TYNGSBORO, Mass. — Monday at Skate 3 Ice Arena turned into point night for St. John’s Prep as the Eagles easily cruised past Bishop Guertin by a score of 7-0.
SJP improved to 3-1 on the season. Outside of a 5-3 setback against BC High in the Pete Frates Christmas Classic, Kristian Hanson’s team has outscored its opponents 19-2 in the other three games.
Not much could be learned from the team’s easy victory, but there were a few things that I liked. SJP displayed a lot of good habits, played with detail, and didn’t take any shifts off, even when it would have been easy to do so against an inferior opponent. The Eagles finished at the net, played through to the whistle, and stayed disciplined for the most part. There was plenty of good puck movement and selfless plays.
The game-winning goal came on the third shift of the game. Senior defenseman Tom Tillas scored his first career goal at the 1:30 mark on a wrist shot from the point. It was the only goal of the opening period, despite SJP dominating territorially.
The highlight of the night was by senior captain and first-line center Pierce Blaeser pulling off a lacrosse-style goal to give SJP a 2-0 lead. It was the first of three points on the night for the Boxford, Mass., native who plays on a line with his younger brother, Cole.
Pierce Blaeser fed Tommy Sarni for another power-play goal shortly thereafter. Sarni was positioned in the bumper and quickly one-timed it along the ice for a 3-0 lead. The score would stay that way until the third period.
SJP took a 4-0 lead early in the third when two of its sophomores connected. Center Christian Rosa, driving down the slot, banged home a feed from classmate Jake Vana who had won a puck battle below the goal line.
The Eagles took a 5-0 lead when junior right wing Harlen Graber sniped one home on a pretty feed from sophomore left wing Johnny Tighe as the pair were coming down on a two-on-one. Blaeser sent out a centering feed from below the goal line for Sarni to backhand a shot home for a 6-0 advantage. The scoring would finish when junior Will Van Sickle cleaned up Jimmy Ayers’ rebound on another odd-man rush for the Eagles.
I like the depth up front for SJP, but the team is thin on defense and in goaltending, which could hurt them when going up against the heavyweights of the Catholic Conference. Still, the team is clearly a top-10 team in the state, based on what I’ve seen so far this season.
Prospect notes
Pierce Blaeser
St. John’s Prep, 7/11/03, C, left shot, 5-10/168
Blaeser showed off quite a bit of skill when he pulled off ‘The Michigan’ in the second period while his team was on the power play. He also set up two goals for his right wing, Sarni. Both assists came from below the goal line. Blaeser caught my eye a few times last winter and has certainly taken a nice step.
Tommy Sarni
St. John’s Prep, 5/16/03, RW, right shot, 6-0/175
Sarni, from Lynnfield, Mass., showed off his goal-scoring touch on Monday night. The first-line right wing now has six goals in four games played. Sarni did a good job of getting the puck off his stick quickly. He’s heavy on pucks, doesn’t try to get too cute, and just rips it with zip.
Christian Rosa
St. John’s Prep, 12/1/05, C, right shot, 5-10/165
Rosa is probably the best skater on the team. The Lynnfield, Mass., native can scoot and he did a good job of finding a soft spot in the opposing defense on the goal he scored. A late '05, Rosa has the potential to play college hockey. He was one of the better players on this fall’s North Suburban Wings 16-U.
Jake Vana
St. John’s Prep, 9/1/05, RW, right shot, 6-0/180
Vana, a linemate and fall teammate of Rosa’s with the North Suburban Wings, seems to always be creating offense below the dots. From Boxford, Mass., Vana uses his size and strength to win battles below the goal line, cycles and gets pucks out to open teammates. The assist he had on Rosa’s goal was a typical setup for the big winger.
Nick Brandano
St. John’s Prep, 4/24/06, D, right shot, 5-7/145
Brandano looks like he’s added a step since the fall. The Lynnfield, Mass., native did a good job on his first touch and kept it simple, which is key for his game. When he just gets pucks going north, like he did tonight, he can be effective. Brandano spent the fall with the Neponset Valley River Rats U15.
Will Van Sicklin
St. John’s Prep, 7/25/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/180
Van Sicklin, who played the fall season for the NS Wings 18-U, was more of an unknown to me coming into the winter season. He’s been productive so far and scored a goal tonight. A north-south winger, he had the puck a good amount and showed some positive attributes. From Lynnfield, Mass., Van Sicklin is the team’s second-leading goal scorer with three tallies on the season.
St. John’s Prep lines
C. Blaeser - P. Blaeser - Sarni
McGilvry - Ayers - Van Sicklin
J. Melanson - Rosa - Vana
Tighe - Santosuosso - Graber
Umlah
Vetere - Holland
J. Melanson - Brandano
Doherty - Tillas
Palladino
Cronin
Bishop Guertin lines
Mantone - Clauson - Vogel
Siano - Kiely - Greer
Young - Toom - Lynch
Avery - Kelley
Levasseur - Abbott
Benitez
Kastner
