The visiting Bromfield-Littleton boys hockey team beat host Assabet-Maynard 4–1 at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough on Saturday, Feb. 4, leaving the Tigers with a record of 10–2–2 and in second place behind Worcester in the Midland-Wachusett Russell Conference.
Littleton senior Simon Rosenbaum gets a goal as Bromfield senior Joseph Mitchell backs him up in the Feb. 4 game against Assabet-Maynard. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
From the first puck drop, Bromfield-Littleton played an aggressive game with quick passes and an attack mindset that kept the puck on the team’s offensive side. Early on, Bromfield senior captain Nick Evans found the back of the net with an assist from Bromfield freshman Chris Pickreign. Bromfield-Littleton continued to attack Assabet’s defense with explosive shots from Bromfield senior Joseph Mitchell and Littleton senior Brendan Bassett. Littleton sophomore Danny Angell had a breakaway that began with a pass from Evans and allowed Angell to go one-on-one with Assabet goalie Samantha Dahill. Angell showed impressive puck-handling skills and was able to hit the top right corner of the net to put Bromfield-Littleton up 2–0 at the end of the first period.
The second period proved challenging for Bromfield-Littleton with Assabet’s Dylan Sawyer scoring off a rebound to put Assabet on the scoreboard 2–1. Bromfield-Littleton Coach Howie Schneider later said in an email, “We need to be more consistent for the entire game. We had a few bad minutes in the second period and allowed Assabet to score a goal. When we are up on a team, we have to finish hard.”
Nick Evans sets up for what would become the first goal of the game.
Just two minutes into the third period, Littleton senior Simon Rosenbaum scored on an assist from Littleton senior captain Ricky Gilpatrick. Soon thereafter, Mitchell secured the win with another goal to put Bromfield-Littleton up 4–1. Still, Assabet continued to attack, pulling its goalie to allow six men on the ice for more chances to score. But Bromfield-Littleton’s defense prevailed until the final buzzer. Bromfield-Littleton goalie sophomore Ben Lichtman had 12 saves. Assabet-Maynard goalie Dahill had 36 saves.
Overall, Coach Schneider was pleased with his team: “The boys played well on Saturday. All three lines contributed, and we kept the pressure on Assabet for most of the game. It was a good defensive effort, holding Assabet to 13 shots.”
Northbridge win
Bromfield-Littleton downed Northbridge on Monday, Feb. 6, 8–0. Mitchell had three goals and two assists; Angell and Rosenbaum each had a goal and two assists; and Brendan Bassett, Shane Picariello, and Justin Montepeluso each scored once. Bromfield goalie Lichtman had 22 saves, and Northbridge goalie Chris Wells had 29 saves.
The last weeks of the regular season have Bromfield-Littleton playing some of the t op teams in the league. In his email, Schneider went on to say, “We have had a really strong season so far, going 10–2–2, but we have to finish strong against these teams.”
Bromfield-Littleton was scheduled to face St. Bernard’s on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg and then Hopedale on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Groton School rink 2.
Hannah LoChiatto is a Bromfield senior.
