Melrose (8-6-1) goes 2-0-1 in one week of play

Published in the February 2, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—As the Melrose Red Raider hockey team approaches their tail end of the regular season, they remain a competitive 8-6-1 on the season following a key 3-2 win over Winchester on the road at O’Brien Rink in Winchester on Tuesday night. Melrose can check off a quality week, as they went 2-0-1 in play, improving their chances of playoff qualification. 

Every game is critical for Melrose, who faces a tough stretch of schedule to round off the regular season. In order to qualify for playoffs they will need to pick up three points in five games, four of those contests against ML Freedom teams. 

CAM MARKS has been a top scorer for the Red Raider hockey team, who picked up two wins this week. (Donna Larsson photo)

After a two game losing streak in mid-January, Melrose picked up a needed 2-0 win against Belmont on Wednesday, January 24, thanks to a shutout at the net by Mark Dewling and scores by Cam Marks and Darwin Anderson. 

They followed that win with a 2-2 tie against Reading, which earned them one point towards playoffs. The Rockets struck first making it a 1-0 game when Mike Tobin found the net, but that was matched by Melrose’s Adam Bain, who tied it 1-1 in the first. Brenden Donovan of Reading made it a 2-1 game before Melrose’s Zac Farrell shot the equalizer that ended the game in a 2-2 draw.

And on Tuesday, Melrose hit the road and came up with a critical win over the Sachems, who battled with them to a scoreless draw after the first. Winchester went up 2-0 before Cam Marks scored to make it 2-1 in the second. Adam Bain tied it up in the third and the pendulum swung Melrose’s way, with tons of pressure on both sides, and Melrose defense held steady in a tense, four minute period until Farrell struck again with the go-ahead goal to seal victory. 

Forecasting the rest of the season: With just three points needed, Melrose will face Wakefield (4-8-1) and Stoneham (8-2), two teams they’ve already beaten this season. Then they face a very tough Burlington (12-2), who Melrose lost to earlier in the season. Wins over Wilmington or North Andover could easily seal the deal too. 

Remaining Schedule

Sat 2/3/18 Wilmington @ Melrose, 11:45

Wed 2/7/18 Melrose @ Stoneham, 8

Tue 2/13/18 Melrose @ Wakefield, 8

Sat 2/17/18 Burlington @ Melrose, 4:30

Tue 2/20/18 North Andover @ Melrose, 1

 Freedom League Standings

               League   Overall 

Burlington      9-0      12-2 

Stoneham      5-2       8-2-2

Melrose          5-4-1   8-6-1 

Wilmington     2-6-0   4-8-0 

Wakefield       1-7-0   4-8-1