Long winter weekend has come and gone and after just one night of practice our team put together three good periods and scored a convincing win over the Loomis Chaffee Pelicans. Going in to the game we wanted a disciplined effort in all three zones and to generate a lot of good scoring chances. The game began slowly with both teams getting some good scoring chances early. Colin Olson was his usual steady self while the rest of his team were getting warmed up. Finally at the 9 – minute mark in the first period Alex Strait scored from the blue line with a blistering shot that beat a surprised Loomis goalie. The first period would end with the host school holding on to a 1-0 lead.
The second period began….and so did we. Will Dale got his first of two goals on the afternoon at the 2 minute mark of the period. Assists on the goal were given to Jack Shanahan and George Darling. Then the line of Aiden Philie, Mat Shea, and Peter Marchese got to work. They would score the next two goals outworking the Loomis defense down low and leading the team to a higher level of intensity. Aidan got the third goal and on their next shift Matt stuffed one home. At the end of two periods it was Deerfield 4 Loomis 0.
Lawrence Von Steuben started the third period in goal for the Doors and his play too was solid. Loomis tried to generate some offense early in the period but Lawrence kept them off the scoring sheet. Will Dale added his second goal of the game making it 5-0. Loomis would finally get their break, still working hard late in the game, to narrow the lead to 5-1. This would be the final score.
Game puck went to Aidan Philie, who along with Mat Shea, outworked the opponent and carried the team when we needed a spark.
A great start to February.