D2 Semifinal: Canton’s Early Barrage Too Much for Gloucester

Lowell, MA-The #2 seed Gloucester Fishermen faced off against the #3 seed Canton Bulldogs in the state DII semifinal at Tsongas Arena on the campus of UMass-Lowell. The winner will move on to the Final at the Boston Garden Sunday. Freshman Colin Davis started in the net for Canton and sophomore Nick Tarantino was in the pipes for the Fishermen.

Canton started like they were shot from a rocket as they scored four goals in the first 4:11 of the first period. Senior Brennan Pecararo ripped one home just 58 seconds in with assists to AJ Thomas and Eddie Gillis. Les than two minutes later, Canton struck again. Senior defenseman Sean Connolly fired one through traffic from the blue line and into the net. 2022 Eamon Kelly picked up a sick assist on the play. One minute later, Connolly struck again as he snuck in the back door on the power play and one touched a pass into the net on a pretty pass from sophomore Brendan Tourgee. Pecararo picked up an assist as well. With 10:39 senior Eddie Gillis found a loose puck in the slot, turned and fired it into the top of the net. His celly included a casting of a fishing rod and things looked bad for the Fishermen. Canton continued to outplay, outwork and get pucks on the net. It was total domination. The shots were 15-7 for the Bulldogs. Gloucester took two penalties; the only ones of the period.

Gloucester gained some momentum but was bot able to close the four goal gap. Thomas scored just 1:22 in on a great rush and setup from Pecararo. It was 5-0. Pecararo ripped a low shot home from the left point with assists to Brian Middleton and Pat Drury. It was 6-0 and the Fishermen took a timeout. Gloucester changed goalies and found some life with a goal by Joseph Orlando on the power play with 7:24 left. Emerson Marshall and Brent Cunningham picked up assists. The Fishermen scored again 21 seconds later. Cunningham buried a cross crease pass from Jack Costanzo to make it 6-2. Marshall started the play and earned the secondary assist. The rest of the period, Gloucester was pressing Canton as it looked like a different game. Shots were even and Gloucester went into the room with some momentum.

The third period started with some chippy play by both sides but settled in with both teams earning chances. Costanzo made it 6-3 with late power play score but Canton finished with a 6-3 win; their 22nd win in a row. They will play Tewksbury in the D2 Final at the Boston Garden on Sunday.

Three Stars

First: Brennan Pecararo (Canton)

Second: Sean Connolly (Canton)

Third: Eamon Kelly (Canton)