The Littleton/Bromfield boys hockey team picked up two more Coughlin Conference wins this past week, first on Dec. 14 away against Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley, 3-0, at Wallace Civic Center, and then, Dec. 19, in a home game against Gardner/Murdock, 5-2.
The game against conference opponent Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley was the team’s second of the season, and the Littleton/Bromfield Tigers controlled play as soon as the puck was dropped. The Tigers pushed play with an aggressive forecheck and puck-possession in the offensive zone, leading to two goals in the first period.
The first goal was scored by Harvard’s Thomas Welborn off a nice pass from Littleton sophomore Ethan King. A few minutes later on a power play, Harvard’s Evan Piekos set up Littleton freshman Paul Doyle for his first high school goal.
Littleton/Bromfield celebrates following Conor Glew’s third-period goal. From left: Evan Piekos, Conor Glew, Liam Glew, Ethan King, and Thomas Welborn. (Courtesy photo)
Play in the second period continued to favor Littleton/Bromfield with the Tigers outshooting their opponents by 10 shots, not including the several errant shots over the net. Third period play was more of the same, with Littleton/Bromfield making it 3-0 when Harvard’s Conor Glew scored his first high school goal following a great cross-ice pass from brother Liam Glew. At the end of the game the scoreboard remained 3-0, showing Littleton/Bromfield with 32 shots on net versus Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley’s 16, resulting in the season’s first shutout for Tiger goalie Charles Becker.
Following a quiet weekend during which the Tigers’ home rink was not available, Littleton/ Bromfield hosted conference rival Gardner/Murdock Wildcats Monday evening at Groton School. Parker School’s Charles Becker started in the net for the Tigers, and throughout most of the first period, play went back and forth. Toward the end of the first period, Littleton’s Tyler
Edwards was able to score the first goal of the game off a net front rebound. In the closing minute of the first period, Edwards scored his second goal following a nifty goal-line pass from Liam Glew.
With second period play underway, the Tigers took two penalties, giving the Wildcats a two-man advantage, which they quickly capitalized on, scoring their first goal. Littleton/Bromfield was able to kill off the second penalty, and soon after returning to full strength, Edwards was tripped as he was breaking, resulting in the award of a penalty shot. Co-captain and senior Edwards didn’t let the penalty shot opportunity go to waste, scoring with a quick hard shot to the upper corner of the net and giving him a hat trick for the night. Penalties continued to be the quick means of scoring as Harvard’s Zach Lizotte scored on a power play.
After two periods the Tigers were leading 4-1. The third period saw more back-and-forth play, with the Wildcats scoring on a power play, followed shortly by a Tigers power play goal when Harvard’s Evan Piekos scored after receiving a quick pass off the face-off.
The Tigers are now 3-0 for the season, first in their six-team conference, and looking ahead to a busy holiday schedule. The team will play the remaining Coughlin Conference teams: Oakmont Dec. 21 and Fitchburg/Monty Tech Dec. 26. The Tigers will play their first nonconference opponents Dec. 28 and 29 when they compete in a holiday tournament at Worcester’s Buffone arena.
Brian Piekos is a Littleton/Bromfield parent.
