St. Mary sophomore forward Andrew Booth, left, battles Turners Falls Brandon Leviois during the first period of Friday night’s game at the Amelia Park Ice Arena. Turners Falls went on to win 5-3. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The St. Mary High hockey team came up on the short end more than they might have liked during the 2012-13 regular season. But in the Saints’ final effort – against Turners Falls – they proved that being outmanned would not stop their collective hearts.
St. Mary beat Turners Falls to the puck, and to the net, early and often from the outset of Friday night’s game at Amelia Park only to fall at the very end, 5-3.
“When we play, skate, and put forth this kind of effort, this is what you get,” St. Mary coach Mike Goodreau said. “It was a tough season, but at least in our last game we had a good game for our seniors.”
It was a drastic improvement for a St. Mary squad which lost to Turners Falls 9-1 in the teams’ first meeting. The Saints finished with an overall record of 5-12-3.
St. Mary came out playing with a purpose, peppering Turners Falls goalie Brandon Bryant (24 saves).
The Saints attacked the net with determination. After nearly a half-dozen early shots on net, Andrew Booth stunned the opposition, scoring the game’s first goal on a shorthanded breakaway with 5:28 remaining in the opening period.
Turners Falls awoke from its slumber to knot the game at 1-1 when Brandon Lenois scored two minutes later.
St. Mary responded 11 seconds into the second period, thanks to a goal from Ashton Bourbonnais. Matt Wurster earned the assist.
Cody Booska knotted the game at 2-all with a goal for Turners with 9:17 left in the period. His teammate Jordan Cutting made it 3-2 about midway through the final frame.
St. Mary did not go quietly into the night. Charlie White wristed a shot over the goalie’s shoulder. Jonathan Spear and Jake Neilsen assisted on the play.
But with 6:14 left on the clock, Turners struck again. Lenois tallied his second goal.
St. Mary answered with a flurry of shots – from Zack Slepchuk (twice) and Booth – but Turners hung on. The Saints let up an open-netter with 5.5 seconds remaining.
St. Mary senior goalie Zach Brown finished with 27 saves in his final high school effort. It was also the last Saints’ hockey game for senior forwards Jeff Hockenberry and Wurster.
