Malden, MA – Kicking things off in the Christie Serino Christmas Classic we had a big matchup between St. Mary’s Lynn and Franklin in the Consolation game and to follow was the Championship game with hosts Malden Catholic vs Austin Prep.
Consolation Game: St. Mary’s Lynn vs Franklin – Starting off in the first we had a quick start from Franklin. They were able to get a quick rush a couple minutes in and capitalize on the opportunity with a goal from Anthony Lampasona on a shot outside the crease to make it 1-0 Franklin. A back and forth period continued with opportunities for both sides, both looking dangerous in their attacks with quality scoring chances. Towards the end of the period St. Mary’s was able to get good offensive zone time and with three minutes to go defender Jake Desmaris was able to get a nice shot off from the left circle to even the score at 1-1. Franklin responded with good pressure at the end of the period but couldn’t get one by St. Mary’s defense and ended the period all tied up.
Second period was much of the same pace, end-to-end action as both teams looked to take the lead. St. Mary’s was able to draw a penalty from Franklin early in the period and take full advantage on the power play with a wrist shot from the point from Jake Desmaris. His second of the game put St. Mary’s up 2-1 but Franklin did not back down with two breakaway chances shortly after: both stopped by St. Mary’s senior goalie Owen Giangrande. The action continued down in Franklin’s end with sophomore goalie Cole Pouliot-Porter coming up with some big saves of his own to keep the game at the end of second 2-1.
As the third period got underway, Franklin was able to come out flying, shots coming from every angle but once again, Giangrande made sure nothing got past him in the opening couple minutes. Physical play seemed to pick up much more in the third with hits coming in both directions as each team looked to take control in this tight third period. Franklin was able to answer halfway through the period with a goal off a scrum in front of the net which led to Justin Magazu finishing it off to tie it at 2-2. Towards the end of the third with one minute left to play St. Mary’s had a golden opportunity to win it but once again Pouliot-Porter came up with a great save to keep the game tied and send it to overtime.
Overtime had to settle this matchup as both teams geared up for a four-on-four period. Both teams went right at it as the end-to-end pace continued with each side trying to scratch out a win. Halfway through the overtime Lampasona rolled off the right side wall and ripped a shot in the slot low glove side for his second goal of the game to end this one, 3-2 Franklin was your final.
Three Stars:
1. F Anthony Lampasona, Franklin
2: G Cole Pouliot-Porter, Franklin
3: D Jake Desmaris, St. Mary’s Lynn
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Championship Game: Austin Prep vs Malden Catholic – The first period of this Championship game between two talented and very physical teams started off feeling each other out, not much to do for either side’s goaltending as most of the play was in the neutral zone. Halfway through the period, Austin Prep was able to break the puck out through freshman defenseman Connor Griffin and send forward Drew Thibodeau in on a 2-on-1 which led to Drew sniping one high glove side to give Austin Prep a 1-0 lead. This woke up Malden Catholic and gave them a jump in dominating play in the end of the first, resulting in forward Joseph Gaffney giving forward Daniel Zizza a nice pass in front for him to rip past Austin Prep’s netminder to tie the game up at 1-1.
During the start of the second, Malden Catholic came out with a good start, a couple quality scoring chances but Austin Prep’s senior goalie Anthony Beaulieu made some great saves to keep it all tied at 1-1. The majority of the period was anyone’s game, up and down style of play with not many opportunities for either team to take the lead. With two minutes to go in the second, Austin Prep really started to dominate zone time and senior forward Nick Saunders was able to squeeze one by Malden Catholic off the side of the net to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead heading into the third.
Beginning the third period, Austin Prep was handed a quick power play to start but could not capitalize as Malden Catholic’s penalty kill cleared any danger near their net. Austin Prep was able to keep on the gas after the power play with some good scoring chances but Malden Catholic junior goaltender Brendan Zinck made some great saves to keep it a one goal game. Around halfway through the third Malden Catholic was able to draw a penalty and get their power play going but Austin Prep’s penalty kill was solid and killed it off with only one shot on net allowed. Getting closer to the end of the period, Austin Prep faced all sorts of pressure as they pushed to get the tying goal, and Beaulieu once again came up big with three or four timely saves. Around two and a half minutes left in the period Malden Catholic pulled their goalie to try to tie it up and it appeared as though they did from sophomore forward Seamus Condon in front but the goal was eventually called off due to a player in the crease. Austin Prep would hold on and score an empty netter late by captain Drew Thibodeau off a blocked shot to close this game out. Malden Catholic, with five seconds left, was able to go down quickly and get one back to make it 3-2 but unfortunately just a little too late for a comeback.
MVP of the tournament was Austin Prep’s senior goalie Anthony Beaulieu and your 2021 Christie Serino Christmas Classic champions are Austin Prep.
Three Stars:
- G Anthony Beaulieu, Austin Prep
- F Drew Thibodeau, Austin Prep
- G Brendan Zinck, Malden Catholic
