Avon Old Farms 3 Westminster School 1
The Avon Army travelled a few miles north to take on their rival school Westminster in what was one of the best environments you will get at any level of hockey. Both student sections were filled to capacity and along the glass it was standing room only.
Avon got the party started late in the first period as 2004 born Nick Capasso was able to sneak a puck by Westminster goaltender Bennett Ostern. After the goal Capasso rushed to the Westminster student section and flashed the Avon A jersey to the Westminster crowd to quiet them down. The Westminster team pushed back strong after giving up the goal as they applied heavy pressure on the Avon defensive core. Avon with seconds left in the first period broke through again as Brendan Williams beat out an icing call to set up the trailing Paul Davey in the net front to go up 2-0.
The second period was not nearly as frantic as the first period as both teams settled in very nicely. Both goaltenders Conor Callaghan and Bennett Ostern were asked to make timely saves throughout the period and both defensive cores were rock solid. Westminster was held in check until, Wyatt Pastor was able to get to the net front and put a puck past Conor Callaghan to really spark his team going into the third.
In the final frame both goaltenders really stole the show as both squads had their fair share of opportunities to put the puck in the net. Avon’s Conor Callaghan was very controlled in net as he eliminated a lot of second chance opportunities with solid low coverage and rebound control. Bennett Ostern showed his ability to move laterally and simply competed to every puck to keep his team in the game. Westminster was not able to get past Avon’s 1-2 trap late in the third and any opportunity they had was pretty much to the outside. Avon’s Gentry Shamburger was able to seal the deal with an empty net goal off a neutral zone turnover.
Three stars
- Conor Callaghan (AOF)
- Bennett Ostern (Westminster)
- Tabor Heaslip (AOF)
NZ Notes: For Westminster; they are a very solid defensive team led by their two senior defensemen Larned Blanchard and Ryan Pineault. Bennett Ostern has been up to the task all year and was able to show why he is one of the top up and coming goaltenders in prep hockey this year. Westminster has a scoring issue which has haunted them all year long, their in ability to generate high percentage scoring chances is what is holding this team back. They are way better than their record. For Avon; they are a very deep team and looks like they are poised to make a big playoff push. Their defensive core is very long and can all skate. Up front veterans Tabor Heaslip, Brendan Williams and Gentry Shamburger blend very well with their young talent. Conor Callaghan is poised in net for a 2003 as he did not look phase by the crowd or the Westminster pressure. They are well coached, play team defense and have scoring threats all over the ice.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
