St. Sebastian’s at Belmont Hill
Belmont, MA -The St. Sebastian’s Arrows headed north for a key ISL Keller game at Belmont Hill. Belmont Hill is ranked #4 in our current Prep poll with the Arrows just outside the top 10 at #11. Senior Ryan Kazmouz got the start for the visitors in the net while 2005 Sam Scopa manned the pipes for Belmont Hill.
The first period was up and down with chances at both ends. Each team had a couple power play chances and there was some 4v4 time. St. Sebastian’s held a slight advantage in quality chances, including a breakaway for Nolan Flynn. The Arrows broke through with 6:55 left when Harvard commit Mike Callow pulled a puck from a crowd and ripped a shot home; post and in. The goal followed a superb forecheck by the Arrows. It was 1-0 to end a decently played but at times ragged first period.
The second period started with a couple more penalties and chances for both squads. Both squads looked sharper and the pace picked up. With 11:52 left, Boston College commit Nolan Joyce hammered home a one timer from Will Elias and Brendan Gorman for the PPG and a 2-0 lead. Belmont Hill would get in the board less than two minutes later as Jack Houser slipped a low shot by Kazmouz for a Belmont Hill PPG. Teddy Stiga had a breakaway chance soon after but failed to even the score. With 7:54 left, Brendan Gorman pounced on a rebound and the Arrows were up 3-1. Gorman is a Princeton commit. Soon after, Belmont Hill came alive. They made it 3-2 on junior Daniel Markham‘s tally with 6:37 left. Markham was at the net front, tipped a puck, got knocked down and put the rebound home while on the ice. He was very good this afternoon. Houser struck again 25 seconds later as he popped home an empty netter on a great setup from Charlie Cave and Jack Bosco. Game was tied at 3-3. With seven seconds left Belmont Hill was called for too many men. St. Sebastian’s would start the third 5v4 on a clean sheet.
The third period both teams played hard and Belmont Hill killed off the early Arrow’s power play. They each had chances in the third. Brendan Gorman hit the crossbar on a rocket with just 43 seconds left which could have ended it. There were more penalties called in the third as well; a strange bench minor; two penalties in one shift (one to each team) and another in OT that gave the Arrows a power play. Belmont Hill killed the penalty and ended the OT with a flurry of chances but to o avail. After a well played game with a great effort from the players, the teams remained tied at 3-3. It will take another game and perhaps more to separate these two contenders. Both will be seeking Elite 8 spots.
Three Stars
First: Nolan Joyce RD (St. Sebastian’s)
Second: Jack Houser RF (Belmont Hill)
Third: Charlie Cave RF (Belmont Hill)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
