This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Tewksbury Redmen Mites Hockey Team skates away with a 4-1 win against Cape Ann, improves to 9 wins and 2 losses.

The Tewksbury Redmen Mites Hockey Team travelled to Pingree Academy in Hamilton and skated away with a 4-1 win against Cape Ann, improving their season record to 9 wins and 2 losses.

The Tewksbury Redmen Mites Hockey Team travelled to Pingree Academy in Hamilton and skated away with a 4-1 win against Cape Ann, improving their season record to 9 wins and 2 losses.

The Redmen came out flying and set the tone early, getting immediate pressure on the Cape Ann defense resulting in quality scoring chances from the line of Conor Cremin, Billy Doherty, and Brady Chapman.  Cape Ann used their size to create their own pressure on the Redmen but the "Steel Curtain" defensive crew of Dan Kierce, Jason Cooke, Andrew Grieco, and Jack Griffin all  kept the Cape Ann forwards away from the Redmen net.  The Redmen took a 1-0 lead halfway through the 1st period when Andrew Grieco and Jack Griffin combined to break up a Cape Ann 3-on-2 rush, Grieco sent the puck up the right wing boards and Matt Cooke used his speed to win a race to the loose puck.  Matt broke down the right wing boards, cut in, and sent a hard wrist shot to the back of the net.  Cape Ann fought back, looking to knot the game at one, but Redmen super-goalie Ben O'Keefe made a number of outstanding saves to keep Cape Ann off the scoreboard.

The 2nd period started with Cape Ann once again putting pressure on the Redmen but Danny "Crusher" Kierce and his 'D' partner Jason Cooke used their size and strength to break up any potential scoring chances from the Cape Ann forwards.  The Redmen increased their lead to 2-0 with just over 8 minutes to play in the 2nd period.  Goalie Ben O'Keefe started the play by making an unbelievable left pad save, steering the puck into the corner where Jason Cooke collected the loose puck, skated up the left wing boards, deked around 2 Cape Ann forwards, turned the jets on to blow past both defenseman, and fired a rocket wrist shot, beating the goalie top-shelf.  The Cooke goal gave the Redmen energy as they continued to pepper the Cape Ann goalie with shots.  Nick Calouro took a nice pass from Jack Griffin and fired a hard wrist shot that the goalie saved, and Billy Doherty used his speed to beat a Cape Ann defenseman to a loose puck, getting off a quick shot that hit the post.  The Redmen scored with just over 1 minute to play in the 2nd period, increasing their lead to 3-0.  Jason Cooke & Danny Kierce worked the puck out of their zone, and sent an indirect pass off the boards to Brady Chapman, who broke in alone on a breakaway and beat the Cape Ann goalie with a wicked wrister over the goalie's catching glove.

Find out what's happening in Tewksburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cape Ann opened the 3rd period aggressively looking to cut into the Redmen 3-0 lead but great defensive plays from Jack Griffin and Andrew Grieco kept Cape Ann scoreless, and goalie Ben O'Keefe made 2 saves that had the Redmen faithful chanting "OKIE OKIE OKIE".  The Redmen fought back but a great give-and-go passing play by Billy Doherty and Conor Cremin was stopped by the Cape Ann goalie.  Cape Ann was finally able to break through, scoring on a fluke goal, to cut the Redmen lead to 3-1.  The Redmen were determined to not let their lead slip away and scored on the very next shift to increase their lead to 4-1.  Jack Griffin made a nice play at his own blue line to break up a Cape Ann forward.  Billy Doherty scooped up the loose puck and sent a pass up the right wing boards to Andrew Della Piana who broke in alone and the sharpshooter made no mistake beating the goalie through the "5-hole" with a hard wrist shot.  Cape Ann kept coming but the Redmen played great team defense and were able to keep Cape Ann off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, securing the 4-1 win.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?