READING, Mass. — After falling behind 2-0 to visiting Belmont, Reading capitalized on two power plays to salvage a 2-2 tie in Middlesex League action at Burbank Arena on Wednesday evening.
The Middlesex League plays two 22:30 halves this year, due to coronavirus protocols. On goals from Cam Fici and Matthew Pomer, the Marauders took a 2-0 lead to the intermission. The Rockets got man-advantage tallies in the second half from Landyn Greatorex and Johnny Vedder.
Reading’s top line, centered by freshman Cullen Emery, has a lot of potential. On paper, the Rockets should be better than they are. Belmont has a solid first line of its own, led by the Fici brothers, Ben and Cam. The duo have good speed and chemistry together.
Scoring summary
1-0 BHS: The Fici brothers combined to put the Marauders up 1-0. Senior Ben Fici’s forecheck pressure resulted in a Reading turnover. The puck caromed right to sophomore Cam Fici, who was coming onto the ice. He picked up the puck just inside the attacking blue line, drove the net and slid it past Reading goaltender Alec Sullivan.
2-0 BHS: Pomer found the back of the net on another sloppy play from Reading. Ben Packerd forced a turnover on the right wing and got the puck to the weak side, where Pomer slammed it home.
1-2 RHS: In the second half, the Rockets cut the lead in half while skating on a four-on-three power play. Greatorex unleashed a good wrist shot from the top of the point, beating the goaltender low blocker. It was off a faceoff win by Emery. Evan Pennucci slid the puck back to Greatorex, who gave it to Micciche before getting it back.
2-2 RHS: The Rockets struck again on the power play late in the game to salvage the tie. It almost ended ugly for Reading as it gave up a golden opportunity for Belmont earlier in the man advantage. After Reading recovered the puck and regained the attacking zone, Vedder set up camp in front of the net. Greatorex, on the right side of the ice on the blue line, fed the puck down to Emery at the left-wing circle. He zipped a pass out front, where Vedder redirected it past the Belmont goaltender.
Standout prospect
Cullen Emery
Reading, 8/2/05, C, right shot, 5-9/170
There were quite a few good high school hockey players in this matchup, but Emery is the one prospect in this game who has a legitimate shot of playing Division 1 college hockey. He plays a smart, cerebral game while centering the top line. He wins faceoffs, has a keen sense of what’s going to happen on the ice, and is in the right place at the right time. Emery can find soft spots in opposing defenses and is able to slow things down. He has the capability to be even better in these high school games than he is, even as a freshman. There were a couple of shifts that he took off, but at the end of the day, he’s a young player with a bright future.
Belmont lines
C. Fici - D. Harrington - B. Fici
Donahue - Rowan - Ramey
Michaud - Pomer - Packerd
T. Grace - Stonehouse
P. Grace - Gaziano
Griffin
Reading lines
Greatorex - Emery - Pennucci
Donovan - Mulvey - Goodwin
Dufton - Granara - Owens
Picano - Boyle - Vedder
C. Miele - M. Miele
Sumner - Palermo
Quinn - Micciche
Sullivan
