Brookline, MA – #8 seed Avon Old Farms travels to Brookline to face off against #1 seed Dexter. Drew Karlovits is in the net for Dexter, and Anthony Palmer for Avon Old Farms.
This game started fast and physical. Great pace and both teams are looking for an early lead. That wish was granted to Ethan Gingeleskie, who put his team up one halfway through the first. He shows off his quick hands and buries one from the slot. Shortly after, Gingeleskie finds the back of the net again right around the seven-minute mark, again with a shot from the slot. At the six-minute mark, Dexter takes to the power play and looks to shorten the 2-0 Avon lead. JP Messuri on the half wall finds Owen McHale, who feeds it to Myles Brosnan. He makes no mistake and buries one glove side to make it 2-1. Late in the first, Palmer makes a great save on Tyler Hamilton to bring his team into the locker room up one.
Dexter gets another chance on the man-up early in the second period. Good movement from the whole unit, but nothing to show for it on the board. Dexter is back on the power play shortly after and gives up a short-handed goal. Miscue behind the net, puck squirts in front for Maks Morgoslepov to bury low blocker. Dexter, still on the power play, is able to get one back coming off the stick of Nick D’Olympia. Joe Marchi almost finds the tying goal, but he hits the crossbar around the ten-minute mark of the second. Bit of chaos behind Karlovitz, and matching penalties are given, 4 v 4 hockey. Solid hockey with the strong majority of chances in favor of Dexter for the rest of the period. 3-2 Avon after 2.
Avon got to start the 3rd with basically a full power play remaining and was able to capitalize. Max Yakub on the point finds Sean Millen for a wide-open one-timer to extend the lead to 4-2. Tension and physicality grow throughout the game, but it ends up costing Dexter with 10:03 left, Avon is on the man up. Absolute chaos in front of the net with under seven to go. Karlovits and the rest of the Dexter crew on the ice lay out to keep out a minimum of 5 grade A chances. Dexter pulls the goalie and cannot even even the score.
Final: Avon Old Farms 4, Dexter 2
Three Stars
First: Anthony Palmer (Avon Old Farms)
Second: Ethan Gingeleskie (Avon Old Farms)
Third: Myles Brosnan (Dexter)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images