Storrs, CT – In the first matchup of the day at UConn, we have Winchendon and Holderness facing off in a classic #1 vs #2 matchup. In the net for the Small School final is Brady Knode for Winchendon and Mark Bierwirth for Holderness.
Relatively quiet first period, decent up and down hockey with both teams feeling each other out. Winchendon takes to the power play and finds the game’s first goal coming off Cooper Ludwars stick, picking up a rebound in front. Under seven minutes to go, Jackson Smail gathers a puck fed by Liam Carlin to get the Wapitis up two. Thirteen seconds left, Charlie Puglisi wraps around Holderness net and feeds a puck through the crease to Smail, who buries his second of the game. Winchendon carried most of the play in the first, and it shows on the scoreboard.
Better start for Holderness in the second. More jump in their step and possessing puck better in Winchendon’s end. Great save with 10:30 left in the second by Bierwirth, coming across to keep the score 3-0. Nine minutes left, 2010 forward Drew Short finds the back of the net by pouncing on a rebound in front from a shot from Laz Giardina to extend the lead to 4-0. Wapitis running away. Ludwar finds Smail, who scores again for his third of the game off a snipe from the slot, 5-0 Winchendon. Holderness puts a halt to the Winchendon goal run with their first of the game from Viktor Samal, who gets the puck back door all alone with a good tip feed from Ben Agrodnia. Less than a minute left, Jack Welby gathers a pass from across the slot and shoots it hard, but Knode makes a great glove save.
Up and down hockey to start the third, and we see the first goal of the period from Holderness, who continues their climb to even things up. Great rush up ice by Tucker O’Neil, and he finds Kanata Mori in front for the goal to get them back within three. Matthew Macinnis for Winchendon has had a solid period moving the puck and facilitating from the back end. Winchendon will hold on and defeat Holderness 5-2 in the Small School Championship.
Three Stars
First: Jackson Smail
Second: Charlie Puglisi
Third: Cooper Ludwar
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images