#6 Dexter at #3 Lawrence
Groton, MA: #6 Dexter travelled to unbeaten and #3 ranked Lawrence’s Grant Rink for an important Saturday afternoon game. Lots of Division I commits and NHL prospects meant the rink was packed with scouts in really warm jackets, notebooks in hand. The game was very well played and had great pace throughout. However, at the end, nothing was decided as the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Senior and late 2000 Ian Graiff (Newfield, NJ) was outstanding in the game, turning away dozens of Dexter shots while Dexter standout and Harvard commit Derek Mullahy (Scituate, MA) was also solid in the goal.
The first period saw both teams get on the board and all the scoring. Harvard commit and NHL prospect John Farinacci (Chatham, NJ) fired one home to put Dexter up 1-0. Sam Colangelo (Stoneham, MA) responded. The late 2001 continues to have a great winter as he buried his team leading 12th goal on the season on a pass from junior Tyler Young (Lancaster, MA) to tie the game at 1-1. Senior Braden Doyle (Lynnfield, MA) started the play for the secondary assist.
In the second, the pace was good and the goalies stood tall. Dexter carried more of the play thanks to three Lawrence penalties, two in the offensive zone. Graiff made a spectacular save on Aidan Connolly (Marshfield, MA) rebound chance; stacking the pads and deflecting a sure goal away about half way through. The pace was excellent and the physicality, skill and compete exhibited by both teams was fun to watch. The period ended with no goals and they went to the locker rooms still tied at one.
The third period started with a carryover power play for Dexter. Graiff made a sprawling save robbing Dexter of a rebound, go-ahead score. The teams went back and forth looking for that game winner. Dexter had another power play chance with 7:23 left but came up empty. The speed and intensity picked up as time started to run out and both teams managed chances but with no luck and off they went to OT.
NE Prep plays a 5 vs. 5 OT Period. Both teams started their first lines and both teams had excellent early chances. The Farinacci line played a lot and the decision was nearly rewarded as he hit a post with just over two minutes left. Great game between two great teams ended 1-1.
Three Stars:
1st Ian Graiff (Lawrence)
2nd John Farinacci (Dexter)
3rd Derek Mullahy (Dexter)
NZ’s Take: For Dexter; Farinacci was excellent, looked healthy, created up ice and with back pressure, showed quick hands and a rifle shot. Played tough and hard all game. Won faceoffs and almost as able to win it for Dexter. Jack Dempsey (Natick, MA) is tall, raw but always seems to be in good spots. Instinctive and carves out space. Long reach with skating that will improve. Good net front, tipped pucks and has upside. John Fusco (Westwood, MA) ran the PP and accelerates well. We thought on the first couple PP chances, he should shoot more but he showed off a nice one-timer the next two times on the man-up. Bobby Pearl (Wakefield, MA) is just solid, good defending the rush and moves pucks to his playmakers; Mike Adamson (Quincy, MA) is a 2001 transfer from BC High. Small but slick and can create along the offensive blue. Offensive flair but will have to be stronger as he rounds his game out in his end. Doug Grimes (Brookline, MA) oozes upside. He will get better and better. Already has since our last viewing. Played with Farinacci and Chase McInnis (Hingham, MA) who showed elite speed and forces D deep. Learning to hunt pucks and use his body for leverage. Improving player with nice skills. Ben Raymond (Newton, MA) is fast and harassed the puck all over the ice. Connolly is always around the play and keeps getting better in transition. Skating has improved and he sees the whole ice. Had some good chances. Culin Wilson (Hingham, MA) is a freshman to watch. Played some PP and has a nose for he net. For Lawrence; Colangelo keeps getting better. Long and much stronger, he is really tough to defend. Wheels to create and jumps to chances. Stick is always prepared. Graiff is small but really athletic. Made some spectacular saves and was really the most valuable player on the ice. Sophomore Riley Duran (Woburn, MA) and Young are similar players. Hard nosed and tough to play against. They were both excellent on the penalty kill and a big part of killing them off and giving their team energy. Young has learned to be patient with the puck and let plays develop. Duran is showing more ability to move to soft ice and catch and shoot on goal. Jared Lucido (Gloucester, MA) is very interesting. 2004 freshman played smart, simple and also showed some pace. Good size and we liked his touches on pucks One to watch for sure. Junior John Riggins (Bethpage, NY) is tough and versatile. Can play any situation up and down a lineup. Doyle is perhaps the best puck handler on the blue line in all of prep hockey. When he is involved offensively, Lawrence is tough to defend. Really talented player. Senior defenseman Drew Bavaro (Sarasota, FL) is big and tough to beat. Hits to defend and can carry up ice. Showed good straight-line speed with possession. The Connor Sweeney (North Andover, MA), Ethan Bastien (Natick, MA) and David Sacco (Middleton, MA) all played well and served to disrupt the Dexter attack all over the ice.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
