Spartan Ice Hockey news

The Spartan Boys' Ice Hockey team finished as runner's up to the Littleton Tigers in the final game of the Mark Bushnoe Christmas tournament at the Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg on Saturday, Dec. 29.

The Spartans played and fought a tough battle. The game was tied, 3-3 at the end of the second period. The third period continued to be a very competitive contest with both teams piling shots on net. With 3:20 left in the third period Littleton popped a shot into the Spartan's net, taking a 4-3 lead. The Spartans continued to fight and take the play to the Tigers' zone for the rest of the game. With less than a minute left the Spartans' pulled the goaltender in attempt to tie the game, but a Littleton player stole the puck in the neutral zone and dumped the puck into an empty net, making the final score 5-3.

Scoring for the Spartans Nick Carter, assisted by Brendan Gallagher. CJ Shell scored in the second period assisted by Carter, and Shawn Tule finished off the scoring for the Spartans assisted by Stephen Amblo. The Spartans peppered the Littleton goaltender with 36 shots, but the Tigers' goaltender came up big by stopping 33 shots. It was penalty-free game with tons action.

Carter was selected as a tournament all-star, scoring three goals in two games. Aaron Testa played two excellent games in net. It was the second time in the three years of the Bushnoe tournament that the Spartans have competed in the final game.

Earlier in the week the team skated to its second straight victory on Wednesday, Dec. 19. The Spartans, with a final score of 5-2, beat Milford at the New England Sports Complex in Marlboro.

The Spartans outplayed Milford in the first period, but ran into some strong goaltending from Milford's Zack Gustavsen, and the score was 0-0 at the end of the first. The second period was a bit of a sluggish affair, but the Spartans ended the period with a 3-2 lead. Shane Harrington scored his first goal of the season on a nice snap shot from the slot. Amblo roofed a backhand shot, top shelf, on nice assists from Ben Perrett and Carter. Freshman Matt Biggs blasted a slap shot, top corner, glove side to give the Spartans a lead and gamewinning goal. Seth Korich assisted on the goal.

The Spartans dominated the third period of the game and scored two more goals. Korich notched his first goal of the season with a heavy snap shot from the right face off circle. Perrett assisted the goal. Tule finished out the scoring with his first goal of the year assisted by Eric Woodward and Harrington. Tule attacked Milford's net and banged home a loose puck.

The defensemen for the Spartans, Matt Foley, Billy Flynn, Perrett and Ian Cornwall logged a ton of ice time and battled several three-on-two and two-on-one situations. Playing a strong game for Oakmont with physical play and gritty determination was Woodward. Testa played in net and earned his first win of the year.