NORTH SQUIRT A TEAM STORMS HYANNIS, WINS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC TOURNEY

The North Attleboro Squirt A team braved the “Blizzard of 2010” and swept its way to victory in the inaugural Cape Cod Christmas Tournament in Hyannis. 

The team faced its most difficult matchup in the opener against a Hingham Red squad. North played shorthanded with just ten skaters as the blizzard raged. Furthermore, the team had played a regular league game in RI at 9 AM and half the skaters had also competed in a Marlboro league game at 11 AM. The team was able to muster control of the game with three first period goals before running out of gas. The Cam Gentile, Thomas Potenza and Ben Johnson line was particularly effective throughout the contest. Christian Doneghey made several stops in the last minute to preserve the 5-4 victory and Anthony Zammiello and Brendan McHugh (two goals) played great games at the blue line.

Bolstered by some well-deserved rest and the addition of some key performers, the team played a more complete game in dispatching Hingham White by a 5-2 score. Jack Connolly used his blazing speed and flip shot to perfection as he scored the first three goals before Drew Wissler took over with the final two tallies. North played excellent defense in front of Doneghey, with notable performances by Will Yeomans and Ryan Martin. Martin also provided an emotional boost as he returned from an extended medical leave and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.   

North was up early for a 7:10 puck drop against Barnstable and the game was effectively over a few minutes later as Todd Robinson scored two quick goals. Robinson notched a hat trick, as did linemate Drew Wissler, en route to an 11-1 rout. 

The finale pitted North against an undefeated Plymouth team that had yielded just two goals in its prior three games. North was not to be denied on this day as the team came out flying. Drew Wissler, playing his trademark hustling style, scored twice in the first and again early in the second to pace the offensive attack. The game was still in doubt at 3-1 late in the second period when a hustling Kevin Borah banged home the rebound of a Jack Connolly shot. Todd Robinson scored just 45 seconds later and the reeling Plymouth team was forced to take a timeout. Connolly closed out the scoring in the third as the game ended in a 6-1 North victory. Jon Benoit and Devin Sparrow each picked a great time to play perhaps their best games of the year.

The players basked in the victory as Queen’s “We Are the Champions” blasted in the locker room. The huge team trophy will be passed around to each player throughout the next few weeks before finding a permanent spot in the North Attleboro hockey trophy room.

 
JB