BRAINTREE, Mass. – Overtime couldn’t help decide Sunday afternoon’s clash between BC High and St. Mary’s at Thayer Sports Center.
In my first look at the MIAA’s new overtime rule, the Eagles and Spartans skated four-on-four for five minutes of free hockey. However, neither team could score, despite BC High getting a power play. As a result, the final score was 2-2.
BC High stays below .500 at 2-3-1 while St. Mary’s hangs on at 2-2-2. While the start of the season hasn’t been ideal for either team, I fully expect both the Eagles and Spartans to win more than they lost over the remaining two months.
St. Mary’s took a 1-0 lead in the first period when its top line connected on a pretty passing sequence. Skating through the neutral zone, sophomore Daniel Domeniconi threaded the needle between a pair of BC High defenders to get the puck to junior Brady Bullock. After catching the pass, Bullock kept driving the net and finished with a shot that went right inside the far post.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the second period, BC High would end the middle frame up 2-1. Defenseman Nolan Hurley’s initial attempt didn’t get to the net, but freshman Joe Feinberg found the puck in a scramble and sent a backhander past St. Mary’s goaltender Owen Giangrande.
Later in the period, BC High took its first lead of the game off an attacking zone draw. Junior center Ryan Flaherty took the draw and the puck caromed to the right-wing corner. The Milton, Mass., native chased it down and shot it towards the net. It somehow snuck between the goalie and the near post. It was a lesson in there never being a bad shot.
Early in the third period, St. Mary’s drew even with a shorthanded tally. A BC High forward lost the puck while breaking the puck up ice. Domeniconi forced the turnover and Cam McGonagle poked the puck home.
Prospect notes
James Marshall
BC High, 4/5/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/155
Marshall was the best player on the ice by far. He had the puck a lot and made quite a few plays. If his teammates could have held on and finished on just one, the Eagles might have prevailed. A few of Marshall’s passes showed off his elite stick and offensive instincts. His stride is long and fluid. He’s been getting better away from the puck. He was a little snakebit today, but this was a great viewing of the sophomore from Weymouth, Mass.
Ryan Flaherty
BC High, 4/25/05, C, right shot, 6-1/160
Flaherty had the goal I already mentioned above. While the goal he scored was flukey, it was a product of what he does well. He’ll hunt pucks, win 50/50 battles, and get shots on net quickly. I’d like to see him be more confident and look to make a play more so than he sometimes does. With his size and skating ability, he has the capability to be a more dangerous threat with the puck.
Brady Bullock
St. Mary’s, 2/25/05, LW, left shot, 5-7/165
Bullock scored a beauty of a goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. While the pass was pretty, he did a good job of receiving it in stride and finishing. He’s on the smaller side, but he keeps his feet moving and plays with an edge. He’s the engine that makes the train go for St. Mary’s this season.
Joe Feinberg
BC High, 1/10/07, RW, right shot, 5-7/130
Feinberg scored a goal after getting brutally plowed into the boards from behind. The Needham, Mass., resident was one of the youngest players in the game, but his skating, skill and offensive acumen are all high for the MIAA level. Originally from Colorado, Feinberg has bounced around, playing some for the Islanders Hockey Club '07 group.
Daniel Domeniconi
St. Mary’s, 6/8/05, C, right shot, 5-10/170
Domeniconi assisted on both goals for St. Mary’s. The first was a very skillful play and the second showed his grit to force a turnover and take it right to the net. The sophomore from Swampscott, Mass., has been a pleasant surprise as the top line center.
Cam McGonagle
St. Mary’s, 11/27/06, RW, left shot, 6-0/170
McGonagle has good size and was a nice complementary player for the Spartans’ top line. He went to the net and poked home a loose puck to even the score at 2-2. A late `06 from Danvers, Mass., McGonagle is strong and didn’t look out of place against a very good foe.
BC High lines
Marshall - Flaherty - McDonnell
O’Sullivan - Robinson - Burke
Welch - Williams - Feinberg
Vaughan - Shediac - teDuits
Cox - Mann
Luecke - Kinneen
Hurley
Carabin
St. Mary’s lines
Bullock - Domeniconi - McGonacle
Carpenter - Iacoviello - Foley
Fry - Hall - Ayles
Barrone
Giardina - Toto
Desmarais - Bott
O’Heir - Chaisson
Giangrande
