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Goalie

Woodstock Academy's ice hockey senior, goalie Baylee Johns. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

POMFRET — Zach Burnham’s goal in overtime lifted the Centaurs (6-7) to the victory. 

It took the Woodstock Academy Centaurs (6-7) more than the 36 minutes of regulation to get the job done, but they managed to come away with a 6-5 overtime victory against the Joel Barlow Falcons (4-13) on Saturday afternoon in Pomfret.  Sophomore Center Zach Burnham had the game-winner with 36 seconds left in the overtime period on a put back in the middle of a pile of players in front of the net. 

Burnham’s goal capped a back-and-forth game that saw the visiting Falcons come back from 1-0, 4-2 and 5-4 deficits to force overtime. Penalties against the Centaurs resulted in two Falcon power play goals. There were a total of 5 goals scored in the first period two by the Falcons and three by the Centaurs. Freshman wing Zach Gagnon got Woodstock on the board with a nice backhander, his first goal of the year.  Later in the period it was senior captain defenseman Will Smith with his first of two goals assisted by Nathan DeLuca and Will Liscomb. Nathan DeLuca got in on the scoring with the first of his two goals assisted by Jon-Luc Cournoyer and Jordan Lamothe’ to end the first period up 3-2  over the visitors. The Centaurs were outscored 2 goals to 1 in the second with Senior Captain Will Johns netting his second goal of the game assisted by Nathan Deluca to end the second period tied 4 – 4. Both goaltenders Baylee Johns and Thierry Jean put on a show with several fine saves.  Freshman sensation Nathan DeLuca put on a fine display of his own finishing with two goals and two assists for a four point night. Nathan is now in fifth place in overall points scored in the Division 3 conference.

DeLuca opened the scoring early in the third period with a goal :09 seconds into the frame.  He was assisted by Will Liscomb and Tyler Huhtanen. The thin one goal lead looked like it would hold up until Joel Barlow’s Billy Berry finished his five point performance with the tying goal under a minute left in regulation. 

In overtime, the referee’s put their whistles away and let the boys play with Woodstock seemingly dominating the Falcons but unable to score. Both defenses played aggressively keeping the puck away from the goaltenders. Everyone was expecting a tie as the overtime period wound down to 30 seconds but lightning struck for the Centaurs in the form of a loose puck trickling over the downed goalie for a hard fought overtime victory that electrified the home crowd. Woodstock is now 1 – 1 in overtime appearances this year.  Baylee Johns had 30 saves as Woodstock was outshot, 35-25. Come out and support your Woodstock Centaurs as they close out  their season this week against league leaders Sheehan High School at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and Housatonic at 6 p.m. Feb. 27, both are home games at Jahn Rink.

 

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