Ashburnham, MA-Dexter traveled to Cushing Academy for an early season matchup of perennial Prep powers. Marko Bilic started in net for the home team, and Colin Davis for Dexter. Cushing mostly controlled play from the puck drop to the final whistle, earning a 4-0 win at home. Cushing outshot Dexter 28-20.
The Cushing Penguins came out fast as they outshot Dexter 12-4 in the first period. Davis was up to the task until late 2005 Emerson Marshall stuffed a puck home to give Cushing a 1-0 lead with 5:27 left in the first. Owen Tatro and Josh Iby assisted. That is how it ended, as Cushing held a large territorial advantage in the first 18 minutes but only a 1-0 lead. No penalties were called in the first frame.
The second period was more evenly played and again with no penalties called. Dexter created more chances and gained some time in the Cushing zone. Cullen Emery ripped a shot labeled for the top corner early in the frame, but Bilic made the blocker save. It started to look like Dexter could pop a goal home when, with 6:20 left 2007 Axel Favreau scored with assists to AJ Sacco and Tanner Hunt—the period ended 2-0 as Cushing seemed to regain momentum in the last part of the period.
Dexter came out for the final period with energy and physicality. They worked and made life miserable for the Penguins. The period was hotly contested until Cushing Academy struck again. Late 2006 Eric Lund finished a pretty play with assists to Fevreau and Phil Aube to make it 3-0. That seemed to take some of the wind from the Dexter sails, and Cushing added another goal on a slick deke by Marshall with 4:43 left in the game. Iby and Bronson Hunt assisted on the final goal of the game.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Three Stars
First: Marko Bilic (Cushing)
Second: Emerson Marshall (Cushing)
Third: Ryland Randle (Cushing)