The Tewksbury Redmen Squirt ‘A’ Hockey Team hit the snowy roads to Conway Arena in Nashua NH on Saturday night 12/29 to take on their rival Wilmington Wildcats and returned home with a well-deserved 3-1 win.  The Redmen were playing their 4^th game in the past 2+ days but they were able to dig down deep and come up with another outstanding effort.

The Redmen set the tone early on the first shift of the game as Timmy Sweeney, Aidan Silvia, and Jake McDonough worked the puck down low and got off 2 quick shots.  Wilmington battled back looking to avenge their 6-1 loss to the Redmen just a week earlier but Redmen Goalie Caulin Martel continued his strong play, making 3 great saves in the first 3 minutes of the game.  The Redmen struck first when the girl power line of Maci Chapman, Kaylen Taddia, and Julia Stanizzi used their speed and aggressive play to steal the puck from a Wilmington defenseman.  Stanizzi sent a pass to Chapman at the left face-off circle and she sent a quick pass over to Taddia on the right post.  Taddia fired a one-timer into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.  The Wildcats were determined to tie the score but great defensive plays from Trevor Lindsey and Jared LeGrand kept the lead for the Redmen. 

The Redmen opened the 2^nd period looking to increase their lead but quality scoring chances from Chance Fitzgerald and Justin Rooney were turned away by the Wildcat goalie.  A great defensive effort by Jade Owirka and Austin Tingtella kept the puck out of the Redmen net and led to a scoring chance for Evan Zonderman that hit the post.  The Redmen increased their lead to 2-0 as time was winding down in the 2^nd period.  Timmy Sweeney started the play by working hard on the backcheck and breaking up a Wilmington forward. Sweeney gained control of the puck at center ice, skated the puck into the Wildcat zone, and fired a hard wrist shot that was saved but Jake McDonough was at the edge of the crease to knock in the rebound. 

The 3^rd period was a back-n-forth battle as both teams were pushing the pace. Wilmington had a series of point blank shots early in the 3^rd period that Redmen goalie Caulin Martel turned away.  Cam Whealan and Justin Rooney combined nicely to break up a Wilmington 3-on-2 with 7 minutes to play in the game, keeping the score 2-0 for the Redmen.  The Redmen increased their lead to 3-0 with 6:48 left in the game when Shayne MacDonald scored on a high wrist shot over the goalie’s blocker, assists to Chance Fitzgerald and Evan Zonderman. Wilmington was able to get on the board with just under 5 minutes to play in the game.  The Redmen turned up their intensity and controlled the final 5 minutes of the game to take home the 3-1 victory and maintain their 1^st place position in the Valley League.