WESTON, Mass. — There were multiple momentum swings, big goals and controversial moments in Friday's matchup between Governor's Academy and Rivers. It provided the kind of drama wanted in a hockey game. The stands were even full and the student section was loud.
Yet it ended in a 5-5 tie.
Governor's was down by a goal late but was saved when junior forward Brodie Donovan fired in a shot with 2:11 left in regulation. Rivers controlled most of the five-minute overtime and had the better chances, but Governor's senior goalie Zach Ericson made multiple, big-time saves.
For the majority of the game, however, it was Rivers who was playing from behind.
Governor's got out to a 2-0 lead before the midway point of the first period. Sophomore forward Jack Torr opened the scoring, while senior forward Eli Heinze tallied the second. Head coach Brian McGuirk's team held that lead after one period.
Rivers freshman forward Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) got the Red Wings on the board with a shot from the point on the power play that went in, cutting the lead to 2-1. But Governor's responded when senior forward Kye Smyrnios (Lynnfield, Mass.) knocked in a rebound, making it 3-1.
With 9:10 to play in the second period, Rivers freshman forward Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) finished off a nice passing play with Meyer and fellow freshman Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) to cut Governor's lead to 3-2.
The third period began at 4-on-4 and Rivers immediately capitalized. Sears stopped up at the offensive blue line and found Meyer streaking to the net where he finished the chance, tying the game, 3-3.
Rivers took its first lead on a power play roughly six minutes into the final frame of regulation when junior forward Jonathan Rivard (Newton, Mass.) knocked in a chance from the top of the crease. But Governor's sophomore forward Robbie Daley (North Reading, Mass.) tied the game just over one minute later when his shot hit the glove of Rivers freshman goalie Will Torres (Framingham, Mass.) and in, making it 4-4.
Rivard notched another goal off a nice pass to the slot by junior forward Stephen Rousell (Roslindale, Mass.), giving Rivers a 5-4 lead with 8:51 to play in the third period.
This was quite the action-packed game. Let's dive into standouts and takeaways.
Carter Meyer
Rivers, 4/10/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
I counted four points (two goals, two assists) for Meyer, which is incredible given his line was invisible in the first period. Meyer kicked the second period off with a bang, scoring on an absolute snipe from the point, going bar down from the furthest possible spot and sifting the shot through multiple bodies. His second goal was just him beating his defender to the net. His pass on Sears' goal was edgy, as it was right when most people normally would've taken the shot but he made the extra pass and it worked.
I mentioned controversial moments in the first graf. None were bigger than when Meyer blindsided Spencer Thornborough (Boxford, Mass.) to the head away from the puck, causing the Governor's forward to go down. Somehow, there was no call. Meyer got away with one.
Finn Sears
Rivers, 5/4/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/175
Hometown: Medford, Mass.Â
Sears' goal was nice, as he stayed shot-ready even though it looked like Meyer was going to shoot it. His pass on Meyer's second goal was a beauty, as Sears stopped up at the blue line, waited an extra second without making it obvious he was going to pass it middle and then did. Sears' patience with the puck was impressive on Friday night, as he regularly used his speed and skill to get to space and open passing lanes. Sears dented the crossbar on a shot in the first period and then later drew a penalty before the first frame was over.
Robbie Daley
Governor's, 10/4/2007, F, right shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: North Reading, Mass.Â
Daley's goal was nasty. On a high-pressure power play midway through the third period, he toe-dragged a Rivers defender and fired a rocket that went in, tying the game. Daley showcased great speed throughout the game playing on Governor's top line. That speed came in handy when he forechecked relentlessly. Early in the second period, Daley made a great read to pick off a Rivers breakout and get a point-blank chance.
Jack Torr
Governor's, 7/29/2008, F, right shot, 6-2/200
Hometown: Swarthmore, Penn.Â
Torr set an early tone. Less than one minute into the game, Torr got the puck in his own end and absolutely flew down the ice, beating anyone in front of him and scoring on a great finish. Torr was impactful throughout the game breaking up plays in the neutral zone and kickstarting rushes towards the Rivers net. He also assisted on Donovan's late, tying goal with a nice pass from behind the net. Torr almost won the game in overtime when Donovan used his elusiveness to find him in front of the Rivers net for a one-timer.
Cooper Schuhwerk
Governor's, 6/22/2007, D, right shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.Â
Schuhwerk played an outstanding shutdown game. He was extremely physical with Meyer's line all night. He showed a great stick breaking up a 3-on-2 for the Meyer line late in the third period. He was aggressive in the neutral zone in breaking up plays and he defended his own blue line well. Throughout the game, he made smart puck plays in all three zones.
Freddy Meyer
Rivers, 10/16/2007, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Meyer was an animal. He had a tough first half of the first period, as he was on the ice for both goals. But after that, he was nails. He seemed to step up and hit anyone coming down his side of the ice. He was always physical. There was one sequence late in the second period when he stepped up for a green-light hit in the neutral zone. Play went the other way and Meyer dashed for the crease and almost scored. His best play of the night came in overtime when he had the puck in his own zone and had a Governor's forward draped all over him. Meyer used his feet and core power to get away from him, holding onto the puck the whole time. He went end-to-end and it finished with him finding Pandolfo in front of the net for a one-timer.
Spencer Thornborough
Governor's, 6/22/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/180
Hometown: Boxford, Mass.Â
Thornborough's speed gave Rivers fits for a lot of the night. While killing a penalty late in the first period, he intercepted a pass and almost finished a shorthanded breakaway. He got another breakaway in the second period and came close to finishing it, but was hooked (no call). He out-skated a Rivers defenseman for a loose puck heading towards the Rivers net late in the third period. He also showcased nice vision on passes with his linemates and he showed off a high compete battling hard for pucks in the corners.
Jonathan Rivard
Rivers, 4/23/2007, F, right shot, 6-0/180
Hometown: Newton, Mass.Â
Rivard brought his best when it mattered most. His first goal was impressive given he was getting decked as he knocked the rebound in. The second was great awareness to go to the front of the net and get open for Rousell. Throughout the night, he supported plays well, reloaded and was able to force some turnovers.
Takeaways...
- This was my first time seeing Governor's this season. At 6-3-1, McGuirk's team looks much improved. They forechecked Rivers hard, forcing turnovers. They're an older team with seven seniors and nine juniors, so they have size and they're a tough group. Rivers has a tendency to get physical and chippy and Governor's gave it right back and then some. Overall, Governor's seemed like a really tough team to play against.
- Five goals against for Ericson and Torres isn't great, but each had some shining moments. Ericson robbed Meyer of the potential game-winning goal late in the third period. He also came up huge in overtime with saves off high-danger chances. Meanwhile, Torres made a big save late in the third period on Smyrnios that could've easily gone in.
