WEYMOUTH, Mass. — The first game of the MIAA Division 1 hockey tournament was without suspense. No. 33 King Philip clobbered No. 32 Weymouth by a score of 7-2 in front of a packed crowd Monday at Connell Memorial Rink.
Much of the crowd was left deflated after just one period as King Philip raced out to a 4-1 lead after 15 minutes of play. King Philip’s first line, made up of all seniors, jumpstarted the team’s offense. Left wing Shaun Fitzpatrick scored four goals and added two assists. Right wing Nolan Feyler scored three times and had a couple of helpers. Center Ian Hill notched three assists.
Weymouth’s season comes to an end at 6-14-2. Junior center Andrew Ferguson scored a first-period goal, which cut the lead to 2-1. His linemate, senior left wing James Flaherty, scored a goal in garbage time to make the score 7-2. The Wildcats emphasized a physical brand of hockey, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the wave of offense from the visitors.
Scouting report
King Philip used a strong game from its top line to easily move past Weymouth. With the win, the Warriors advance to face the tournament’s top seed, St. John’s Prep, on Thursday at the Essex Sports Center in Middleton. Puck drop is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the home of the Eagles.
Outside of the scoring onslaught from Fitzpatrick, Feyler and Hill, the team’s penalty kill did a good job. The unit seemed content with packing it in and giving Weymouth the outside chances. A late second-period penalty kill resulted in three key blocks to deny Weymouth’s bid to get back in the game.
Prospect of the Game
King Philip sophomore defenseman Brad Guden was the top prospect. The '05 is a mobile, puck-moving blueliner who can stickhandle and evade opposing forecheckers. There were at least a half dozen instances where he did a good job transitioning from defense to offense. He likes to create offense from the back end by carrying the puck up ice. On the defensive side of the puck, he was confident, had tight gaps, and used his stick to poke-check pucks away from Weymouth rushers.
The highlight-reel play of the night from Guden was on the team’s fourth goal. With the team’s goaltender pulled for the extra attacker on a delayed penalty, Guden wheeled and dealed until he got into the slot. His wrist shot ricocheted off the post and slowly crawled past the goal line. It apparently was pushed home by Feyler.
Guden’s father, Dave, played left wing at Providence College from 1986 to 1990. He wasn’t the only player on the KP roster with a family connection to a former Hockey East skater. The team’s third-line center, James Boldy, is the younger brother of Minnesota Wild rookie and former BC Eagle and Dexter Southfield star Matthew Boldy.
King Philip lines
S. Fitzpatrick - I. Hill - N. Feyler
N. Garstka - K. Birenbaum - S. Crowther
J. Campbell - J. Boldy - C. Lightbody
B. Guden - Q. Garstka
M. Robison - N. Jackson
C. Lehan-Allen - S. Naggar
K. Abbott
Weymouth lines
R. Gaudiano - R. Kane - J. Browning
J. Flaherty - A. Ferguson - A. Prioli
E. Perry - D. Pittman - C. McHugh
J. Curry - xx - xx
L. McDonald - J. Buccigross
J. Brady - S. Kilban
R. Ward - C. Doucette
G. Salfity
