Edward Watkins Third Place Game: Thayer vs. Cushing

Thayer Academy at Cushing Academy

Ahsburnham, MA-The Thayer Tigers travelled to Iorio Arena to take in the Cushing Penguins in the third place game at the Edward G. Watkins Invitational Tournament.

Cushing came out right away and played a physical style against the smaller Tigers. The Penguins controlled the majority of puck possession and zone time. Big Max Dorrington had a chance for Cushing early but Gavin Fitzpatrick made a nice save to keep it 0-0. It took a power play goal to get on the board as Cushing 2004 Jackson Dorrington took a pass from his big brother Max and ripped a slapper home through a well set up screen for the goal. Thayer ended the period with a power play with some carry over to the second. Junior Northeastern commit Sasha Teleguine had their best chance as he wheeled to the front and fired. The Penguins’ 2004 netminder Jackson Irving was well positioned and it hit him in the chest. 1-0 Cushing after one period.

The second period saw Cushing continue to control play and also saw each team lose their poise. Cushing scored just as they killed off the remainder of Thayer’s powe play when Nolan Hayes held the puck, went around an aggressive Fitzpatrick and slid it home. Nick Rheaume and Jacob Banks picked up assists. Nine seconds later with 16:56 left, Rheaume took the puck from the center ice face off and ripped one, bar and in for a 3-0 Cushing lead. Banks and Army commit Jacob Hewitt grabbed assists. The teams started to really increase the hitting in what was already a physical game. Cushing capitalized on a Thayer penalty when late 2002 and BC commit Lukas Gustafson fired a shot home from the point for the power play goal. Banks and Hewitt assisted on the play. With 6:29 remaining, late 2004 and Penn St. commit Mike Stenberg jammed one home for Thayer for a tough goal at the net front. Sasha Teleguine and Peter Kramer assisted. Then the Penguins were a man-down and took a major hit from behind giving the Tigers 1:43 of 5-3 and 3:17 of 5-4. Cushing was aggressive, tough and made great clears to kill the penalty and get to the room with a 4-1 lead.

The third period was mostly uneventful. The physical play continued early but the teams started to tire. Thayer had one last chance as they pulled their goalie on the power play for a 6-5 chance to no avail. Cushing added a late empty netter by Cody Sealey who was great all game. Banks had every chance to tap the shot in in but watched it patiently cross the line and let Sealey get the score. Unselfish play by Banks and bodes well for the makeup of this team.

Cushing Coach Steve Jacobs said of the play by Banks:

One of those most selfless decisions I have ever seen in my 42 years coaching hockey was him let the puck slowly roll into the open net against Thayer while standing over it to make sure it went in so Sealey would get credit for the goal when he could have slammed it in.Β  So inspirational for our team buy in!”

Cushing Coach Steve Jacobs

First: Jacob Banks (Cushing)

Second: Jake Hewitt (Cushing)

Third: Jackson Dorrington (Cushing)

TTPA: Cody Sealey (Cushing)

NZ Notes: See PLPG on Twitter as well as upcoming ranking of Top 40 players on the Main NZ Site. Box.

Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images