Avon, CT– The Westminster School Martlets made the short trip for a 4:15 puck drop to play long-time rival the Avon Old Farms Winged Beavers. Avon has gone 3-1 in their last four games while Westminster has been hot, going 4-0 over the same stretch.
Stephen Peck started in the net for the Winged Beavers and Matteo De Luca began in the crease for Westminster. The rink was packed with students, parents, scouts and anyone in the general area it seemed. It was a great atmosphere for a high school hockey game.
Northeastern commit Joe Connor tapped home a backhand deke off a perfect pass by Brown commit Charlie Gollob. It was 1-0 Avon Old Farms right away. The Winged Beavers struck again with 11:55 left as Gollob dipped and drove past the Martlets defenseman and jammed the puck home to make it 2-0. Westminster played better and generated some chances, carrying play for stretches but to no avail. It was Avon Old Farms leading 2-0 after one period.
The second period saw the first penalties called with each team getting a couple power play chances. Play was tilted towards Avon again who added to their lead with 11:18 left. 2007 Michael Munroe chipped a rolling puck into the top corner to make it 3-0. Play was chippy for much of the remainder of the period. The second ended 3-0 with some bad blood in the air.
The final period was all Avon Old Farms as they dominated to eventually take a 7-0 lead. First, UConn commit Joe Odyniec redirected a point shot to make it 4-0 just 1:38 into the third. Lefty Markonidis popped a Jordin Palmer rebound home off a Charles Blanchard faceoff win and it was 5-0 with 6:21 in and Gollob ripped home a bad Westminster turnover in the slot and it was 6-0 just 6:35 into the third. Markonidis spun and shot the seventh Avon goal home from the slot with an assist from Blanchard. There was 7:19 left in the game. The Martlets replaced De Luca after that goal as 2007 Jack Fickthorn came into the game. Westminster got on the board on a Eric Elbery goal with 6:02 remaining but Avon came away with a statement win 7-1.
Three Stars
First: Charlie Gollob (Avon)
Second: Charles Blanchard (Avon)
Third: Lefty Markonidis (Avon)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling
