Hockey Team Wins Opening Two Contests

The Everett High hockey team enjoyed a successful opening week, defeating Mystic Valley, 4-3, Wednesday and East Boston on Saturday, 3-0.

The season-opener against Mystic Valley at Allied Veterans Rink saw freshman Marc Faia earn the distinction of lighting the lamp for the first time this season with a goal in the first period, assisted by Bruno Machado and Chris Griffin.

After a Mystic goal tied matters early in the second frame, freshman Bryan Bessler tipped home a shot by Chris Roderick, with Joe Ricupero also earning an assist, to give the Crimson Tide a 2-1 advantage after two stanzas.

Everett expanded its lead to 4-1 with lamp-lighters from J.J. McLaughlin (assisted by Faia and Roderick) and Faia, his second of the game (which gave the freshman a nifty three points on the night), on which Chris Durkin got the assist.

The 4-3 final tally was not as close as that score might indicate. Mystic Valley scored a goal soon thereafter to close the gap to 4-2, but did not add its third until there was just 0:02 left on the clock. Senior goalie Brandon Stancius earned the victory in net for the Crimson Tide.

Everett controlled the play throughout the contest, outshooting MV by a wide margin of about 40-15, and then did likewise in its 3-0 blanking of East Boston at Porrazzo Rink in Eastie three nights later. Bessler got Everett rolling with a goal in the opening period, assisted by Alex Belushi.

Second period goals by Faia and Ray Suppa, both of which were unassisted (with Suppa’s coming on a shorthanded situation on which Ray stole an Eastie pass in the neutral zone and cruised-in on the E.B. goalie), provided a nice cushion which stood the rest of the way.

The contest was notable not only for the win, but also for the shutout recorded by the Everett netminder, sophomore Cassara Roderick, who became the first girl to play on an Everett boys varsity hockey team.

“It’s a nice start to the season,” said EHS head coach Alex Naumann. “We played well and everybody contributed to the winning efforts.”These were good team victories.” In addition to the goal scorers, Naumann also cited the fine play of freshman Ryan Snook on defense and junior Durkin, who was moved to defense this year.

The Crimson Tide were without the services of sophomore Gino DeSimone, who suffered a fractured clavicle in a pre-season scrimmage and will be out for 6-8 weeks.

Naumann and his crew were set to meet Revere this past Monday (December 23) and then will play in the Lynn Holiday Tournament this weekend, meeting Northeast Regional in the preliminary at 6:00 on Friday and then either Lynn or Swampscott Saturday.

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