Winchendon, MA-The Neutral Zone mobile headed to the Winchendon School for the first our first official NE Prep game. Both teams played around decent hockey last season and looked to get off to a good start for 2022-23. The New Hampton Huskies travelled the 85 miles west for a 3:30 puck drop.
The Huskies carried play in the first period and scored two goals. 2007 born freshman Harry Stubbert fired a goal through traffic and into the top of the net to give New Hampton a 1-0 lead with 4:55 left. Then the Huskies struck again on the power play goal by Scott Lagos from Dylan McDougall and Matthew Babineau with just over two minutes left in the first period.
The second frame belonged to the Wapiti. Senior Matt Mahoney scored very early in the second to make it 2-1. With 14;06 remaining in the second, Winchendon tied it on a Cole Roenick tally. The teams went to the rooms knotted at two.
The third was evenly played and with 9:48 left, McDougall added a goal to make it 3-2 Huskies. The Wapati persevered and knotted the score with 3:56 left on a Brendan Coughlin shot with an assist to Mahoney.
The teams went to a five minute overtime where Winchendon survived two New Hampton power plays thanks to some clutch goaltending by Giovanni Calvanese. The game ended 3-3 with a solid performance for both sides in game number one.
Three Stars
First Star: Dylan McDougall (New Hampton)
Second Star: Matt Mahoney (Winchendon)
Third Star: Brendan Coughlin (Winchendon)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images.
