Icemen come up just short in first round to Gardner, 2-1

THE HORNETS celebrate senior captain Luke Baker’s goal during a state tournament game against Gardner on Feb. 29 at Breakaway Ice Center in Tewksbury. (Eric Evans Photo)

By DAN ZIMMERMAN

TEWKSBURY — The North Reading High boys’ hockey team suffered an abrupt end to their promising ice hockey season with an upset defeat in the opening round of the MIAA Division 4 Tournament last Thursday evening.

Armed with a No. 13 Power Ranking at the end of the regular season, North Reading was paired with No. 20 Gardner, a team which proved that the MIAA grading system doesn’t always tell the entire story. Gardner thrived on advantageous bounces, scoring a pair of fluke first period goals to ultimately eliminate the Hornets, 2-1.

North Reading halved the lead in the third with Luke Baker’s 10^th of the season, from Brendan Rooney, but despite a valiant last ditch effort, the Hornets were unable to knock home an equalizer.

“We finished 13^th in the rankings which is a better finish than most people expected from such a young team,” said North Reading Coach Brian McAuliffe, who wrapped up his fifth year with an 8-10-1 overall mark (39-37-6 career, excluding 2021, the pandemic year). “Tonight, we were just a bit flat at the outset, took an untimely penalty and then gave up that seeing-eye goal. That was the difference.”

Gardner, which draws its players from the towns of Gardner, Murdock, Quabbin, and Narragansett, struck for a go-ahead goal on the man advantage with 5:49 left in the first. Drew St. Peter, on a feed from Jayden Patel, fired from the point. Hornet netminder Charlie Cooper, who deserved a better playoff fate after a remarkable season, never saw the puck through a partial screen.

It was the only North Reading penalty, game-long, but it proved costly.

SENIOR CAPTAIN Nolan DeGregorio finds some open ice during a first round state tournament game against Gardner on Feb. 29. (Eric Evans Photo)

Three minutes later, Ty Burdett doubled the Gardner lead, lighting the lamp when Cooper was knocked down during a scrum and lay prone in the crease. Burdett’s goal, the eventual game-winner, was also assisted by Patel.

North Reading, outshot 18-12 over the first two frames, pieced together a respectable third period, featuring a number of high percentage scoring chances. Gardner goalie Mark Quinn was equal to the task until Baker drilled one home from a tough angle with 5:44 remaining.

It was nail-biting time for the North Reading faithful, gathered at the Tewksbury Breakaway Ice Center, the Hornets’ new home rink next season. McAuliffe pinned his hopes on a set play, which he drew up during a timeout, but despite a bid from Max Forristall from the high slot, Quinn refused to yield.

“We haven’t seen much of that all season,” said McAuliffe, when the Gardner bounces were mentioned. “I was hoping the tide would finally turn and we’d have more luck once we got into the playoffs.”

The Hornets send off an exceptional group of seniors that led the youth of this team to great success over the grueling three-month season. Departing seniors include Joseph Aresco, Luke Baker, Nolan DeGregorio, Rocco Leo, Tyler Morello and Brendan Rooney.

“This was a great class, all the way through,” said McAuliffe. “It was such a hard-working group and it’s going to be difficult to see these guys go. They gave us a strong effort for the last four years and I appreciate everything they gave to the program. They’ll be part of this team forever.”