Published February 11, 2021
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
HAMILTON — It seems that Sunday’s forty-five minute skate with Hamilton-Wenham was all that North Reading needed to right the wrongs of an abysmal week of hockey.
The Hornets led wire-to-wire, handing the host Generals a 6-0 drubbing to improve to 4-4 overall with a pair of games remaining in the shortened regular season. Along with scoring from established players, North Reading saw a trio break in with their first ever varsity goals.
It was an all-around flawless hockey game and a cure-all following a 6-1 loss to Newburyport just over a week ago followed by a 7-1 defeat handed down by archrival Lynnfield in Saturday’s matinee.
“They really cranked it up against Hamilton-Wenham and in my opinion, this was their best game so far this season,” said head coach Brian McAuliffe. “We went in missing a few key players and the guys really stepped it up because they knew there was no other choice. They really delivered the goods.”
In the second season meeting with Newburyport, senior Frank Brachanow scored the lone North Reading goal, his third of the campaign. And facing Lynnfield, junior Andrew Daley picked up his second to snap the Pioneers shutout. Combined, the Hornets fell short 13-2.
“The two games were very similar and the final scores were not indicative of how they transpired,” McAuliffe said. “Certainly, we were definitely outplayed, but for the most part, we hung in through the first two periods in each game. We played well at the start but then they started to chip away and build leads. Soon, we were down a few goals and couldn’t respond.”
The first time North Reading squared off against Hamilton-Wenham was under similar circumstances, coming off a pair of lopsided defeats at the season outset. The Hornets recorded their first win in that meeting, but it was by no means a cakewalk. The Generals proved formidable and the Hornets required a dramatic overtime tally from junior tri-captain Matt Ryan to seal the victory.
In Sunday’s rematch at Pingree, North Reading was quickly ahead on a score from senior Derek Danis, his first as a varsity player. While early in the game, it proved to be the only goal the Hornets would need in a 6-0 blanking.
The bane of the Generals, Matt Ryan, added to his earlier overtime heroics, scoring a pair to add to his team-leading four goals.
“Not only did Matt score two important goals for us, he set the early tone,” said McAuliffe. “Just five seconds into the game, he delivered a devastating, but clean check on one of Hamilton-Wenham’s best players. He had their skaters looking over their shoulders for the rest of the day.”
Adding to the North Reading offensive assault was junior Landon Phillips, scoring his first varsity goal off a surgical pass from Dean Rooney. Senior Tim Buckley joined in, lighting the lamp with his first, as well.
Perhaps the score of the game, according to McAuliffe, was from Jonathan Patch, who collected a nice feed from Brachanow, settled the puck to his forehand, and buried it top shelf.
“We outshot them 16-2 in the first period and had 32 shots by the end of the second,” said McAuliffe, who will next face Triton in a Friday night makeup followed by a regular season finale with Newburyport on Saturday. “With a record of 4-4, we’re in position to finish over .500, although our final two opponents will make it a challenge.”
Details are not yet finalized but during next week’s school break, six CAL teams will compete in a revised league tournament. Along with North Reading, Newburyport, Triton, Lynnfield, Pentucket, and Hamilton-Wenham will battle for the league title.
When they’re not putting pucks in the net, a number of North Reading skaters have been out in their community, contributing their hearts and muscles to worthwhile causes. Following last week’s snowstorm, for instance, Hornets were seen shoveling walks and driveways for grateful homeowners.
Also, a steadfast Nick Pasquale led a fundraising effort for Bishop Feehan senior hockey player AJ Quetta, who recently sustained a devastating spinal injury. According to Coach McAuliffe, Pasquale raised $2400 by distributing $5 bracelets adorned with AJ’s name.
It goes without saying that this year’s crop of Hornet hockey players is a special group, both on and off the ice.
