BELMONT, Mass. — In a top-10 matchup on Wednesday night, No. 5 Belmont Hill tied No. 7 Thayer, 3-3.
As annoying as a tie is, it was a phenomenal hockey game that featured a little bit of everything between the ISL Keller rivals vying for top-five recognition.
The Tigers were the first ones to land a punch, as sophomore forward Tommy Wilkinson (Braintree, Mass.) opened the scoring midway through the first period. Senior forward Charlie Wilkinson (Braintree, Mass.) extended that lead on a shot from the top of the zone off the rush just over one minute into the second period, giving Thayer a 2-0 lead.
That lead evaporated quickly in a wild second period.
It started when Belmont Hill senior defenseman Grayson Cohen (Weston, Mass.) got a breakaway and scored, cutting Thayer's lead to 2-1. Just 21 seconds later, Belmont Hill junior forward Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) tied the game.
Thayer re-took the lead late in the period when Tommy Wilkinson potted one.
Belmont Hill junior defenseman Evan Jones (Arlington, Mass.) converted on a rebound early in the third period, tying the game, 3-3.
Despite a plethora of chances in the third period and overtime, Thayer goalie Tyler Moschella and Belmont Hill goalie Keagin Wilson both stood tall.
Here are standouts and takeaways from the matchup.
Tommy Wilkinson
Thayer, 9/9/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.Â
Wilkinson has consistently impressed me this season. His first goal came off a great, heads-up play to drive the far post and tip in a pass from linemate Tommy Anderson. Wilkinson's speed was hard to miss throughout the game as he beat the defender to the far post on his first goal and was able to drive play throughout the game. His second goal came off a 2-on-0, as Wilkinson finished a vital chance, giving his team a late lead in the second period.
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Patrick Woods
Belmont Hill, 7/5/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.Â
Woods was Belmont Hill's No. 1 center on Wednesday night for a reason. He almost scored the first goal when he toe-dragged a defender and his shot was stopped by Moschella and trickled wide. Woods' compete and two-way abilities were evident throughout as he hustled to keep plays alive and pucks in the offensive zone. Belmont Hill was forced to kill a five-minute major in the second period and Woods was a key piece of killing it off, as he had such a good stick. He even earned a 2-on-1 and set up David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.) for a scoring chance on that penalty kill. Woods' patience with the puck was also extremely impressive.
Tyler Moschella
Thayer, 4/1/2007, G, catches left
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.Â
Thayer would've lost had Moschella not been locked in on Wednesday night. All three goals were off odd-man rushes and there wasn't much he could do about any of them. The Sextants pressed hard in the final five minutes of the third period and overtime and the '07 netminder had countless key saves. He robbed Tavares on a one-timer. He turned away puck after puck in the final minute as Belmont Hill's top players took turns peppering Moschella with shots. He robbed Bosco of the winner when the Belmont Hill forward ripped a laser on net and Moschella gloved it down without issue. He finished with 42 saves.
Grayson Cohen
Belmont Hill, 10/18/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/206
Hometown: Weston, Mass.Â
So, how did Cohen, a defenseman, get a breakaway? Well, the senior was aggressive on defense, saw a hole and went for it, getting a pass from Bosco as he darted toward the net and beat the defense. Throughout the game, Cohen showcased so much patience with the puck and never seemed to panic. He had a great sequence late in the first period when he had a defender draped all over him and he eluded him with his shiftiness, using his frame to protect the puck. He eventually hit Woods at the far blue line for a zone entry.
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Mason Shea
Thayer, 11/8/2005, F, right shot
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.Â
The most noticeable attribute with Shea was his speed. That helped him drive play, as was evident on Wilkinson's first goal when he entered the offensive zone with possession and kicked it to Anderson. I'd argue, however, his most important play of the game came in the final minute of regulation. A rebound popped out in front of the Thayer net and Belmont Hill was oh-so-close to scoring, but Shea knocked the puck away at the last second.
David Bosco
Belmont Hill, 2/8/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/163
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Bosco got much better and more impactful as the game went on. His small-area pass off the rush to Cohen was his first assist. His second came on Jones' goal when he feathered a shot off Moschella's pad, creating the perfect rebound for Jones to smash into the back of the net. Head coach Brian Phinney had Bosco at right wing on the first line and his vision shined. Obviously, there were the two assists. But his passing throughout helped his line get sustained offensive zone time. I have no doubt that the handful of Division 1 college coaches there had their eyes on Bosco.
Tommy Anderson
Thayer, 2/2/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/174
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.Â
Anderson notched two assists. The first was a great find to Tommy Wilkinson at the back post, while the other was also to Wilkinson, but on a 2-on-0. Anderson was always around the puck every shift. His vision was apparent on passes off the rush and in the offensive zone. Anderson almost put Thayer ahead late in the third period when he toe-dragged a defender and got to the slot where he was robbed by Wilson.
Michael Federico
Thayer, 7/1/2008, F, left shot, 5-10/172
Hometown: Hanover, Mass.Â
Federico was consistently earning scoring chances for himself and his teammates in the third period. He got a pass from Shea early in the third period that almost resulted in a goal. Midway through the period, he won the draw through the Belmont Hill center and got a shot off. He had zero issue using his skill and frame to get to the high-danger areas.
Declan Devin
Thayer, 6/2/2005, D, left shot
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.Â
Devin was a solid puck-moving defenseman for Thayer. Early in the first period, he made two nice passes up ice and broke up a potential breakaway. He was able to elude Belmont Hill's forecheckers and make strong first passes. His head was also always up and he assisted on Charlie Wilkinson's goal.
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Takeaways...
- Tavares is committed to Dartmouth, so he's obviously not uncommitted. But this was the best I've ever seen him play. His goal was huge, as it tied the game. But he had a number of other chances, including putting one off the side of the post late in the second period. Late in the third, he generated speed and got a breakaway where he hit the post again. From the wing, he was able to drive his line and push the pace, forcing Thayer's defenders back. He was a force in this one.
- If I were making new rankings on Thursday (I'm not), Belmont Hill would likely stay at No. 5 and Thayer at No. 7. While Thayer rattled off the first two goals, Belmont Hill was in control in the second half of the game. And in crunch time, the Sextants were able to turn it up. It's a shocker that they didn't score in the final few minutes of the third period. That was all due to Moschella.
