Rivers 3 Millbrook 0 at Neutral Site Berkshire School
Both teams had to travel to this neutral site small school play off game to the gorgeous Berkshire School Facility located in Western Massachusetts. The neutral site location did not deter any fans from coming out to the game as the student section was extremely lively for this match up. Both teams played a highly contested game where goaltending and strong defensive play was the story line for this game. Rivers in the end, ended up outlasting the Millbrook school to advance to the semi-final round this Championship weekend.
Both teams spent much of the first spent much of the first trying to feel each other out as both teams played within their structure really limiting any high percentage chances. Rivers looked to control the puck down low in the offensive zone especially with their top line of Matt Cormier, Yale commit Phil Tresca and Mike Mceachern. Millbrook tried to create offense off the transition and really utilized their puck moving defensive core to create their chances.
The first period ended it in a scoreless tie and it was not until Rivers school Matt Cormier hammered a puck through Millbrook’s goaltender Owen Hains to give the Rivers School a 1-0 lead halfway through the second. The goal was set up off a hard working play down below the goal line where Rivers forward Philip Tresca was able to move a puck to Mike Mceachern off the cycle, Mceachern found Cormier right above the crease and Cormier showed off a quick release as the puck was by Hains before he could react. Down at the other of the ice for Rivers Senior Goaltender Casen Janko looked calm and in control as he was able to make few big-time saves including a pair of 2 on 1 saves to keep the scored 1-0 Rivers heading into the third period
Both teams came out for the third period with a new sense of energy as both programs picked up the physical play. Millbrook applied sustained pressure through the period but Janko was again up to the task as he was able to keep Millbrook out of the net. Rivers game plan of possessing pucks down low proved to be the deciding factor as Rivers were able to extend their lead later in the third as Coleman Nee was able to beat Hains through the legs on a similar play as the first goal. Millbrook’s attempt at a comeback fell short as they were given a 5-minute major for boarding late in the third, Rivers added a late game empty net goal to seal the 3-0 victory.
Three Stars
- Casen Janko-Rivers
- Mike Mceachern-Rivers
- Matt Cormier-Rivers
NZ Notes: Millbrook just did not have it today, but overall, they had a tremendous season and really took the next step as program. This school is really doing a nice job of developing of its younger player and bringing in big time recruits. We suspect next year Millbrook will be back in the playoff race and will continue to produce Division I talent for years to come under coach Vinne Sorriento.
Rivers had a very good game plan and stuck with it. Their top guys Matt Cormier, Phil Tresca and Mike Mceachern carried the load offensively as they were able to dictate the pace when out. Rivers will need their secondary guys to step up offensively if they look to take home a title. Defensively Bentley commit Pat Lawn lead the defensive core as he was steady as usual. Casen Janko has shown he has the ability to steal any game this year, if he continues to do so Rivers will be a hard out for anyone this championship weekend.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
