Hockey Earns Big Win on Road Over Archbishop Spalding

The St. Albans hockey team went into Friday’s MAPHL matchup with Archbishop Spalding with a 2-1 overall record including 1-0 in the MAPHL and 1-0 in the IAC with wins over Mount St. Joseph’s and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes.  The team recognized their early success came under favorable circumstances as both MSJ and St. Stephen’s were missing some key players in those games.  They also knew that Friday would not be an easy task as Spalding typically packs the Piney Orchard Ice Arena with a loud, enthusiastic student section for 7pm Friday night games.  Setting aside any doubts or nerves, the Bulldogs skated to a 6-1 win with a thorough performance in all phases of the game – even strength, power play and penalty kill.

 

As the opening faceoff neared, the rink’s parking lot filled to capacity forcing people to park on the road, and the atmosphere inside delivered as expected with pulsating music and a fired-up fan base.  It had been two years since even the most veteran Bulldog skaters had seen this type of arena and it was a totally new experience for many of them.  The team showed its mettle with an aggressive forecheck that forced the action from the start and drew several early penalties from Spalding.  Although STA did not convert on its first three power plays, they were able to establish an offensive rhythm and put the Cavalier defense on its heels.

 

But killing off penalties can also swing momentum and Spalding used theirs to break a 0-0 tie with just 1:03 left in the first period.  The Cavaliers were whistled for their fourth penalty of the period with 18 seconds left.  With the crowd re-energized and STA on the power play to start the second period James Baker muscled through a six-player scrum at the Spalding goal crease to bang home a rebound off a Zachary Skowronek shot.  Sophomore John Grennan put the Dogs up 2-1 three minutes later with a power play goal of his own.  After Peter Kaplan and Witt Coburn worked the puck to Grennan under the goal line, he beat a defenseman and slashed to the goal crease where he deftly tucked the puck around the goalie’s outstretched leg pad.  On the ensuing center-ice faceoff, the home crowd decided to pick on  Sam Malm and that proved to be a mistake.  The freshman teamed with sophomore Zachary Skowronek to turn a Spalding turnover into a 2-0 break.  Skowronek enticed the Cavalier goalie out of the crease before sliding a perfect pass to Malm that he buried just 23 seconds after Grennan’s goal.  Witt Coburn closed out the Bulldogs’ 4-goal second by finishing on a nice feed from Kaplan.    

 

Spalding made a push late in the second period, hemming the Bulldogs in their defensive zone for a long stretch before STA took a penalty with 18 seconds left in the period.  Coming out of the locker room for the third period with a power play gave Spalding hope of a comeback but the STA penalty kill did not yield a shot.  The forecheck took over from there as the Bulldogs maintained a territorial advantage throughout the period.  With just over seven minutes left, Coburn blocked a Cavalier shot that ricocheted out to center ice.  Skowronek won a race to the puck and beat the goalie to his stick side for a 5-1 lead.  Charlie Irwin added a goal with 1:53 left to provide the final 6-1 margin. 

 

Irwin, Alex Tilton, Jack Holland and Zach Tescher harassed and pressured the Cavalier defense all night to create turnovers and scoring chances for the Bulldogs.  Skowronek, Liam McCarthy, Charlie Boggs, Will Roberts, and Colin Bailey anchored the defense and junior Benjamin Skowronek made 25 saves in goal including snuffing out several odd man rushes.  St. Albans moves to 3-1 overall on the season and 2-0 in the MAPHL.  Next up is a visit to Rockville Ice Arena next Friday, December 17 for a 5:30pm matchup with undefeated St. John’s.