Cape Tech/CC Academy Icemen Roll Past St. John Paul II

ORLEANS ─ When it rains, it pours.

With a slight drizzle falling outside the Charles Moore Arena Saturday night, the equally-talented St. John Paul II (0-1) and Cape Cod Tech/Cape Cod Academy (1-0)  boys ice hockey teams squared off and bodies were flying early and often, but in the end it was the co-op Crusaders and Seahawks that rose victoriously with a 4-1 win in both teams’ season opener.

Gil Bach (30), Matt Aylmer (20) and Danny Mazzola (10) of St. John Paul II surround Cape Tech/CC Academy’s David Carty in the first period of Saturday night’s 4-1 CC Tech/CCA victory.
Sean Walsh/CCBM Sports

After one period, deadlocked at 0-0, it appeared wither team’s game to take, but then lightning struck for the CC Tech/CC Academy icemen as they buried a pair of quick goals past St. John Paul II goalie Gil Bach to make it 2-0. Just 0:13 into the second frame, right win Teagan Twomey found the back of the net, assisted by Cole Therrien and the Lions felt the pressure. Twenty-two seconds after the hosts made it 1-0, CC Tech/CCA’s Dan Crossen scored unassisted in a scrum in front of the goal to make it 2-0.

The second goal placed an obvious pallor over the St. John Paul II bench.

But you could hear a virtual pin drop when not three minutes later (4:08) CC Tech/CCA’s Therrien scored on a Matt Hinckley assist to make it 3-0. Lions’ head coach Brian Ferreira opted for a goalie change with Henry Klimm being inserted into the crease, but it was not apparent that much could change the pure physicality and speed of the CC Tech/CCA squad.

Until, that is, when Lions’ Pat Connolly breathed life into the St. John Paul II collective when he scored unassisted (5:45) to make it 3-1. An ensuing power play after CC Tech/CCA’s gifted David Carty was called for slashing made it appear that this season-opening affair might very well end up close but the Lions could not convert. Carty was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct with just 15 seconds left in the second period but again, the Lions could not capitalize.

Heading into the third period, the two teams seemed hungry to take the match-up to another level with both squads laying heavily upon each other on the boards, but it was Jacob Dipilato who answered the call at 3:20 of the third to make it 4-1 that proved the backbreaker for the visiting Lions. Hinckley notched his second assist of the night on the insurance goal.

Henry Klimm performed valiantly in net for the visiting lions while CC Tech/CCA’s Owen McCoubrey was spectacular.

─ Sean Walsh/Cape Cod Broadcasting Media. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm.