March 3, 2018
As nor’easter storm Riley was slowly exiting Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon, the Mt Hope Huskies Boys Hockey team was dealing with a storm of it’s own. For their last regular game of the season, the Huskies needed a win to get in to the playoffs. In their way skated the first place Pilgrim Patriots. Time to drop the puck.
With a large home crowd on hand at the Portsmouth Abbey, both teams come up with opportunities early but are turned away by quality goaltending. Then, the Huskies break through. Senior Corey Burke clears the puck out of the Huskies defensive zone. Freshman David Benevides beats two Patriot defenders to the puck, gains puck possession in the offensive zone, and patiently outwaits the Pilgrim goaltender and scores for an early Huskies 1-0 lead.
In the second period, Senior Kyrik Cordeiro works the puck down low in the offensive zone as a Patriot defender gains possession. Teammate and fellow senior Chayton Powell makes a ferocious forecheck and knocks the puck away behind the net. Burke collects the loose puck, takes it to the front of the net and buries the back-hand for a 2-0 Huskies lead as the Huskies faithful followers go crazy in the stands. The second period comes to a close, and as the Zamboni resurfaces the ice before the final period, the Huskies hold on to a 2-0 lead, with the playoffs hanging in the balance.
Pilgrim is in first place for a reason, and they start the third period on fire. The Huskies are stuck in their own end, and two and a half minutes in, Pilgrim breaks through and cuts the lead to 2-1. With the goal, there seems to be a huge momentum shift in the game, and the Huskies need someone to step up and make a play. Just a minute and a half later, Senior Jack Dolan steps up and out hustles the Patriots to a clearing puck and races into the offensive zone all alone. Dolan fakes the shot and beats the Pilgrim goaltender for a huge goal and a 3-1 Huskies lead. Less then a minute later, Pilgrim responds and cuts the lead back down to 3-2 with just over ten minutes remaining in the period.
Pilgrim pours on the attack as junior goaltender Devon Loiselle is forced to make big save after big save. Loiselle would finish the game with 20 saves in total. With just over three minutes remaining in the game, the Huskies take a penalty and are forced to play short handed. The Huskies penalty killers play cool, calm and collected and kill the penalty as Loiselle stands tall in goal. The Huskies then finish the game with an impressive possession in the offensive zone not allowing Pilgrim to pull the goaltender to gain the man advantage. Game over. It’s a 3-2 Huskies win and a berth in the playoffs for the defending champion Huskies. The playoffs start on Friday with game time, location and opponent to be determined. Be there. Get Loud.
Prior to the game, it was Senior Day for the Huskies hockey team. Eleven seniors on the team and their families were honored for their commitment and dedication to the Huskies hockey program at Mt Hope. The eleven seniors honored were: Dylan Andrade, Quinn Baldwin-Kress, Corey Burke, Kyrik Cordeiro, Ryan Cordeiro, Jack Dolan, Devin Lannan, Sean Martin, James Moreira, Chayton Powell and Jack Serbst.