Matt LaMalfa, ’12, Associate Sports Editor
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has partnered again with Merrimack this year to bring the states premier high school hockey tournament to Lawler Arena. All games, except for the finals, which are held at TD Garden, will be hosted here in North Andover.
“We are excited about hosting such a historic and talented tournament,” said Merrimack Director of Athletics Glenn Hofmann. “We feel the renovated Lawler Arena is the perfect venue for a premiere high school hockey tournament, and we look forward to welcoming back the elite high school hockey teams in Massachusetts to our campus.”
In action this week, Hingham High downed Saint John’s in overtime 3-2 behind sophomore Sam D’Antuono’s first goal of the tournament. In the second game of the night perennial powerhouses BC High and Malden Catholic squared off. The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 advantage after one period, but BC High bounced back with a dominating second period. They managed to get one past Malden goaltender Connor Maloney and draw closer with the period ending with a score of 2-1. The score stayed the same until halfway through the third when the Lancers knocked in a power play marker to make the score 3-1. BC High appeared to have closed the gap to 3-2 late in the third, but officials ruled that the net had come off its pegs seconds before. “I think we deserved a better fate,’’ said BC High coach John Flaherty. “I just don’t understand why we don’t have video replay in this league, everyone else has it.’’
A full slate of games is on tap for this weekend with games on Sunday starting at 12 noon, 2:15 PM, 4:45 PM, and 7:00 PM.
