ASHBURNHAM, Mass. — Nine different skaters factored in on the scoresheet as Cushing knocked off Salisbury, 3-1, in a battle between two of the top teams in boys prep hockey.
Forwards Phil Aube, Luke Goukler and Kole Hyles (Newfields, N.H.) each scored for the Penguins (12-2-0). Marko Bilic made 29 saves, too.
Forward Jesse Allecia scored the lone goal for the Crimson Knights (7-3-0), and Cooper Flemming made 28 saves.
Cushing weathered a hot start for Salisbury, thanks in large part to Bilic, who was busy early on. But the Penguins got to their game, creating plenty of chances in transition.
Goukler opened the scoring near the halfway point of the first. Flemming made a big-time save on Cushing's initial 2-on-1. But the Penguins regrouped quickly for another odd-man opportunity as junior defenseman Ryland Randle found Goukler at the left post with a cross-crease feed.
Flemming and Bilic continued to trade highlight reel saves throughout the end of the first before Cushing nearly beat the buzzer for a 2-0 lead heading into the room.
Tanner Hunt had a huge shift to close out the period, capping it off by springing Aube for a last-second breakaway. Aube beat Flemming over the blocker, but the puck didn't cross the line in time, spoiling what would have been an amazing finish to the period.
Cushing continued to generate plenty of offense in transition in the second period. Aube and Hunt combined on a 2-on-1 to make it 2-0, for real, seven minutes in. Hunt beat the defender to the puck and made a cross-crease pass from a sharp angle to find Aube. With Flemming down and out, he buried it into the yawning cage.
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But the Crimson Knights gained momentum toward the end of the second. It continued in the third as they killed off Duke Gentzler's five-minute major for boarding.
After continued pushes from Salisbury, they finally got on the board with Allecia's shorthanded goal to cut it to 2-1. The Crimson Knights took advantage in transition off a Penguins turnover as Allecia beat Bilic under the blocker.
It was no matter, though, as Hyles scored on an empty net with a minute left for the 3-1 final.
Let's dive into some standouts from the game.
Marko Bilic
Cushing, 3/3/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/180
NCAA: Arizona StateÂ
On balance, Bilic was the best player on the ice for Cushing, especially early on. He made a huge reaction save on a double deflection in front, flashing his left pad before recovering to stop a rebound chance about 1:30 into the game. In the second, he made a highlight-reel, diving save to his left after the puck worked free to a streaking Crimson Knight. Bilic finished the game strong after getting shaken up when Anthony Biakabutuka barreled over him taking the puck to the net for a scoring chance. He recovered well to deny second and third chances throughout the game, and his anticipation was exceptional.
Luke Goukler
Cushing, 8/11/2006, F, left shot, 5-11/175
NCAA: MerrimackÂ
Goukler used his speed and slick hands to create strong looks nearly every time he was on the ice. He finished a great pass from Randle in the first when he made a beeline for the net with a strong stick. Later in the first, he and Josh Iby had a dominant shift before Flemming robbed his one-timer. Goukler made a slick deke at the blue line to step around a defender and gain the zone with possession before running the cycle with Iby leading up to the chance. He has game-breaking speed and a nice ability to bait defenders in before accelerating past in just a few strides.
Phil Aube
Cushing, 9/29/2005, F, left shot, 5-8/165
Aube had strong chemistry going with Hunt all game. The two consistently generated chances and offensive zone time for the Penguins. He flashed a quick release on the buzzer-beater that wasn't, smartly hanging around the neutral zone for a potential break and gaining separation quickly. Aube was rewarded in the second when Salisbury lost track of him in front of the crease. There was nothing Flemming could have done on the goal.
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Cooper Flemming
Salisbury, 3/17/2005, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Flemming was fantastic for Salisbury and the biggest reason Cushing didn't run away with the game in the first and second periods. He came up with huge saves throughout the game, including an unbelievable glove stop on a one-timer for Goukler from the slot late in the first. Another of his most impressive saves came in the third, lunging to his right to deny Bronson Hunt's one-timer on an odd-man rush. Like Bilic, Flemming anticipated plays and reacted well all game.
Ryland Randle
Cushing, 5/16/2006, D, left shot, 5-9/160
NCAA: Arizona StateÂ
Randle's offensive flare from the back end was on display all night. He made an excellent read to kickstart the counter rush for another odd-man chance for the Penguins. He finished it off with an excellent pass to Goukler on the far side. In the second, he made a great play to set up a strong look for Cushing, anticipating and picking off a pass near the offensive blue line, breaking into the zone and making a spin move toward the slot for a backhander.
Jesse Allecia
Salisbury, 10/12/2005, F, right shot, 5-11/155
Allecia had a strong night for Salisbury. He was rewarded with his goal, capitalizing in quick transition off a Cushing turnover in neutral ice. Allecia did a good job of getting Bilic moving with him to the right and off his angle as he cut into the high slot before shooting back to the left.
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Tanner Hunt
Cushing, 3/25/2005, F, right shot, 5-9/165
Hunt had a terrific game for Cushing, even if it only amounted to one assist for him. His feed to Aube for the 2-0 goal was excellent. The same goes for his shift leading up to the goal that didn't count. He first made a nice fake in the high slot to change the shooting angle and force Flemming to make a good blocker save. Moments later, Hunt spun to evade pressure below his own goal line before springing Aube with a terrific heads-up pass. Most players would have ate the puck against the boards and killed time. His line consistently generated chances all game, too.
Connor Davis
Salisbury, 11/9/2006, F, right shot, 6-1/175
Davis was one of Salisbury's most dangerous players throughout the night, especially during the third-period push. He slipped into open space in the slot and had one of the Crimson Knights' best chances of the game, a point-blank one-timer in Grade-A ice off a nice feed from behind the net. Bilic made the save, though. Davis also made a great defensive play on the penalty kill before Allecia's goal. He was in the right place and anticipated a Cushing breakout pass well, easily intercepting it and disrupting the breakout.
