Hoping to rebound from a tough loss against Castleton State right before Thanksgiving Break, The Plymouth State Men’s hockey team hosted New England College in a non-conference game at Hanaway Rink last Tuesday night.
The game would end up being a contest between goalies, as both teams playing ended up having to play to an overtime period to decide the winner. The play of junior goaltender Jack Astedt was particularly fantastic, as he stopped all 24 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season.
Senior Chris Zaremba (who had missed the previous three games due to an injury) made the most of being back in the line-up, as he scored the game-winning goal at 3:25 into overtime. After causing a NEC turnover in their zone, Kyle Greco found Zaremba wide open in the front of net, who redirected the puck off the right post for the game-winner.
PSU played their next game while on the road when they traveled to Salem, Massachusetts to take on the team from Salem State University. Having an already impressive record of 6-1-0 (undefeated in conference play at 3-0-0), they hoped to stay on top of the standings.
The opening action in this game was intense, as both teams scored within a matter of seconds of each other in the first period to make it 1-1 going into the second. The Panthers were able to establish a lead during the second, thanks to two goals scored by Kyle Greco. It was not to last, as Salem State scored on the power play to make it 3-2 at the end of the period. Luckily, PSU was able to hold off Salem State and take home the win, as well as keeping the top spot in the division.
PSU played again on the road for their next game, taking on the team from Worcester State University.
WSU first when sophomore Ryan Quirk drilled a nasty shot from the left side of the rink. PSU would answer in the second, when sophomore Dave Walters scored after a neat little ditty in front of the goal to tie it up at 1-1 going into the third.
WSU scored came out from the locker rooms swinging as they scored to give themselves the one goal advantage just 22 seconds into the third period. PSU responded a few minutes later on the Panthers only power play of the evening when junior Richie Zobal scored on the assist from Phil Moore and Mike Freitag to tie it at 2-2 and send the game into overtime.
WSU ended up scoring first, winning the game on a goal at 02:50 into the overtime period.(Sidenote: Richie Zobak was able to break up a two-on-one rush early in overtime by jumping out in front of a pass. The play was really something to watch live.)
The Panthers are next in action when they host the team from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth at home Thursday night.
Usually, this section would be used for my weekly fantasy football column, “Fantasy 101”. However, I’ve decided to forgo writing it for a week to discuss something that is much more important.
This Saturday, the PSU Men’s Hockey team will be honoring local military members and their families at Hanaway Rink with Salute The Troops Night. The Panthers will be raffling off the game-worn camouflage jerseys, with all the proceeds from the raffle benefitting The Scott Miley Foundation. There will also people accepting cash and check donations, with checks to be made out to the Scott Miley Foundation.
A 2005 graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury High School, Lt. Scott Milley was a avid sports fan, and also a key member for his high school hockey and lacrosse teams. After graduating with honors from UNH, he became a United States Army Ranger. He had just started his tour of duty in November 2010 when his convoy came under attack and he was killed.
The Scott Milley Foundation was set up soon after to help the families of Army Ranger graduates afford accommodations to attend their son or daughter’s graduation. It also assists families in the area that have lost a loved one in battle.
So, as the thoughts of finals and Christmas break fill your mind, I ask that you please take some time to come down to Hanaway Rink to honor and remember our military men and women that serve our great nation at home and overseas. Without their great sacrifices, we would not enjoy the freedoms that, if everyone was honest, are taken for granted. Even if you can’t make it to the game on Saturday, I simply ask that the next time you see a man or women in uniform, just stop and thank them for their service. They, if no one else, deserve that.