Hockey Falls to Unbeaten Rivers in Tourney Title Game

Brunswick dropped a tough 2-1 overtime decision to Rivers, ranked third in New England, in the championship game at the Nichols-Belmont Hill Holiday Tournament on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the Bruins advanced to the title game with a 1-0 OT victory against host Belmont Hill.

 

In the finals, the Bruins struck first on a goal by Charles Shaffer (8th goal) at the midway point of the opening period.

 

Following a scoreless second period, the Bruins held their 1-0 lead against the undefeated Red Wings (10-0-2) into the final minutes of regulation.

 

Rivers pulled their goalie for the extra skater to try to knot the championship in a 6-on-5 scenario. With the added attacker, River netted the game-tying goal on a rebound with 1:04 left in regulation to force the overtime session.

 

In the extra frame, the Red Wings ended the contest quickly, notching the tourney-winner in just 26 seconds. Ahead of the game-winner, the Red Wings secured the puck in their offensive-zone possession following an icing call. Rivers scored the winning goal on a rebound after a point shot rang off the post and back into the slot.

 

Brunswick goalie Dan Dachille made 26 saves in for the Bruins in the title game. Currently, Dachille is second in New England in total saves with 342. Dachille finished the three-day, five-game tournament with 123 stops.

 

The title tilt was the third match-up in just over two weeks between the Bruins (5-6-3) and Rivers. In the three closely-played, tournament contests, Brunswick is just two goals off the scoring pace of the Red Wings (6-4), as Rivers holds a 2-0-1 record versus the Bruins.

 

In the semifinal, the Bruins battled the hosts all over the ice, as Brunswick eventually skated away with a 1-0 OT win against Belmont Hill. Edward Glassmeyer won the game for the Bruins at 13:29 into the extra frame, as the junior center's deflected shot lit the lamp, sending Brunswick on to the championship game.

 

Both goalies played superb in the semifinals, turning back a combined 67 straight shots on net before Glassmeyer’s game-winner. Dachille, playing in his fourth game in goal over three days, earned his second shutout for the Bruins, turning away all 30 shots over 59 minutes of action.

 

Since the game extended beyond five minutes into overtime, the contest is considered a tie for both teams in NEPSIHA standings.

 

Head-to-head, Brunswick moves to 4-0-3 against the talented Belmont Hill squad dating back six years, when the Bruins began play in this tournament. Two of the ties were tournament OT wins for the Bruins.

 

Brunswick returns to action, hosting Taft on Wednesday, January 3, at 3:45 p.m.