Varsity Hockey: The Eaglebrook Hockey Tournament
The Eaglebrook Varsity hockey team welcomed seven other teams to Alfond Arena to participate in their annual tournament over the weekend of February 23rd. The Eagles faced off against Lower Canada College on Friday evening. After overcoming an early one-goal deficit, the Eagles got back on track and took control of the game. From that point on, Eaglebrook’s compete level never wavered. As a result, the boys’ puck possession increased, as did their offensive chances. Pierce Patterson started the scoring off for the team with a rip from the point that ricocheted off the post and in. Soon after, linemates Nils Forselius, Jordan Nelson, and Jacob Trowt displayed tremendous tic-tac-toe puck movement to bury the second on the game. To add to the lead, Seamus Cummings streaked up the right side and fired a well-placed shot through the goalies five-hole that put the boys up 3-1. Jacob Trowt would add his second of the day to extend the Eagles lead. Eventually, Mac Elliott buried the fifth and final goal for the Eagles on the power play to put the game out of reach. Ultimately, the Eagles came away with a decisive 5-2 victory. Michael Penna had a strong showing on the penalty kill, utilizing his speed to disrupt the opposition’s breakout. Matthew Katz played solid in net, stymieing the opposition’s chance to comeback.
The boys picked up right where they left off against the Middlesex Bears the following morning. Unselfish puck movement, effective transition play, and good structure on the attack provided the team with many offensive opportunities throughout the game. They played a complete game, which allowed them to secure a 4-0 victory. AJ Finta played solidly in net, handling pucks for our defensive retrievals and limiting the second chance opportunities to solidify the shutout. Giovanni Grassi did a great job of moving pucks with poise and pitching in the offensive zone at opportune times. Ryan Robbins continued to display sound positioning and put forth a solid two-game up front.
The Eagles faced off against familiar foe the Springfield Rifles later that night. The Rifles would give Eaglebrook a tough contest, getting on the board early and frustrating the Eagles into undisciplined play. It wasn’t the best effort for the team; the game began to slip away and made it challenging to mount a comeback. Simba Chen did a nice job of stretching the ice and was a fraction away from burying a nice breakaway goal. However, the 5-2 loss would mean that the road to the Championship would be a little more arduous, having to go through the top-seeded Vermont Jr. Flames in the other bracket the following morning.
Going into the game, the Eagles knew that they needed to set the tone early and deliver a complete effort in order to advance against this formidable opponent. The intensity throughout the game was palpable. Both teams traded blows in the first period. With a couple of seconds remaining in the second period, Nils Forselius instinctively won the faceoff draw to Jacob Trowt’s forehand, who ripped a shot over the goalies shoulder to put Eaglebrook up heading into the third. The Eagles would eventually pull ahead 4-2, capitalizing off of key man advantage time. However, the Flames kept pressing and eventually got within one goal late. The Eagles stood strong and came up with some key faceoff wins down the stretch to come away with a proud 4-3 victory. Kaz Sobieski and Jack Bradway both played solidly at defense, exhibiting patience with the puck and providing some key passes to ignite transition. Benito Calvanese played a solid game at forward, supporting the offensive attack and providing some key chances. Jordan Nelson had a beautiful short-handed goal thanks to a heads up pass from Seamus Cummings off of a defensive zone faceoff win as well. The victory would set up a final matchup against the Connecticut Chiefs.
With Eaglebrook’s a cappella group, the Ad Libs, singing the National Anthem to kick things off in front of a big fan base, the team was primed to finish the job. After performing the Anthem, Jordan Nelson continued his brilliance by burying a great second chance goal in front. The Eagles continued to dictate the pace of the game, as Pierce Patterson had a great rush that eventually found Jacob Trowt in the trailer position to add to the Eagles lead. Nils Forselius continued his excellence at the faceoff dot throughout the weekend, while Ben Scully played a solid game, forechecking with a purpose and putting pressure on their defensemen. Everyone from Eaglebrook showed a tremendous heart, as they built a 3-1 lead into the third frame. However, the Eagles would find themselves in a 6 on 3 situation due to undisciplined play. As a result, the Chiefs finally buried a goal despite an unbelievable effort by Michael Penna, Jordan Nelson, and Nils Forselius on the penalty kill. With 17 seconds remaining, the Eagles dug deep and were able to survive the opposition’s final push. The victorious Eagles swarmed the boards near their fellow classmates and celebrated the sweet feeling of triumph culminating the season. It was a gutsy performance, as the boys overcame a tremendous amount of adversity along the way to be able to walk away as champions.
The coaches and under formers would like to thank all the hard work and dedication from the graduating Sixth Form class: Bauer Swift (captain), Jordan Nelson (assistant captain), Hans Forselius (assistant captain), Jacob Trowt, Ben Scully, Michael Penna, Ryan Robbins, Simba Chen, Pierce Patterson, and Seamus Cummings. These boys have given a tremendous amount to the Eaglebrook hockey program and we wish them all the best of luck going forward.
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