The Littleton/Bromfield/Parker Tigers ice hockey team continues its strong start to the season, adding two more wins, and remains on top of the Coughlin Conference standings.
On Monday, Jan. 6, the Tigers hosted the Northbridge Rams, a program going through a transition year with a roster of only 13 skaters that includes several eighth-graders. Within the first few minutes of the game it was apparent the Rams couldn’t compete with the experienced and deep Tigers roster, leading to a 14-1 Tigers rout.
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, the Tigers hosted Coughlin Conference opponent Gardner Wildcats in the second meeting of the year between the two teams. In the rematch, the Wildcats prioritized body checks over puck control with the intention of disrupting the Tigers’ puck-possession style of play. The Tigers withstood the physicality, maintained their composure and game plan, and were rewarded five minutes in when Littleton junior Gavin Werling scored off a pass from Littleton senior captain Ethan King. In the last minute of the period, that duo connected again when King gathered the puck off a faceoff and passed to Werling in front of the net for his second goal of the night.
Second-period play remained intense, with the teams exchanging scoring opportunities, but the Wildcats were not able to get on the scoreboard as Harvard senior captain goaltender, Tyler Proteau, turned back several shots. Late in the second period, the Tigers scored their third goal when Harvard junior Liam Glew found Littleton junior Andrew Archer in front of the net for a quick shot. In the closing seconds of the period, Littleton’s King scored to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead through two periods. Early in the third period, the Tigers added a fifth goal when Littleton sophomore Ryan Pittorino gained possession of the puck with an aggressive forecheck and passed to Harvard senior captain Zachary Lizotte. The game ended in a 6-1 Tigers victory.
The Tigers continued conference play on Saturday, Jan. 11, facing off against St. Bernard’s, ranked 14th in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association power rankings and the most evenly matched opponent the Tigers have faced this year. The game remained scoreless deep into the second period when St. B’s took advantage of a mishandled puck by the Tigers at their offensive blue line, resulting in a breakaway and the first goal of the game.
In early third-period play both teams increased the body checking and physicality, however the Tigers were able to gain an advantage in the number of shots on goal. Halfway through the period, the Tigers scored when Harvard’s Conor Glew rushed the puck up the ice, passing to linemate Lizotte for a shot on net. Glew pushed a rebound into the net, tying the game. With the game tied after three periods, the teams went into a five-minute, four-on-four sudden death overtime period. Overtime ended 21 seconds in when a St. B’s clearing shot from the blue line was deflected and ended up in the Tigers’ net for a fluke goal.
While the loss to St. B’s was their first conference loss, the Tigers remained on top of the Coughlin Conference with a 5-1 record. The Tigers’ 7-2 overall record and best goal differential in Division 4 led to the team being ranked 11th in the division in MIAA’s power rankings published on Jan. 14. The MIAA power rankings determine seeding for the state tournament and incorporate a team’s strength of schedule and results. The Tigers were scheduled to play nonconference opponents Division 1 Acton-Boxborough Jan. 15 and Division 4 Groton-Dunstable Jan. 18.
Brian Piekos is a Tigers hockey parent.
