The Tewksbury Redmen Squirt ‘A’ Hockey team continues strong play, sweeps weekend action with wins over Billerica 7-1 and Stoneham
4-1, running season record to 25-5-4.

On Saturday 2/16 the Redmen were up early to take on cross-town rival Billerica at Hallenborg Arena and left the rink with a convincing 7-1 win.  The Redmen continue to show what a strong defensive team they are as they held the Billerica
Indians to 8 shots on net for the entire game. Kudos go to the entire Steel Curtain Defense of Chance Fitzgerald, Cam Whealan, Trevor Lindsey, Jade Owirka, Jared LeGrand, and Austin Tingtella.  On the offensive side, the Redmen were facing
one of the best, if not the best, goalies in the Valley Squirt league in Caulin
Martel.  The Redmen knew they would have to be on top of their game in order to get pucks past Martel.  The Redmen came out flying and immediately put pressure on the Indians but were unable to get pucks past Martel when quality scoring chances from Timmy Sweeney and TJ Moore were turned away.  With just over 7 minutes to play in the 1^st period the Redmen took a 1-0 lead when Jake McDonough fired a hard wrist shot past Martel, assist to Evan Zonderman. The 2^nd period was completely dominated by the Redmen as they poured in 4 goals over a 6 minute span. Justin Rooney got things started when he scored his 1^st of 2 goals on the day, using his speed to break away from 2 Billerica defenders and sliding a wrist shot into the back of the net. Just 1:12 later Rooney struck again for the 3-0 Redmen lead, assists to Cam Whealan and Jake McDonough.  The Redmen nearly scored again on the ensuing faceoff when Maci Chapman and Kaylen Taddia worked a nice 2-on-1 but Taddia’s shot hit the left post.  Evan Zonderman increased the lead to 4-0 when he fired a wicked wrister past Martel, assist to Julia Stanizzi.  Zonderman, who wore the fireman hat home as player of the game, scored his 2^nd of the game just 1:47 later when he used his size and strength to outmuscle a Billerica defenseman and fired a backhander under the sliding Martel, assist to Jake McDonough.  Billerica was able to get some shots on net late in the 2^nd period but Redmen goalie Joey Osborne made 3 great saves in a row to keep the score at 5-0 in favor of the Redmen after 2 periods.  The 3^rd period started with the Redmen back on the attack and Chance Fitzgerald scored off a hard wrist shot from the left point to make the score 6-0, assist to his partner in crime, Jared LeGrand.  Fitzy wasn’t done scoring though as he lit the lamp again just 2:25 later.  Left Wing Aidan Silvia worked hard on the backcheck and sent a great cross-ice pass to Fitzy, who skated in, deked around a Billerica defender, and fired a low-hard wrist shot into the back of the net.  Billerica fought back but great defensive efforts from Owirka, Tingtella, and Lindsey kept Billerica off the scoreboard until they scored with 13 seconds left in the game to make the final score 7-1 in favor of the Redmen.

On Sunday 2/17 the Redmen battled through another snow storm to get to LoConte Rink in Medford, where Coach Steve grew up dominating as a young Medford Mustang, to take on a Stoneham team that was 1 point ahead of the Redmen for 1^st place in the division.  The Redmen were motivated to get back their
top spot and went out and played a great game, resulting in a 4-1 win.  The Redmen came out a bit sluggish as Stoneham was able to get some early offensive zone pressure but Redmen goalie Caulie Martel made 2 great saves just 1 minute into the game.  Stoneham kept attacking but Jared LeGrand and Austin Tingtella combines to block 2 shots and safely moved the puck away from the back of the Redmen net.  The Redmen finally got their legs moving and put some pressure on the Stoneham goalie when Timmy Sweeney (whose sister Tory had herself a great game for the iMites on Sunday with a goal and an assist) battled through a big Stoneham defenseman and fired a hard wrist shot that the Stoneham goalie snagged with his catching glove.  Stoneham took a 1-0 lead with 4:42 left in the 1^st period but the Redmen battled right back and nearly tied the game when Aidan Silvia stole the puck along the left faceoff circle and sent a nice pass across the crease to TJ Moore but TJ’s quick one-timer just missed the far post.   Stoneham
nearly increased their lead late in the 1^st period but a great defensive play by Chance Fitzgerald broke up a Stoneham 3-on-1 attack.  The Redmen battled hard in the 2^nd period at both ends of the ice.  Goalie Caulin Martel was called on to make a number of great saves and as usual, was up to the task.  The Redmen also got great play back on the blue line from Trevor Lindsey (who took home the fireman hat as player of the game), Jade Owirka, and Cam Whealan.  The Redmen were determined to tie the game and Justin Rooney made it happen with 6:03 left in the 2^nd period when he beat the Stoneham goalie with a wrist shot over the blocker, assist to Maci Chapman.  The Redmen had a great chance late in the 2^nd period to take the lead when the Chapman siblings combined on a 2-on-1.  Maci
worked the puck up the left wing boards and sent a nice pass over to her brother Brady, but Brady’s shot was saved by the goalie.  The Redmen got a great pep talk before the start of the 3^rd period and responded by dominating the period, scoring 3 goals in a 5-minute span.  Jake McDonough scored the game winner with 7:07 left in the game when he picked up a loose puck at center ice, skated around a Stoneham defender and was in alone.  McDonough was dragged down from behind as he was shooting but was somehow able to get off 2 shots from his belly with the 2^nd shot finding the back of the net.  Just 3 minutes later the Redmen increased their lead to 3-1 when Evan Zonderman took a nice pass from Timmy Sweeney and beat the Stoneham goalie through the 5-hole. The Redmen closed out the scoring just 38 seconds later when Jake McDonough scored on a backhander that rang off the crossbar and dropped into the back of the net for the 4-1 lead.  Stoneham attempted a comeback but once again hard work and great team defense by the Redmen kept Stoneham away from the net, securing the 4-1 win and a spot in 1^st place in the Valley League.