We watched all the afternoon games at Avon. See our game recaps and three stars below.
Here is the schedule for tomorrow:
8:30 AM Trinity Pawling vs St. Paul’s
10: 30 AM Loomis Chafee vs Berkshire
1:30 PM Tabor vs Frederick Gunn
3:30 PM Avon vs Kent (Championship)
Trinity-Pawling vs Kent
Kent came out quickly and put pressure on TP. The Pride called an early timeout to rally the troops and they came out flying. They scored with 15:02 left as Hunter Dickey sniped a shot home on a nice pass from Anthony Kahl. It was 1-0 Trinity Pawling until late when Geno McEnry slipped by a defensemen and sent the puck cross crease to Dante Palumbo for the goal. Period ended tied at one.
Kent came out and asserted themselves quickly. Jake Kraft pumped one home early. Then Patrick Walsh undressed a defender and slid the puck five hole for a 3-1 Kent lead less than four minutes to the second half. Kent added a pretty power play goal on a 5v3 as Max Resnick one timed a round let home from Kraft. Trinity Pawling added one when Gavin Bloder picked a pass off and finished in tight with a backhand deke. TP pulled their goalie down 4-2 but it immediately backfired as Braden Pohlman whacked the defensive zone face off from his end into the TP net. That ended it as Kent took the 5-2 win. Kent moves on to the Championship game at 3:30 tomorrow. TP will play in the 8:30 AM game.
Three Stars
First: Geno McEnry (Kent)
Second: Jake Kraft (Kent)
Third: Patrick Walsh (Kent)
Loomis vs. Gunn
2023 Ryan Crowshaw started in net for the Frederick Gunn School and 2023 Caleb Allen for Loomis Chafee. Neither gave up a goal in the first frame. It was a fast paced half with penalties: 5v4, 4v3, 4v4 and 5v3 which led to chances for both teams. Loomis had some jump early in the game after a morning win today. Gunn came out a bit slow after a morning loss. Things evened out and up and down hockey ensued. Fast paced and physical first frame.
The second half saw Gunn score three goals in the first nine minutes. First, Michael Murtagh made a pretty deke in tight. Assist to Kyle Smyth. Seconds later, 2023 Michael Pizzo fired a quick, hard, off-angle shot home. Then with 16:01 left, Julian Fachinelli buried a shot on a breakaway; assist to Smyth. It was suddenly 3-0 Gunn School. Loomis made it 3-1 on an Aidan Healy goal. Loomis was able to get their goalie out but Sal Cerrato sent one in the empty net from his blue line to make it 4-1 Frederick Gunn School. That was the final score. 2023 right catching goalie Ryan Crowshaw played well in net to earn the win. Gunn will play in the third place game tomorrow. Loomis will play at 10:30 AM
Three Stars
First: Michael Murtagh (Gunn)
Second: Julian Facchinelli ( Gunn)
Third: Kyle Smyth (Gunn)
St. Paul’s vs. Berkshire
This matchup was one to avoid the dreaded 4th place vs 4th place game at 8:30 AM tomorrow. St. Paul’s came out and clogged up the middle of the ice. They had some chances on turnovers and also stretched Berkshire out to relieve pressure in their end. Berkshire’s 2023 Danick Leroux made some quality stops and the shots were even by our count. Berkshire struck first, however, as Boden Gammill scored on a pretty pass by Calvin Osterberger. It was 1-0 with 7:47 left. Berkshire started to gain momentum. They struck again with just 5 seconds left in the half as Tanner Marsh tipped a PPG home on a Nick Donaldson shot. 2-0 Berkshire to end the first.
2022 James Nemeth scored for Berkshire 2:40 in as he stayed with his own rebound. Sam Sibold quickly put home a rebound to get St. Paul’s in the board. It was 3-1. Ben Boren made it 4-1 soon after as he drove the net and redirected a Gammill pass home. St. Paul’s would not go away as they kept working their way back. JT Halliday showed some jam and fired a rebound home to get St. Paul’s back within two goals. Boren would add an empty netter to seal the win for Berkshire. They will play Loomis at 10:30 AM tomorrow. SPS will play TP at 8:30 AM.
Three Stars
First: Tanner Marsh (Berkshire)
Second: Boden Gammill (Berkshire)
Third: Ben Boren (Berkshire)
Tabor vs. Avon
Winner of this game plays Kent School tomorrow for the Christmas Classic Title.
Tabor had a few chances spread evenly across the period. Avon had chances almost every shift and quality chances. With 5:04 left Brennan Ali ripped a one timer home from Sam Court on the power play. It was the only penalty called the whole half despite physical play by both sides. Later, Matt Dimarsico found himself all alone in front with a couple seconds left. He held the puck, went around the goalie and scored right at the buzzer. It was really close and our unbiased opinion is that it was not a goal. However, it was counted and Avon took a two goal lead and tons of momentum into the locker room.
Tabor seemed to get better as the game went on. Goalie August Ackerman played quality hockey in the Tabor goal. Tabor struck first in the second half when 2024 Keanan Dewberry punched a bouncing puck home. Abon responded with 12:07 left. Nick Capasso flew down the right wing and snapped a low shot home. It was 3-1 Avon. Tabor went on the power play and John Brandt ripped a rocket top cheddar. Tabor would get another power play with under two minutes to play and pulled their goalie with about a minute left to try to even the score. Avon held on for 3-2 win and will play for their own Championship tomorrow vs Kent. Avon has not won the Christmas Classic since 2016.
Three Stars
First: Brennan Ali (Avon)
Second: August Ackerman (Tabor)
Third: Sam Court (Avon)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
