The Tewksbury Redmen Squirt ‘A’ Hockey Team skated against rival Wilmington in a pre-Christmas battle and skated away with a dominating 6-1 win.  The win improves the Redmen season record to 16-3-1.

Inspired by the large hometown crowd that filled the seats at Breakaway Ice Center in Tewksbury, the Redmen came out flying and immediately put pressure on the Wilmington net, showing that the Redmen have one of the best Squirt teams in the area.  Timmy Sweeney got the Redmen on the board just 2:13 into the 1^st period as his hard wrist shot beat the Wilmington goalie through the 5-hole, assist to Jake McDonough.  Wilmington fought back but was unable to break through the “Steel Curtain” defense of the Redmen.  Great defensive efforts by Jared LeGrand, Austin Tingtell, and Trevor Lindsey kept the visitors off the scoreboard.  The Redmen had chances to increase the lead when the “girl power” line of Kaylen Taddia, Julia Stanizzi, and Maci Chapman had 3 consecutive shots, with 2 of them ringing off the post.  Wilmington nearly tied the game 1-1 with just over 2 minutes to play in the 1^st period but Redmen goalie Caulin Martel proved why he’s the best goalie in the Valley League, making 2 highlight reel saves.

The 2^nd period was completely dominated by the Redmen as they scored 3 goals and had a dozen other quality scoring chances.  Justin Rooney got it started with 8:42 to play in the 2^nd period with one of his patented backhand flip shots. Rooney took a great pass from Evan Zonderman at the top of the left face-off circle, saw that the Wilmington goalie was out of position, flipped a backhander at least 12 feet in the air that sailed over everyone’s head and landed into the empty net.  The Redmen kept attacking and increased the lead to 3-0 just 2 minutes later. Chance Fitzgerald started the play with a great defensive play breaking up a 2 on-1 and sending a quick breakout pass cross-ice to Jake McDonough.  Jake gained control of the offensive zone and fired a wrist shot that was blocked by a defenseman but Kaylen Taddia used her speed to get to the loose puck and she buried a hard wrist shot past the sliding goalie.  Jake McDonough increased the lead just 1:15 later when he scored on a breakaway.  Jade Owirka started the play by making a strong defensive play at her own blue line allowing McDonough to grab a loose puck and break in alone, deking past the Wilmington goalie and sliding the puck into the empty net. 

The 3^rd period started with Justin Rooney scoring his 2^nd goal of the game just 7 seconds in.  Justin won the face-off pack to Trevor Lindsey who bounced the puck off the boards where Rooney used his blazing speed to win a race for the puck, and beating the Wilmington goalie through the 5-hole for the 5-0 lead. Wilmington battled back, getting pressure in the Redmen zone, but once again goalie Caulin Martel was there to shut the door on the Wildcats.  Jake McDonough scored his 2^nd goal of the game with 8:02 left in the period.  Cam Whealan started the play by breaking up a Wilmington forward at center ice. McDonough picked up the puck, skated down the left wing boards and fired a hard wrist shot that the Wilmington goalie never saw until the Ref was picking it out of the back of the net.  Wilmington was able to score a late goal to break the Redmen shutout but the Redmen got great defensive efforts down the stretch from Austin Tingtella, Chance Fitzgerald, and Jared LeGrand to secure the 6-1 win for the Redmen.