DeRoche tallies 100th career point

Published January 30, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

HAVERHILL — Last Saturday night, the Lynnfield High boys hockey team beat host Pentucket-Georgetown 4-1, at the Veteran’s Memorial Rink in Haverhill at Haverhill High School. With that victory, the Pioneers record improved to 7-4-2 overall and 4-2-2 in the Cape Ann League.

After a scoreless first period, George DeRoche scored just 20 seconds into the second period assisted by Jaret Simpson and Will Garofoli. DeRoche then scored later on in the second with 10:01 remaining to make it 2-0 assisted by Garofoli.

The Sachems scored a few minutes later on the power play with 3:03 left as the Pioneers went to the second intermission leading by one.

WILL GAROFOLI had a goal and two assists during Lynnfield’s 4-1 win over Pentucket on Saturday night. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

In the third, Chris Flannery lit the lamp to make it a two-goal advantage with 8:21 remaining. That goal was a shorthanded one as Rob Tashjian assisted.

“That was a key goal by that line,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “It gave us some breathing room.”

With 2:23 left, Garafoli rounded out the scoring assisted by John Simonetti and DeRoche. For DeRoche, it was his 100th-career point.

“That is a great milestone and I am very proud of him,” said Gardner. “He makes the players around him better as his goals and assists are pretty even.”

Lynnfield outshot Pentucket, 33-19, on goal as Aidan Kelly made 18 saves to go to 7-4-2 in net.

The Pioneers finished at 1-0-1 against the Sachems this winter as the first game ended in a, 4-4, draw back on Dec. 15th.

Tonight (Jan. 30) the Pioneers go to the Valley Forum in Haverhill to take on host Amesbury (5-8-0) at 8 p.m.

They then host a non-league game on Saturday against Medfield (8-0-4). That game will be at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody and start at noon.