Big Red claim road win against the Hoggers

On Friday afternoon after the last period of classes, the boys varsity hockey team hit the road and traveled down to Northfield Mt. Hermon School to take on the “Hoggers” in the lovely confines of McCollum Arena—an old style “prep school” rink that harkens back to the days when many schools had “open-air” rinks. Fortunately, for the coaches, fans, and players—the winds were gentle and it was not a terribly cold night. The “Hoggers” opened the scoring when they converted on a two-on-one situation in four-on-four play to take an early lead in the game. The “Big Red” did not waver, as Patrick Cooley ̕25 (Rutland, VT) broke up the Northfield Mt. Hermon offense in transition in the neutral zone and poke-checked the puck away to his linemate, Gavin Code ̕26 (Littleton, CO), who then skated in on a breakaway and fired a laser by the NMH goalie to tie the score at 1 for the remainder of play in the first period. 

 

In the second period of play, Matt Vohra ̕25 (Valley, NS) and Lino Viau ̕24 (Los Angeles, CA) notched goals for the boys from Millville to give the team a 3-1 lead at the end of two periods of play. Vohra’s goal came off a two-on-one break with Harry Dermody ̕25 (Bedford NH). Dermody made a nice cross crease pass to Vohra who  smoothly slipped the puck into the open net. In the closing five minutes of play, Viau broke in all alone behind the NMH and made a beautiful move to his right to send the puck into the net and give the “Pelicans” a coveted three to one lead heading into the third period. 

 

In the third period, Blake Truchon ̕26 (South Burlington, VT) made some key stops as the “Big Red” offense was unable to score the always allusive fourth goal until the last minute of play. Christian Yi ̕24 (Lake Forest, CA) picked off a NMH pass in the “Big Red” defensive zone, and while the “Hoggers” were skating with six attackers and no goalie, he fired the puck from just behind the defensive blue line into the empty net to erase any hopes of comeback for the host team.

 

The St. Paul’s School skaters have to regroup quickly, as they are back in action tomorrow afternoon in the Hockey Center at 3:45pm as they play host to their longtime historic rival Belmont Hill School “Sextants.”