Senior forward Connor McNaughton (21) hustles in on the forecheck during Needham High boys varsity hockey's game at Milton on Wednesday night. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Following a two-week pause due to COVID protocols, Needham High School boys varsity hockey returned to the ice on Wednesday night at Ulin Arena in Milton to open up a home-and-home with the Wildcats (1-4-2).
Just 1:56 into the game, senior captain and top-line centreman Charlie Stevens buried a rebound at the net-mouth following an initial shot from the point by senior defenseman Ty McGovern, putting the Rockets (1-3-1) ahead, 1-0. Just 3:12 later, however, Milton's Owen Radley put home a two-on-one pass from the right hash marks by Jack Vaughan to tie the game at one for the Wildcats. Two minutes later, Milton senior captain Tyler MacNeil finished a rebound at the net-mouth following a shot from the point by senior captain Colin Hoey to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Milton would carry their one-goal lead into the intermission
Just 2:25 into the second, freshman defenseman Jimmy Kenney picked off a pass in the neutral zone and flew up the ice in transition. Kenney deked his way into the high slot and ripped a wrist shot home glove side to tie the game at two for Needham. With 14:05 to play, Milton went on the power play when Needham's Kyle Piersiak went off for elbowing. Just 43 seconds into the man advantage, Hoey fired a wrist shot from the point threw traffic that made its way home passed the glove of Needham goalie Ollie Lamideau, putting the Wildcats back ahead 3-2. Less than five minutes later, Milton went back on the power play following a roughing call to Ty McGovern. Towards the end of the man-advantage, Johnny Lesser put home a rebound following a shot from the point by Hoey to double Milton's lead to 4-2.
With under five minutes remaining and the Rockets still trailing by two, Milton went back on the man advantage and capitalized thanks to a snipe from the right face-off dot by sophomore forward Jimmy Fallon. Time ran out and the Wildcats came away with the 5-2 victory. On Saturday, the two teams met in the latter of the home-and-home at Babson. Goals by senior forward Mike Berejik and junior forward Joey Jourdan helped the Rockets bounce back with a 2-2 tie.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
