NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — With the calendar now flipped to November, the NEGHL fall slate remains in full force.
I made it out to Merrimack College's Gallant Rink on Sunday to catch the 16U Bay State Breakers against Islanders HC.
There were no tricks, but there were some treats for the Breakers, who escaped with a 1-0 win.
Maddie Perkins (Milton, Mass.) delivered the lone strike of the game, scoring on a 2-on-1 with two minutes left in the first, while Melanie Allen (Norwood, Mass.) and Reagan Connor (Melrose, Mass.) combined for the shutout.
Let's dive into eight standouts from the game.
Maddie Perkins
Bay State Breakers/Thayer, 4/7/2010, F, left shot
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Perkins was constantly one of the most dangerous skaters on the ice. She was shifty and powerful, speeding past defenders with strong strides and making quick cuts to evade pressure. She consistently drove offense and created chances for Breakers, and she was rewarded with a goal. After Lucy Taylor tied up a pinching defender, Perkins picked up the puck and sped the other way on a 2-on-1. With no open passing lane, she kept and drove to the left post, burying a wrister off the post and in. It was a great job of taking advantage of the open space.
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April Mombourquette
Bay State Breakers/New Hampton, 2011, D, right shot
Hometown: Halifax, NS
Mombourquette excelled in all situations. She was strong quarterbacking the power play, making quick plays with the puck and getting shots through traffic. Her reach and strength helped her in defensive situations, too. Mombourquette had a Grade-A chance late in regulation. She took advantage of a skating lane up the middle, split the defense, and waltzed into the slot for a shot.
Maeve Kennally
Bay State Breakers/New Hampton, Class of 2029, F, right shot
Hometown: Eastham, Mass.
Kennally was excellent in battles with her strength and compete. She set up a great chance early on when she won a 50/50 puck on the forecheck and swiveled a centering pass to the slot. Moments later, she made another heads-up feed, finding Perkins in the slot as she flew in off the bench for a one-timer. Kennally was also strong on the penalty kill late. She played well in coverage at the point, including making a key shot block. She also hounded puck carriers with her active stick and relentless pursuit.
Rose Pietrzak
Islanders HC/Malden Catholic, Class of 2029, D, right shot
Hometown: Saugus, Mass.
Pietrzak's decision-making in the defensive zone and at the offensive blue line helped her stand out. She had a strong sequence in the second with several strong pinches to keep the pressure up. She had one in particular in which she won the puck and put a quick wrister on net that led to a Grade-A rebound bid that just missed wide. Later, Pietrzak did a good job of stepping up against Brinley Palmer to prevent a chance in the slot.
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Claire Griffis
Islanders HC/Berwick, 2010, G, catches left, 5-7
Hometown: Barrington, Mass.
Griffis might have cheated a little bit for a pass on Perkins' goal, but otherwise, she was outstanding for the Islanders. That was especially true when the Breakers tilted the ice heavily in the second period. She was positionally sound and gave shooters little daylight. One of her best stops was a stick save on Mombourquette through traffic on the penalty kill. With several bodies in front, Griffis read the shot off the stick perfectly and made a good push to her right to make the save. She made another strong stick save on Perkins trying to pick the top corner moments later. She later stoned Mombourquette's drive to the slot in the third, giving her nothing in tight.
Reagan Cassidy
Bay State Breakers/Hingham, 2011, D, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
Cassidy was strong on a pair with Ivy Burton. The former played with a quick stick defensively and made good reads when stepping up in the neutral zone and the attacking blue line. Her quick feet helped her take away space, too. She had a great sequence late when she stepped up with a poke check to break up an Islanders exit, sending Perkins into the slot for a golden chance. She got the offensive sequence started at the other end with a poised reverse behind her net before a perfect bank pass to Perkins.
Samantha Cicolini
Islanders HC/Burlington High, Class of 2028, F, shoots left
Hometown: Burlington, Mass.
Cicolini played a responsible game. She found the simple play in all three zones and consistently executed, and she was frequently in the right places at the right times. She got a handful of chances in a bang-bang sequence in front of the net, providing a good screen on a shot from the circle before a handful of bids at the rebound in the scramble.
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Stella Spencer
Islanders HC/Berwick, 2010, D, right shot, 5-9
Hometown: Portsmouth, N.H.
Spencer played a stout defensive game, and she became more active in the offense as play wore on in the third. She was fantastic on the penalty kill in the closing moments of the second, consistently getting her stick on the puck and killing plays with her long reach, including when she prevented a clean shot for Perkins driving to the slot. Spencer also did a good job of clearing the front of the net and preventing rebound chances.
