Reading, MA – We made the trip over to Burbank Arena for the rubber match between Middlesex League rivals: the Reading Rockets and the Woburn Tanners, who split their season series this year, met tonight in the Round of 32 of the D1 State Tournament.
The Burbank was packed and both teams could feel the energy. These teams both know each other so well there didn’t seem to be a lot of nerves at the drop of the puck. It was an up and down the sheet type of game with a good pace for the first few minutes of the period. Reading would slowly take over the momentum and capitalize on a Woburn turnover. Two and a half minutes into the period, Woburn mishandled the puck on the wall trying to break out. Reading senior forward Jack Donnelly would pick it off, walk off the wall and snap a shot that trickled through Woburn goalie Jeremy Barreto’s five-hole: 1-0 Rockets. Reading applied steady pressure the rest of the period and did a great job backchecking, taking away most of Woburn’s rushes. Reading would double up the score with three and a half minutes left in the period. A Woburn defenseman fumbled the puck behind his own net and junior Matt Fichera picked it up and found senior Robbie Granara in the slot who beat Barreto to make it 2-0. That would be our score after 1.
Woburn came out hot and played in Reading’s zone for the first couple of minutes, only to give up a breakaway off a blocked point shot. Barreto made the save but lost track of the puck as it rolled over his back and landed against the post, eventually cleared out by his defenseman. Reading would take back momentum and did a great job of getting pucks behind Woburn’s defensemen, pressuring them to force mistakes and turnovers down low in their zone. Barreto made a handful of saves to keep his team in the game and Woburn would finally get on the board a few minutes later. With two minutes left in the period Woburn’s Jack McEleney swung the net and hit defenseman Matt Hughes at the point. Hughes snapped a quick puck to the net, beating Reading goalie Chris Hanifan through a screen glove side high. Reading went on the power play with under 10 seconds to go and would extend their lead. Reading won the faceoff back to Mark Boyle who went D to D to senior D Kevin Thompson. He let a rocket go, beating Barreto over his left shoulder. This was a very physical period with both teams finishing every check and the score would be 3-1 after two.
Down by two goals, Woburn came out in the third and left it all on the ice, but Reading wore them down as the period went on. Reading made sure they got pucks deep, forcing Woburn to have to go the full length of the ice on their breakouts, and it took its toll on Woburn’s stamina. With six minutes left in the period, Reading would get their fourth and final goal of the game to make it 4-1. Senior D Mike Miele hit fellow senior D Maxx Owens at the top of the blue line and he let a missile go beating Barreto up over his shoulder. The Rockets played a very strong game in all three zones making it tough for Woburn all night. This win would allow Reading to advance to the D1 Sweet 16 where they will play the winner of tomorrow’s game between Hingham and King Philip HS.
Three Stars:
1 F Jack Donnelly, Reading
2 F Matt Fichera, Reading
3 D Maxx Owens, Reading