middleton, MA – On Day 2 of the Frates Classic the action began in the 1:10pm game with a tilt between St. John’s Prep and Central Catholic, with a thinner crowd in attendance as compared to yesterday’s more raucous environment.
Right from the opening shift the Eagles took control of this one and just one minute and 30 seconds in they scored: senior defenseman Zack Raposa skated the puck in along the right wing boards and fired a short-side shot that beat the Raiders goalie off the bar and in: 1-0 SJP. Just one minute later they would pad that lead as sophomore forward Christian Rosa jumped on a loose puck off a rebound in the crease to double the lead: 2-0 would be our score after 1.
The second period was a bit more even in terms of zone time but once again, the Eagles were the only team to put up goals on the scoreboard. Just under nine minutes into the frame, senior defender Theo Vetere put a shot on goal from the point that caromed off of somebody and in. It might have been another Eagle or possibly a Raider defender – but no matter – the Eagles took a 3-0 lead into the final stanza.
In the final frame, the Eagles would split the time of possession battle with the Raiders but they would tack on one more score for good measure. Rosa would find forward Jake Vana down low and that was our final score: 4-0 in favor of SJP. Full marks to freshman goalie Luke Quin who pitched the shutout in this one.
Three Stars:
1. G Luke Quin, St. John’s Prep
2. F Christian Rosa, St. John’s Prep
3. F Jake Vana, St. John’s Prep
####
Championship Game: BC High vs Pope Francis
In the title game, it featured two heavyweights with a Super 8 history plus simultaneously it was an equally important statement game for both teams to make early in their seasons.
In the first period, it was a very tight-checking affair and both teams were able to create turnovers with strong stick play. The start was a bit weird as early in the frame there was a five-minute delay for a glass issue and the first goal of the game was a bit unorthodox. Just under nine minutes in, forward Patrick Fitzgerald of Pope Francis broke into the zone with space and threw a puck on net low and it snuck in for the 1-0 lead. The game continued to be all about tight gaps and smart decisions and yet another came at the 14-minute mark. Sophomore forward Owen Welch of BC High was johnny on the spot as he jumped on a loose puck near the right post to tie the game at one. That was our score heading into the second…
In the middle frame, BC High owned most of the territorial battle and created a bevy of good scoring chances through the period. Pope Francis has a couple of nice looks later in the frame but BC High had possession for long stretches. The only goal scored was by F Aidan McDonnell and it was a beauty. He dangled a couple of Cardinals on his way to the net and shot it bar down to take the lead: easily the slickest goal we saw on the weekend. But now the time is nigh…a one-goal lead with two skilled teams heading into the third…who would take home the trophy?
In the third period, both teams made a push to score that crucial next goal. BC High owned most of the possession but Pope Francis started to drive the puck deeper into the BC High zone as the period progressed. The all-important next goal came off the stick of Eagle forward Ricky Robinson off a loose puck that he was able to bang home: 3-1 BC High. Pope Francis would not go quietly as Josh Iby took a sneakaway pass and buried top shelf to make it 3-2…but it was not enough to overcome the two-goal deficit: the Eagles would emerge with the Frates Classic Championship.
Three Stars:
1. F Ricky Robinson, BC High
2. F Aidan McDonnell, BC High
3. F Josh Iby, Pope Francis
