EXETER, N.H. — A Saturday winter storm that brought the area’s biggest snowfall of 2021-22 could not prevent the matchup between Cushing Academy and Phillips Exeter from happening, albeit a day after it was originally scheduled.
The Big Red pulled off a 3-2 upset victory over the Penguins, getting a strong performance in net from Michael Salvatore (Newburyport, Mass.) despite a Cushing push to tie the game with Mason Kesselring’s (Center Barnstead, N.H.) big shot off the rush with less than 1:30 remaining.
The game was competitive, though it did feature a lot of whistles, including multiple 5-on-3 advantages for both teams. Exeter took a 2-0 lead on goals from Ryan Sordillo and Kurt Gurkan (Darien, Conn.). After Cushing’s Landan Resendes (Marlboro, Mass.) tallied a 5-on-3 strike to cut the lead in half, Exeter answered. Michael Dinges’ second-period power-play goal stood up as the game-winner, the Haverhill, Mass., native beating goaltender Jackson Irving (Newbury, Mass.) with a quick release from the slot. The home win raised Exeter’s record under first-year head coach Tim Mitropoulos to 10-4-2
Here’s a look at key performances from the game and other standouts we witnessed from the previous week of the prep hockey schedule, including a couple of sleepers from a recent game between Kimball Union Academy and Tilton School.
Salvatore picks up where he left off after strong autumn
Exeter’s ’03 (junior) goaltender doesn’t have that ideal size at a listed 5-foot-11, 170 pounds that most at the position are validated with in modern hockey, but there have always been smaller, cat-quick competitors who play a bigger game in net than their listed height/weight. Salvatore is one of those: going back to his performance with the Neponset Valley River Rats in fall season play, he’s a battler who steals games with his ability to make saves at crunch time.
Against Cushing, he made 36 saves, showing off top form in moving laterally to make several key stops when the Penguins aggressively attacked the Lions' defense. Salvatore’s counterpart, Irving, was solid but Exeter was able to generate some opportunistic scoring to come out on top.
Cushing was the more talented team, and it showed with their efficient breakouts and puck movement in the offensive zone, but Salvatore was the X-factor in this one.
Other game stars and standouts
Gurkan, a Yale recruit, scored a goal and was noticeable for his hallmark superb skating and speed game. With the high number of power plays Exeter had, Gurkan played the left point and used his quick feet and confident stick to good effect. He can get to top speed quickly and handles the puck confidently up top. There are times when he could get the puck off his stick faster and push the pace through the neutral zone, but you can see that he has attributes that will translate to play in the ECAC.
Resendes and Kesselring scored the Cushing goals, but defenseman Zach Rizzo has been solid in our last couple of viewings and carried that over in Exeter. The ’04 junior from Georgia is a bit undersized, but is quick, fast and gets pucks up the ice with authority. He has the four-way skating to allow him to recover and get back defensively, plus a good stick to disrupt opposing rushes with. He provides good skill and depth for his team, which is one of the best independents in prep.
KUA gets contributions from Al-Azem at both ends
The Wildcats snapped Tilton’s three-game winning streak with a 6-2 win over the Rams Friday.  The winning goal came off the stick of senior defenseman Kareem Al-Azem, who added an assist as well. The RPI recruit from Maryland has been an effective physical defender all season, his first in New England after playing for the New Jersey Rockets and Morristown-Beard School a year ago.
At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Al-Azem plays with good mobility and some bite, as he embraces the opportunity to end plays along the walls and make life tough on forwards who try to get to his net. He’s always been one who takes care of his own end first, but brings some underrated offense to the table with him, as this game showed. He tendered with the NAHL’s Maryland Black Bears recently but will get USHL draft consideration as an ’04 who will need some seasoning before he’s ready for college hockey.
Tilton sleeper rising with pace, production, chemistry
Matt Hale showed some flashes this fall with the Northern Cyclones 18-U prep team, but he’s taken a big step forward in his first prep season. The Center Harbor, N.H., product is a small (5-8/150), but slick and dangerous scorer who has a natural feel for the flow of the game and always seems to be around the puck, ahead of the play and able to create when he gets there. The senior ’04 can both set the table and finish off plays and has been effective 1-2 punch with Leo Piandes (Windham, N.H.) for the Rams. The two have some outstanding chemistry and have made some nifty plays.
The size works against Hale, but if he can produce in upcoming tests against Holderness, Exeter and a rescheduled rematch at Kimball Union after the snow postponed Saturday’s road game in Meriden, N.H., he could put an exclamation point on his statement season.
