Spartans Ice Hockey keeps scoring

With one game left to the regular season the Spartan Hockey team improved its overall record to 14-2-3 on Monday, Feb. 18, the Spartans beat Assabet Valley High School team 6-4.

Both teams head to the playoffs next week but Monday's game had a playoff, atmosphere spirit to it. Both teams played well in the competitive game.

The Spartans picked up the only goal of the first period when five minutes into the period Nick Carter shot a puck from the middle of the slot, through traffic, and found the back of the net. Bill Flynn assisted on the goal. The period was well played by both teams and up and down the ice.

The second period was a back and forth affair that saw three goals scored by the Spartans and two goals scored by Assabet Valley.

Assabet Valley started the scoring off in the period with a goal halfway into the period. The Spartans came back with a goal about a minute later when Ian Cornwall scored his fifth goal of the season. Cornwall's goal was an absolute bomb of a shot from the point. Assabet Valley came right back with a goal a few minutes later making it a 2-2 game. CJ Shell scored goal 11 of the season fed by two nice passes from Carter and Liam Rafferty. Shane Harrington finished off the scoring in the period with his ninth goal of the season. Rafferty made a nice rush down the left side of the ice and slid a puck across the goal crease to Harrington.

Overall the period was very physical and the Spartans had to kill off several penalties. Eric Woodward, Stephen Amblo, Matt Foley and Flynn did a great job holding off the Assabet Valley power plays.

In the third period both teams scored two goals each. Woodward tipped in a shot from the point by Cornwall and Carter scored goal 21 of the season assisted by Shell. Shell has 13 assists and 24 points for the year.

There were two stars in this game. Aaron Testa played a great game in net. He faced quality shots throughout the game and made many big saves to support the Spartans' lead. Cornwall, one of the captains on the team, led by example throughout the game. He scored a goal, assisted on a goal, demonstrated how to break out of the defensive zone against a combination of fore-checks, and played a ton of minutes due penalties that forced the Spartans to play with only three defensemen for long periods of time.

Earlier in the week the Spartan Hockey team picked up its win number 12 of the season on Feb. 12, at the Navin Skating Arena in Marlboro. The Spartans bested Hudson Catholic High School 12-4. Picking up his first points of the season, two assists, was Mike O'Regan. Zack Belliveau played goal and picked up another win.

The Spartans finished their regular season on Wednesday after press time and the bids for the MIAA playoffs will be drawn tomorrow.