HYANNIS – It’s been 56 years since Elliott MacSwan founded the Barnstable High School ice hockey program.
But boy would the late Barnstable High School Hall of Famer have been proud today had he been able to witness what occurred at the 5th Annual Nate Nickerson Invitational.
“That’s a hell of a win. We beat them in a shootout before but we never beat a team of that caliber, maybe, before in our high school history. They’ve won numerous Super Eights and we’ve never gotten there,” Barnstable head coach Scott Nickerson said. “It was a huge, huge win.”
Barnstable’s Donnie Brodd and Matt Kaski erupt after Brodd fed Kaski for a 3rd period goal that sealed the win over Catholic Memorial Sunday afternoon – a program first.
Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports
Barnstable High School Athletic Hall of Fame records reveal that indeed, for the first time in school and program history, the boys’ ice hockey team Sunday afternoon defeated one of the perennial Elite Eight contenders when it downed Catholic Memorial, 4-1.
Thanks in large part to the brilliant netminding of senior goalie Dylan Campbell and senior captain Donnie Brodd’s two first period goals. Brodd scored his first at the 5:45 mark in a touch-and-go, bruising ice battle (assisted by Kevin Craig and Matt Kaski) and just over three minutes later nailed another one (assisted by Craig) to make it 2-0.
Things got interesting in the second period when Catholic Memorial’s Anthony Panaggio beat Campbell point blank at the outset (13:45) to make it 2-1, the hosts still ahead. Panaggio’s goal was assisted by Gunner McKenzie and Kevin Cruley.
But Barnstable seemed determined in this one to not let Catholic Memorial’s size and speed advantages get the better of the Red & White.
This was evidenced by perhaps the best game turned in by Campbell in goal in his four-year high school career. All totaled, Campbell made 32 saves on the day in sharp contrast to Barnstable’s 17-shot total. Catholic Memorial’s Brandon Collett made just 13 saves, but Barnstable put the puck in the net when it counted most.
“It was the type of effort I’ve been looking for all year,” Nickerson said. “Why it takes a game like this to bring it out? I don’t know, I guess it’s just human instinct. We rose to the occasion. Our leaders – our guys that are supposed to do the job did their job but the little guys did their job. We finally got two other lines to go out there and play and do whatever it takes to get the puck into the other zone and play as hard as they can.”
Barnstable’s Dylan Campbell made an excellent argument yesterday he may be one of the best in the state with his 32 saves against Catholic Memorial in a 4-1 win.
Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports
Under extreme pressure in the third period and ahead by just a slim, 2-1 margin, Red Raider junior Matt Kaski put it into 5th gear and one-timed Collett at the 4:21 mark. The victory had been ensured.
Barnstable’s fourth goal came on an empty netter scored on an ice-rink length shot from senior assistant captain Mike McDonough just 30 seconds after a late-game timeout by the Red & White. Catholic Memorial opted to remove its goalie during the time-out but it was ultimately ill-advised as McDonough provided the uncontested back-breaker.
Incredibly, Catholic Memorial was not called for a penalty in this affair. Barnstable was nailed with just two infractions, one in the second frame and one in the third, but the Red Raiders killed both penalties with an exceptional team effort.
“If this is an indication of what’s to come, you know, we’re in good shape,” Nickerson said. “But you’ve got to keep that intensity up.”
Barnstable is now 9-2 on the season.
It will seek redemption this week when it faces archrival Bridgewater-Raynham on Saturday night at 7:00 pm at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center. The Red Raiders lost 5-2 to the Trojans last week in an Old Colony League match-up on the road.
“I still would like to win the league,” Nickerson said. “I hate not winning the league. We win the next two games? We win the league or end up tied for the league title at worst. But that win right there for us, for us as a team at this moment is really important.”
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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