Woodstock Academy coach Jeff Boshka couldn’t have been happier.
His second-year girls’ ice hockey program had just gone toe-to-toe with an established Auburn Rockets team and it held its own.
Unfortunately, the Centaurs finished behind on the scoreboard, 4-2, in the season opener for both at the Jahn Ice Rink at Pomfret School.
“They have been around for 12 years and this is just our second and we were hanging with these guys? That was exciting,” Boshka said.
Not only hanging, but, at times, dominating. Tied at two, The Academy took 10 shots in the final period, the Rockets only had four.
However, two of the Rockets’ shots went in, the Centaurs failed to find the net. “The potential is what we talked about after the game,” Boshka said.
“The potential is great as they develop their skill level individually and then, as a team, learn the system that we are trying to implement. Even (Auburn coach Peter Laprad) said he has had his girls for a while and they know the system. We’re still trying to establish the systems.”
The Rockets looked as if they would run away and hide early. Just 30 seconds into the game, captain Julia Siemen stuffed one past Centaurs’ goalie, Marie Gravier, off an assist from Brooke Lyden to make it 1-0.
The Centaurs rebounded and began to dominate the control of the puck. They got a break when the Rockets were penalized late in the period and the power-play unit capitalized.
With nine seconds left, junior captain Ellie Jellison took the puck off the boards to the right and almost behind Auburn goalie Colleen Fellows.
“We say when you’re within the goal area – we call it ‘the red zone – we should be shooting. She didn’t have the greatest angle, but you take the shot. Everybody else is supposed to be crashing in,” Boshka said.
In this case, no one had to crash. Jellison’s shot rebounded off the back of Fellows and into the net to tie the game. The Centaurs forged ahead in an unlikely manner just 2 ½ minutes into the second period.
Having successfully fought off a 5-on-3 advantage by Auburn, the Centaurs were still short-handed when they found themselves on the attack. Jellison again took a shot, but this time it was redirected into the net by Emma Ciquera to put The Academy up, 2-1.
Auburn tied the game on a 3-on-1 break just over five minutes later with Carianne Fortier taking it from her own blue line and putting it into the Centaurs net.
It didn’t dampen the Centaurs’ spirit. “We were positive. We were going for the win. It was doable, within reach. All of those concepts were out there,” Boshka said. Fortier put in what proved to be the game-winner with 9:52 left in regulation.
The Centaurs put a barrage of shots on Fellows, but came away empty as the senior goalie was up to the task. Amalia Monson added an empty-net goal with 44 seconds left for the final.  “We need to crash the net more. We’re getting shots, but we need to get in and get rebounds. The key is when you’re not shooting, you’re busting to the net to get that rebound,” Boshka said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director