Prep Hockey: Deerfield’s special teams prevail over Avon Old Farms

Deerfield's Thomas Gale (Dave Arnold/NEHJ)

DEERFIELD, Mass. — The old saying that the team that gets off the bus with the better players usually wins games didn’t apply on Sunday afternoon.

Avon Old Farms entered Deerfield’s beautiful new facility, the Class of 1993 Rink, with four NCAA Division I commits and several other highly coveted college prospects, but left with a 4-1 loss.

While Deerfield’s roster certainly lacks the high-end players that bring college coaches and NHL scouts to prep buildings, the Big Green have a very good senior goaltender in Dartmouth commit Thomas Gale and four or five other players who are potential impact players at the Division III level.

Deerfield scored three special teams goals, including two on the man advantage, to bolster its offense while Gale held down the fort at the other end. Defenseman Zach Milton, center Alex Robert, defenseman Noah de la Durantaye, and defenseman Pierce Patterson were the goal scorers for Deerfield.