Woburn, MA– Starting the day off in the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament Walter Brinn Division Championship Game, we had a big matchup between the Canton Bulldogs and the Reading Rockets, broadcast by the fine folks at MyHockeyLive.
The first period got underway with a fast pace start, the puck was up and down the ice as both sides tried to gain control down in the offensive zones in the opening minutes. Canton would have the first chance of the game 12 minutes in with two shots from the high slot but Reading was able to hold on and keep it game tied at zero. Reading was able to get the game’s first goal shortly after by sophomore defenseman James Lawhorne from the point that would go in low blocker side to put Reading up 1-0. Canton would come right back and get a goal two minutes later by senior forward Eamon Kelly off a shot from the side wall that would redirect off a Reading defender in front to tie this game 1-1 with seven minutes remaining in the period. Both sides would find it tough to get the puck into the offensive zone with good defense tightening things up for the remainder of the period as it would end 1-1 heading into the second.
Starting in the second we had another up and down start with each side finding it hard to take possession of the puck for a long period of time in the opening three minutes. Canton would go on the penalty kill early in the period and was rewarded with a shorthanded breakaway that would skim the top side of the cross bar to keep this tilt tied early in the second. Reading would settle things down on the power play and sophomore forward Laz Giardina would find a rebound in front off a wraparound chance from Lawhorne to make it 2-1 Reading. Canton would find themselves back in it shortly after a goal from sophomore forward Pat Drury who was behind the goal line and wristed one off the goalie and into the net to tie this game 2-2 with seven minutes to go in the period. Around halfway through the period the play was back and forth, each side getting shots from every angle and some big hits from Reading to keep this game tight with five minutes to go. Canton would get the better chances towards the end of the period with a goal from junior forward AJ Thomas who would get the puck off a scrum on the side of the net and shoot short side to make it 3-2 Canton heading into the third.
The third period would have a similar start to the past two, possession hard to get in the opening minutes as Canton would try to hold on to the one goal lead. Canton would get a huge opportunity at the start of the third with a major penalty being called on Reading and would send Canton to the man advantage with plenty of time to strengthen their lead. Reading would kill the major penalty with not much happening for Canton’s power play, the Rockets now would have time remaining to go down and tie this game up with five minutes to go in the period. Reading would pull their goalie with two minutes to go and it would pay off with a big game-tying goal with 27 seconds knot the score. Junior forward Evan Pennucci would collect a rebound in front to beat the goalie low pad side as this game would now head to overtime to settle this Championship Game.
Overtime would get underway with a five minute four-on-four period, both sides were getting chances early but nothing of concern for either side in the early stages of the overtime period. Reading forward Robbie Granara would hit the post with a 1:30 left in the overtime period with a shot from the slot that just snuck by the Canton goalie. Shortly after Canton’s Eamon Kelly would find the puck in the circle after it bounced around in the zone and ripped it by the Reading goalie for a big 4-3 Canton win. The Canton Bulldogs are your Walter Brinn Division Champions and Eamon Kelly is the MVP of the Division.
Three Stars:
- F Eamon Kelly, Canton
- D James Lawhorne, Reading
- F Evan Pennucci, Reading