In a rematch game of the Flood Marr Championship on December 15th; the Salisbury Crimson Knights traveled a short drive down the road to Hotchkiss School for a battle between two Elite 8 contenders. The schools that are less than 15 minutes apart play a similar style; they have size, they are balanced, defensively focused and don’t give up many opportunities against them.
While Salisbury had more possession time in the game, it was even through the first two periods. Hotchkiss netminder Henry Wilder, a Boston College commit, made several difficult saves to keep the team in the game. Credit to Hotchkiss they played a disciplined, team-game in their own end limiting Salisbury’s second chance opporunities and keeping them to the outside.
The score was 0-0 without many highlights to speak of until 6 minutes remaining in the final period when Dean Bauchiero created a turnover in the neutral zone and led a rush up ice. While he gained the offensive zone and tried to make a cross slot pass on a 2v1 he was hauled down by the backchecker drawing a penalty. From the opening faceoff Cole Vallese, a Providence commit, got possession at hte top of the cirlces and skates across the high slot for a wrister goal through traffic. Wilder was screened on the play and puck appeared to go right over his shoulder (but it was tough to see from our angle). With the Knights taking the 1-0 lead they were able to maintin possession and looked like they were well in hand to close out the game until four minutes remaining when they took an untimely penalty and opened the door for Hotchkiss. The Knights had a great penalty kill and were able to close out the game when Lucas Mercuri was able to fend off two defenders protect the puck and slide it cross slot to Jack Quinlan who burried it in the empty net with 40 second remaining to close out the game 2-0.
Notes
Both of these teams are Elite 8 contenders who are tough to play against. Wilder gives Hotchkiss a chance to win every game they are in but the team lacked the offensive firepower to finish on their chances. Salisbury had more possession time and their depth is difficult to contend with for three periods. Mercuri was their best forward throughout the game but they get contributions from everyone up and down the line up and any given skater could be their hero that particular game.
In regards to prospects Lucas Mercuri has gotten NHL Draft attention and showed real flashes here of a talented emerging power forward. He has the hands, the size and the awarness that one looks for at that position. Defensviely Bayard Hall and Jared Crespo also proved to be excellent two-way defenseman. It would be hard to point out everyone who stood out as we had notes on over 12 players for Salisbury alone.
The Salisbury win could propel them up the Elite 8 seedings and a Hotchkiss loss shouldn’t knock them out but could slide them down one or even two spots.