Travis Roy Jr Beanpot Consolation: Lexington vs Newton North
Watertown, MA – MassNZ made the snowy trip south to Watertown and the ever-accommodating John A Ryan Rink to catch a doubleheader of MIAA action in the Travis Roy Junior Beanpot. The appetizer was the Consolation game featuring the Lexington Minutemen and the Newton North Tigers. Both squads missed out on the title game but neither was letting up as the action got underway at 2:30pm.
In the first period, it did not take long for Lexington to take control as senior forward Ryan Li lit the lamp 32 seconds in with an assist from (we would have to assume) his younger sophomore brother Kyle Li. The Minutemen weren’t done as they would tack on another in the first minute as junior Brady Kingsbury snapped one home from the faceoff dot with the primary assist going to junior Connor O’Leary. Lexington’s early lead provided a cushion and they would need it as much of the remainder of the period featured a strong push by Newton North. They owned most of the puck possession and created many of the better scoring chances. Full credit to junior netminder Timmy Rinaldi who kicked out every puck he saw which meant our score after 1 was 2-0 Minutemen.
In the second period, the puck possession was reversed as Lexington took the wheel and was using their physicality to drive the puck deep into the Tigers’ zone. They were able to cycle the puck effectively and create multiple looks whereas Newton North created several one-and-done opportunities off the rush. Just under five minutes into this period came another tally for Lexington. It all started with a strong point shot from senior Caleb Fehm and the resulting shot was tipped home by Kingsbury for his second on the day. The score was now 3-0 and the Minutemen put the hammer down, continuing to work hard along the walls to gain possession and push the puck deep whenever possible. We now awaited the third period to take this one home…
In the third period, it was more of the same from the previous two periods but Newton North made their strongest push to get back into the game. They were aggressive in creating chances at the netfront and they were connecting more effectively for short area passes. They continued to pepper Rinaldi with shots, but he did not relent: he would continue to shut them down at every turn. Of note: Newton North had the advantage of multiple power plays including a long 5-on-3 but were unable to capitalize. The resulting momentum from each kill was all the Minutemen needed: they would take the 3-0 shutout win in the Consolation game.
Three Stars:
- G Timmy Rinaldi, Lexington
- F Brady Kingsbury, Lexington
- F Connor O’Leary, Lexington
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Travis Roy Jr Beanpot Championship Game: Cambridge vs Brookline
Watertown, MA – The title game was at hand shortly after the Consolation game wrapped up, but first came a speech by SCI Boston Board of Directors member David Estrada, which all four teams participated in at center ice. [Editor’s Note: Please do take some time to visit the SCI Boston website to learn more about the amazing work they are doing for those with spinal cord injuries. If you are able to donate, please consider doing so.] Estrada explained the nine-year history of this event and noted his relationship with Travis Roy in addition to the fact that last year’s event raised $100,000 for those with spinal cord injuries. Shortly after, warmups began and minutes later it was game time between the Cambridge Rindge and Latin Falcons and the Brookline Warriors.
In the first period, the intensity was clear from the jump as both teams came out ready to go and the pace was accelerated from the prior tilt. The Falcons were able to effectively exit their zone with speed and they peppered the Brookline goalie with shots: ringing the post three times in the opening 15 minutes by our count. They were aggressive and willing to shoot from anywhere and winning races to loose pucks which extended their zone time. Brookline was able to hold them at bay with physicality and strong sticks and that allowed the Warriors to create looks around the crease at the other end as well. There was a lot of back-and-forth, firewagon-style hockey in the early minutes but neither team was able to grab the upper hand on the scoreboard…until the final minute. That’s when senior captain Joshua Pite took over, winding his way around the offensive zone and after circling the net he lulled the defense to sleep before snapping a quicker wrister on net and burying to make it 1-0 Falcons. 21 seconds later, the buzzer sounded as both teams went to the locker room.
In the second period, it was once again a battle between two evenly-matched teams. The Falcons made a strong push early but Brookline came back stronger and began to take control of the possession. It all culminated with a goal five minutes in as junior Jameson Young found junior Corey Tow open at the dot and he ripped it top shelf to make it 1-1. The Warriors had seized the momentum and 51 seconds later they would take the lead. A savvy play behind the net by freshman Collin O’Connor went out front to junior Owen Lacy who deposited it to make it 2-1. Following that goal the Falcons started to tilt the ice in their favor and they created a couple of key chances around the crease off the rush, but sophomore Evan Gerber shut the door on them all. Six minutes later the Warriors would take a two-goal lead as a loose puck in front was available for senior Eitan Khait and he snapped it home to make it 3-1 Warriors. They were in firm control at this point, but Cambridge doesn’t need many looks to chip away. To the third period we go…
In the third period, it was contentious from the opening faceoff, there was more pushing and shoving in this frame and Cambridge was making a strong push early. They created a couple of great looks around the net, but all of them were kicked out by Gerber. The Warriors killed off an early penalty and they were off to the races. Their strong sticks were difference makers to limit the offense and over the course of the period they began to gain an advantage. The biggest blow came at the 8:34 mark when a point shot by Young deflected off a Falcons defender right to the stick of Waylon Slavin and it trickled home to make it 4-1 Warriors. At that point the Falcons coaching staff used their timeout to regroup and refocus. It seemed to work as they were able to right the ship over the next five minutes. With just over two minutes to go, the Falcons pulled their goalie and with 1:17 it would pay off as senior Matias Moore through a puck at the net and it was retrieved in the corner by 8th grader Liam Molberger who curled and fired one through traffic into the back of the net to cut the lead to 4-2. But that momentum was short-lived as freshman Easton Slavin sent a puck up ice to O’Connor who fired it into the open net from the blue line to bring us to 5-2 which would be our final score. Brookline HS wins the 9th Travis Roy Jr Beanpot.
Three Stars:
- F Collin O’Connor, Brookline
- F Corey Tow, Brookline
- D Joshua Pite, Cambridge