Published in the December 8, 2016 edition
THE SQUIRT GREEN TEAM went 4–0 to win Woburn’s 2016 Turkey Day Classic Squirt tournament over Thanksgiving weekend.
NORTH READING — The North Reading Squirt Green Team competed in Woburn’s 2016 Turkey Day Classic Squirt tournament over Thanksgiving weekend. The Squirts went 4–0 to clinch the championship in an unbelievable team effort.
On Friday morning, they fought a tough battle against Andover but they were able to pull away a 5–2 victory in game one. After a 0–1 deficit at the end of the first period, goals from Luke Baker and Theo “hat trick” Sfikas were enough to secure the win. Later Friday evening the Hornets faced Burlington. Offensive contributions and relentless back checking from Duncan Gulino and Max Gulino would prove to be too much for Burlington, and goaltender Marty Pierce tallied another shut out on the season.
On Saturday morning, the Franklin Squirt team stepped up to challenge the Hornets, but after jumping out to a one goal lead in the first, efforts from Hornets overpowered Franklin. Andrew Dunbar and Tommy Gazda made the score sheet multiple times each to get the third win and a chance at the championship.
On Sunday, the Providence Whales entered the championship game to face the Hornets. The Hornets, after three tough games and a team pasta party the night before, were ready for the challenge. In the first and second periods Ava Baker, Rowan Dunbar, Max Forristall and Lilly McInerney held Providence at bay, shutting down all scoring chances.
Although Providence was able to get on the board in the third period, fierce forechecking from Brendan Rooney would contribute to the fifth goal of the game by Nolan DeGregorio and make the championship a reality for the Hornets. All in all, a great team effort was the main contributing factor to the success of the Squirt Green Team in the tournament.
