It is an annual event for the Redmen Boy's Varsity Team to take a trip up to Maine to compete in the Yankee Ford Holiday Hockey Classic. It is also an annual event that Tewksbury goes to Maine and absolutely dominates, and this year was no different.
Tewksbury played their first game of the trip on the 26th against Thornton Academy. Despite my previous statement, this game was a little out of character when it came to the score.
The Redmen, outshooting Thornton Academy 42 to 10, only managed to pull out a tie in what seemed like a lopsided game on paper. Although, watching the game you would have seen Tewksbury not play to the best of their abilities. A lot of nets missed on shots, and all around lackluster play compared to the usual play we've seen thus far. Colin Quinn and Ross Budryk put home the two goals for Tewksbury in their opening game.
Tewksbury played their second game against Portland. Tewksbury came out on fire, outshooting their opponents 14-4 after one period, and leading 2-1. Their two goals of the period both came from defensemen, Brett Morris and Mark Gorman.
The Red didn't slow down when the second period rolled around. Within the first half of the period, Ryan Petti buried a powerplay goal from Jack Cash and Ryan Meade. A minute later, Colin Quinn, thanks to an assist from Sean Budryk, put home his 2nd goal of the trip to make the lead 4-1. Finally, before second could officially wrap up, Ryan Meade put home one more goal with the assists credited to Ryan Petti and Goalie Kyle Paquette.
The third period was much of the same as the second. Tewksbury put 4 goals on the board courtesy of Ryan Petti, Dario Riparo, and Dom Raneri.. twice.
Tewksbury really showed who they were in the second game of the trip with an impressive 9-1 victory and really gave them momentum heading into the final game.
To no surprise, the boys took down Gorham, Maine, 5-1. Brett Morris put home another goal on the powerplay to start the game. Pat Leonard then intercepted a pass and put the puck home. Petti, Cash and Quinn combined on a beautiful tic-tac-toe setup to allow Ryan Petti to put home the rebound off the initial shot by Quinn.
The final two goals were scored by Jack Cash, moments after Petti's goal, and the lone goal in the second period was another Powerplay goal from Brett Morris. The 5th goal was a mirror image of the first goal of the game. Tewksbury then just simply closed out the game and finished 2-0-1 on the Maine trip.
Overall, a great trip by the Redmen. Obviously would have loved to take home the first game, but a tie is better than a loss. They absolutely showed what kind of team they can be and hopefully this play carries on.
Tewksbury next plays Saturday, the 4th, in Bedford at the Edge Sports Center against Concord-Carlisle at 7:30. I'll be there supporting the Red, will you?
