St. Marks Flying Lions at Groton Zebras
Groton, MA: One day a sports season there is what is called Groton-St. Mark’s Day. The tradition and rivalry dates back over 133 years and St. Mark’s is supposedly responsible for coining the nickname “Zebras” as Groton’s football team wore black and white striped uniforms. The name stuck as Groton embraced the attempted taunting.
The hockey game this afternoon was an important one beyond the rivalry as the winner could earn home ice advantage in the first round of the Small School Playoffs (Piatelli/Simmons). Both teams played hard and the game could have gone wither way. In the end, St. Mark’s played an excellent third period and came away with a 5-3 victory. Recent Princeton commit Ian Moore (Concord, MA) and Matt Toporowski (Kirkland, QC) scored two goals each and senior Alex Cardonick (Glencoe, IL) earned the win in the net.
In the first period, teams felt each other a bit until 4:37 in when senior Toporowski fired a puck off the post that got lost in the crowd for a bit; and trickled in to give the Flying Lions a 1-0 lead. Dominic Murphy (Worcester, MA) picked up an assist. Groton responded a couple minutes later as senior Will Torriani (Kirkland, QC) carried a puck into the zone, went around a defender and sent a backhand cross-crease to Marc Borghi (Rye Beach, NH) who tapped the puck home. The Lions got in some penalty trouble middle of the period and Groton took advantage, gaining momentum and scoring a goal. With 8:34 left sophomore Ronan Doherty (Reading, MA) tipped a Trey Whitehead (Palmer, AK) shot home for the power play score and the 2-1 lead. Gabriel Lamothe (Quebec City, QC) picked up a secondary assist. The period ended 2-1 with St. Marks getting some late chances on the power play.
St. Mark’s came right out and evened the score 51 seconds into the second period as sophomore D Ian Moore fired a puck that deflected off a Groton player and in the net. Cardonick stopped a few great Groton chances, including a breakaway and looked to be getting hot. However, the Zebras would still break through, short-handed as junior Luke Beckstein (Tyngsboro, MA) jumped on a bouncing puck at the point and separated to fire a low twister home at the other end. The unassisted tally put Groton back on top 3-2. Teams traded chances and the game loosened up some but the period ended 3-2 Zebras over the Flying Lions.
St. Mark’s took a penalty after the final whistle of the second, so they started shorthanded. Ten seconds in, they scored a shorthanded goal as Jackson Coutu (Upton, MA) jumped on a loose puck and fired it bar-down to even the score at 3-3. Later, Groton then took an offensive zone roughing penalty and St. Mark’s took advantage on the power play. With 5:14 left, Tucker Hartmann (Southborough, MA) spun a perfect pass in the wheel house of Ian Moore, who one-timed it home from the dots for the game winning goal. Just over two minutes later, Toporowski buried a breakaway off a 2v1 on a nice sauce pass from his fellow Kirkland native Danny Ciccarello (Kirkland, QC) to all but shut the door on the Zebras. Groton had a power play chance and played 6-6 as well as 6-5 for most of the last three minutes but with little pressure. The game was very evenly played and both teams played hard.
As St. Mark’s coach Carl Corazzini said after the win: “Typical Groton/St. Mark’s game. Both teams competed really hard and we made some plays down the stretch that helped us win”
The teams could meet again in the playoffs, even the first round as they are close in every category. Question will be where.
Three Stars:
1st Ian Moore (St. Mark’s)
2nd Matt Toporowski (St. Mark’s)
3rd Danny Ciccarello (St. Mark’s)
NZ’s Take: It was a great atmosphere and really embodied what NE Prep hockey is all about. Teams played hard and respected each other. Students from both sides cheered and had fun. Big night for Kirkland, Quebec as both teams had players from that town who contributed this afternoon. For St. Mark’s; Ian Moore was very good. He is long and raw. Our MA scouts are still stunned he was not chosen for National Camp. That should change for U17. His reach allowed him to defend and also create up ice. Clogged up lanes and got sticks on pucks. He wheeled and created and has a long, productive stride. 2002 will have to get stronger and tougher to play against in his end, but that will come. NHL scouts should take note of the future Princeton Tiger. Nolan Moore (Concord, MA) is Ian’s brother and a senior captain who does a lot well. Can play up front and played simple, mistake free hockey today. Made subtle plays to start things up ice, kept close gaps and ran the power play. May need a year but is an excellent NESCAC candidate. Hartmann is another part of a strong defensive core for St. Mark’s. He has some wiggle, poised on the offensive blue and changed the angle of his stick on his shots. Played power play and made people miss. Good stick on the PK as well. Coutu is a 2003 that is skilled and direct. Took his ice and made Groton take account of him. Played well on the penalty kill and his shot was excellent on the tying goal. Ciccarello has a cannon. His shot is one of the best in all of prep hockey. Played well in all situations, layed out to block a shot late (not his only blocked shot) and took a hit and still was able to sauce the puck to Toporowski for the score. Brendan Gibbons (South Kingston, RI) is really strong and direct. Played hard and was tough to handle below the dots. Good on the PP. Toporowski is quick and creative. Played an opportunistic game and managed the puck well for a skilled guy. Good speed and good on the dot. We liked how he went to the net. Cardonick made some big stops, including a breakaway the middle of the second period. He was solid and poised. Good gritty win in the net. For Groton; Jonah Gold (Palos Verdes, CA) has been out for an injury and is a very good player who is missed by Groton. Whitehead moved the puck well. The August 2002 has good sense in all three zones and played a lot. Must keep getting stronger but he looked interesting. Thomas Dempsey (Chatham, NJ) was one of the best players on the ice. He is big, strong and mobile. The late 2001 can skate or pass from his end. Used all his options on the breakout and showed an excellent defensive stick. Went back well for pucks and created up ice. High end defenseman who may be a bit under the radar. He checks a lot of the boxes. Player to watch. Only a sophomore. Torriani played hard. Hit in space and on the wall. Showed some wiggle and balance on his assist as he beat a player before passing. Colby commit Drew Burke (N. Andover, MA) can fly. Stayed around the play and is tenacious in pursuit. He is confident and had great first touches. Snaps the puck on net with his feet moving. Beckstein can fly too. Annoying to play against and made a great play, smart and quick, on his goal. Borghi sees the whole ice. He sent players away and made short simple, passes as well. There is something with him. He is smart and made everyone better it seemed.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images