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Health & Fitness

Jr. Redmen Squirt AAA Hockey team battles to 4-4 tie with Cape Ann.

Michael Chapman, Neighbor
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On Saturday November 2nd the Jr. Redmen Squirt AAA Hockey team skated at Merrimack College against the Cape Ann Squirts and left the rink with a well-deserved 4-4 tie.

The Jr. Redmen arrived at the rink knowing they would have their hands full as they were down to only 9 skaters and would be battling against a big, speedy Cape Ann team.  The Jr. Redmen came out flying and scored 34 seconds into the game when center Jason Cooke intercepted a pass at his own blue line, skated through 3 Cape Ann defenders and made a pretty deke move around the Cape Ann goalie, sliding a backhander into the back of the net.  Cape Ann fought right back and tied the game with 10:44 left in the 1st period.  Cape Ann had a number of chances to take the lead midway through the 1st period but rock solid defense from Justin Rooney, Jack Griffin, and Daniel Kierce kept pucks away from the Jr. Redmen net.  The 1st period ended with Cape Ann taking a 2-1 lead on a great end-to-end rush by big #25.

The 2nd period started with Cape Ann getting 2 quick scoring chances but Jr. Redmen goalie Ben O’Keefe flashed the glove on both shots to keep the score at 2-1.  The Jr. Redmen went on the powerplay with just over 9 minutes to go in the period and nearly tied the game when Andrew Grieco, Billy Doherty, and Alex Pescatore worked the puck down low, resulting in a one-timer from Doherty that the Cape Ann goalie snagged.  Hard work by the Grieco/Doherty/Pescatore line finally paid off with 5:55 left in the period.  Grieco made a great play on the backcheck to break up a Cape Ann chance.  Justin Rooney picked up the loose puck, skated through center ice and fired a sweet pass over to a streaking Pescatore.  Alex wasted no time in firing a hard wrister over the goalie’s shoulder into the back of the net to tie the game 2-2.  Cape Ann took a 3-2 lead with 48 seconds left in the 2nd period on a questionable non-call by the referee. 

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A tired group of Jr. Redmen were determined to fight back and started the 3rd period with a flurry of chances by the Maci Chapman, Jason Cooke, Matthew Cooke line.  Matthew stole the puck from a Cape Ann defenseman off the faceoff and used his speed to get to the crease, firing a shot off the left post.  Maci Chapman picked up the loose puck in the corner, skated around a Cape Ann defender and fired a great pass to the slot area where Jason Cooke fired a one-timer past the sliding goalie to tie the game 3-3.  The Jr. Redmen nearly took the lead just 2 minutes later when Justin Rooney took the puck end-to-end but his backhander was snagged by the Cape Ann goalie.  Cape Ann took a 4-3 lead with 5:01left in the game.  Billy Doherty and Andrew Grieco teamed up on a pretty 2-on-1 with 4 minutes left in the game but the Cape Ann goalie made a great save on Grieco’s wrister.  With 1:47 left in the game, Billy Doherty was called for a penalty so the Jr. Redmen knew they’d have to score a short-handed goal in order to tie the game.  Daniel Kierce made a great defensive play to break up a sure Cape Ann goal with 1:03 left in the game.  The Jr. Redmen were able to get the puck into the Cape Ann zone and pull goalie Ben O’Keefe for the extra skater.  Alex Pescatore scored his 2nd goal of the game with 23 seconds left to tie the game 4-4, assists to Justin Rooney and Jason Cooke.  Cape Ann controlled the ensuing faceoff and had a last second chance to take the lead but a great save by Ben O’Keefe and a fantastic defensive play by Billy Doherty (who was sent head-over-heels) sealed the hard fought 4-4 tie for the Jr. Redmen.
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