- Details
- Category: Past Issues
Academy
wins 1st ever
hockey game
The Woodstock Academy hockey team kicked off its inaugural season on Dec 21 with a win, 3-2, against Brookfield.
The team traveled down to Danbury to face Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury in their first game. It did not take long for the Centaurs to get on the scoreboard. Just three minutes into the game assistant captain Drew Beaupre broke down the left wing and scored the first goal in team history. Going into the second period tied at 1, Woodstock Academy tallied the only goal of the period. Senior captain Seth Parker, battling in front of the net, found the puck on his stick and wasted little time shooting the puck in to the back of the net.
Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury fought their way back scoring 7 minutes into the third period to tie the game at 2. However, just 7 seconds later, freshman Ben Thompson broke in off the face off and fired a shot giving Woodstock the lead for good. The scoring was capped off when Drew Beaupre scored his second goal off the night giving the Centaurs their first victory of the season and team history.
Woodstock was on the road again Dec. 27 when the team traveled down to Wesleyan University to face Cheshire. Cheshire did not waste any time establishing themselves into the game when Dan Purslow scored and three minutes later Frank Ilnicki scored giving Cheshire a 2-0 lead after the first period. Once again in the second period Cheshire proved to be the dominate team winning the battles on the boards and tallying the only goal of the period. After the teams came out for the third period it was clear that Woodstock was more motivated than the previous 2 periods. The Centaurs were skating faster and started to win the individual battles along the boards. Unfortunately with 8 minutes remaining Nick Vaill scored his second goal of the game giving Cheshire a 4-0 victory.
With no time to rest the team was on the road again Dec. 28, this time traveling down to East Haven to face Guilford. Woodstock and Guilford both tried to establish themselves quickly. The game was very physical from start to finish and it was clear that Woodstock was playing with more motivation and desire than the previous game. The first period would finish with no goals scored. The second period would see more of the same, very physical play and Woodstock having the edge in puck possession. With under 2 minutes to play in the second Guilford would get on the board when a loose puck in front of the net would be poked past sophomore goalie Baylee Johns. The third period would again see the Centaurs come out and take control of the play, however their effort would come up short as Guilford would skate away with a 1-0 victory.
Team: 2 Ben Thompson, 3 Brett Shea, 4 Graham Hicok, 5 Tom Burnham, 7 Austin Beaupre, 9 Seth Parker (C), 10 Ryen Hebert, 13 Joe Wilcox, 14 Colby Johns, 15 Wendal Butler, 16 Will Smith, 17 Adam Becher, 18 Andy Hebert, 19 Drew Beaupre (A), 21 Brendan Hebert, 40 Baylee Johns.
Coaches: Head coach Mike Starr, Assistants: Sean Farrell, Jeff Boshka.