ANDOVER, Mass. — It had been seven straight games without a win for Phillips Andover, but the Big Blue pulled off the improbable upset over Kimball Union on Wednesday afternoon.
Phillips Andover jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 win over a Kimball Union team that came into the game on an 11-1-1 stretch. Junior wings Ethan Skowronek and Jake LeDoux scored first-period goals and center Sam Myles added an empty-net goal. Junior Ben Skowronek was solid in net for the win.
Skowronek and LeDoux scored similar goals on two-on-one rushes. Skowronek sent a wrist shot home after a nice feed from senior center Nolan Roche (Duxbury, Mass.) who had made a nice move on zone entry before dishing and driving. LeDoux scored a few minutes later off a feed from senior center Reid Malatesta (Arlington, Mass.).
In an unusual twist, Myles scored with the KUA goalie pulled to give Andover a 3-1 lead before the visitors struck to make it close again.
It was a disappointing result for Tim Whitehead’s Wildcats as they look to hold onto a position in the Elite 8 Tournament. Kimball Union was missing a couple of key players to injury, including forwards Kyle Murray-Smith (South Stafford, Vt.) and Raymond Thurston. Junior left wing Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.) and sophomore center Corwith Simmers scored for Kimball Union. Sadowski’s goal came on the power play on a wild net-front scramble. He banged home a rebound after sophomore Andrew O’Sullivan (Norwell, Mass.) did a good job of showing poise and getting a shot through from the point. Down 3-1 and seemingly left for dead, Simmers gave KUA life with a goal off a center ice draw. He gained the blue line and fired a wrist shot that beat the goaltender on the blocker side.
Here are prospect notes from the game.
Andrew O’Sullivan
Kimball Union, 8/15/06, D, right shot, 5-10/170
O’Sullivan was the best player on the ice and should be one of the most coveted recruits in the region for just about every program in New England. He’s a smart, poised defender that logs a ton of minutes. His gaps are tight and he uses his stick to defend the rush. His skating continues to get better and more dynamic. While he’s not overly offensive and his stick won’t wow observers, his vision and hockey sense shine through. In a typical year at KUA, O’Sullivan might not have played as much as he has this year. He’s taken his lumps, but it will pay off come next year and beyond.
ELSEWHERE: Standouts from Belmont Hill's big win over St. Sebastian's
Jack Sadowski
Kimball Union, 7/29/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/177
NCAA: New Hampshire
Sadowski had a power-play goal by banging home a loose puck on top of the crease. He plays with swagger and goes straight to the net. He hangs around the scoring areas and wants the puck. His hockey sense, especially below the dots, makes him effective. His skating is certainly a work in progress, but he’s a player who can score. He did just that Wednesday and has consistently gotten better as the season has moved along. Heading into the game at Andover, he had 14 points in his last five.
Grayden Robertson-Palmer
Andover, 8/29/07, LW, left shot, 5-10/180
Robertson-Palmer didn’t get on the board, but there were a couple of shifts that exemplified why he’s a good prospect. He let off a shot in the first period that displayed his release. In the third period on the power play, he turned on the afterburners and blew into the zone down the right-wing side. He’s played center in most previous viewings but skated on the left wing.
Malcolm Baar
Kimball Union, 4/10/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/185
Baar had an assist on the Simmers goal in the final minute of the game. Playing down the lineup compared to where he was earlier in the season, he had a couple of strong shifts. Baar had a few near misses in the second period. He can shoot it and did a good job of getting in position to score, even though he didn’t do so on Wednesday.
Ben Skowronek
Andover, 2/15/05, G, catches left, 6-0/175
Skowronek probably would like the second goal back, but he made a couple of key saves, which helped his team to victory. He’s a good goaltender who stays fairly quiet in net and has good reflexes. His numbers are strong, especially considering he’s been playing on a team that has struggled at times.
Ethan Skowronek
Andover, 2/15/05, LW, left shot, 5-10/175
Skowronek, a first-year junior who played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s AAA last season, scored a goal, as he often does. He’s now the team’s leading scorer with nine goals and nine assists. He plays hard and is heavy on pucks. He’s got a knack for scoring goals and has a heavy shot. Like his brother, NESCAC schools should be watching him closely heading into his senior season in 2023-24.
HERE TO STAY: 16 breakout players in prep hockey this season
Bobby Corkery
Andover, 2/26/04, D, right shot, 6-2/190
Corkery (Providence, R.I.) logs big minutes and is the best defenseman for Paul Tortorella’s team. He has good size and skates well enough. He made a great pass to the back door that should have been finished but was redirected wide of the net. Corkery should be looked at by NESCAC schools if he’s willing to play a year of junior hockey in the NCDC in 2023-24.
Andover lines
E. Skowronek - Roche - Zheng
Robertson-Palmer - Malatesta - LeDoux
Militello - Myles - Cali
Booth - Rekoske
Falvey - Corkery
Bainbridge - Smith
B. Skowronek
Kimball Union lines
Sadowski - Kyrkostas - LaDrew
Paul - Noel - Sullo
Baar - Simmers - Tokariwski
Schneider - Kettwig - Guerra
McMinn - O’Sullivan
Valentin-Lagarde - Svoboda
Ramsay - Clarner
Heroux
