Billerica, MA – Tonight, MassNZ was in the house at Hallenborg Ice Rink for an MVC/Dual County league matchup between Central Catholic and Billerica Memorial High School.
Central came out playing fast and controlling zone time and would be rewarded with the first goal of the game. Senior captain Adam Godfrey won a battle on the back wall and slid a pass behind the net to sophomore forward Caz Wotkowicz. Wotkowicz found sophomore Jake Morowski open in the slot who re-directed the pass top shelf past Billerica’s junior goalie Patrick Jamieson. Both teams traded power play opportunities, but the score remained 1-0. Central senior forward Aiden Pinet would add to the lead. With 8:00 to go in the period, senior forward Brady Rickenbach made a royal road pass to senior forward Charlie Winship in the high slot. Winship slipped a shot through a screen that was tipped home by Pinet. The period ended with Central up 2-0.
Billerica found their legs at the start of the second and tipped the ice back in their favor. Their F1 was hard on the puck causing multiple turnovers, but Central’s goalie stood tall early on. With 12 minutes to go, Billerica junior Edward Conley received a cross-ice pass from sophomore Cameron Amenkowicz and beat the defenseman wide, snapping a shot over junior Logan Sheedy’s shoulder to get Billerica on the board making it a 2-1 game. A couple of minutes later, Central took a major penalty which put Billerica on a 5-minute power play. Central was able to kill off the whole five minutes, limiting Billerica to only a couple of shots on the man advantage. The remainder of the period was back-and-forth action, but with 50 seconds left, Central would increase their lead. Rickenbach was stretching the ice and received a pass in-stride from Godfrey on the right wing. He carried the puck into the zone and fired it on net from the top of the circle, beating Jamieson far side to end the period with Central leading 3-2.
Up a goal, Central played a smart third period. Billerica continued to run a trap forecheck, not pressuring the puck, so Central took what was available. Their defensemen lugged pucks through the trap and got them deep at the red line. Central’s forwards continued to pressure Billerica’s defensemen looking for turnovers. With 9:29 to go, Winship made a royal road pass to Godfrey who beat Jamieson five-hole to take a 4-2 lead. Four minutes later, Central sophomore defenseman Keegan Hunt carried the puck up the left side through Billerica’s trap. Facing a 1-on-3, he crossed the blue line and sent a shot to the net. It had eyes and went in, high blocker-side, extending the lead once again to 5-2. Billerica pulled Jamieson with 3:00 left but senior Ryan Melesky made them pay. He carried the puck from his zone up the right wing, crossing the blue line and sliding their 6th goal into the empty net. Central controlled the majority of this one and earned a solid team win.
Three Stars:
- F Adam Godfrey, Central Catholic
- F Charlie Winship, Central Catholic
- F Brady Rickenbach, Central Catholic