WHS boys’ hockey in home stretch
Raiders play four straight at Ryan Arena as they hope to defend their MIAA Division 3 state title
The Watertown High hockey team stretches out prior to its game against host Belmont at Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink on Jan. 27, 2016.
February 3, 2016
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Watertown High boys hockey team.
Nick Martino beats Belmont goalie Kevin Dacey in the second period as the Watertown hockey team took on the Marauders at Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink on Jan. 27, 2016.
Despite no shortage of goals on the offensive end of the ice, there’s still plenty left to sort out defensively for a Raider team that graduated all four members of last year’s defensive rotation — as well as two-time Middlesex League MVP goaltender Anthony Busconi — as the defending Division 3 state champions look to make a final push heading into the playoffs.
After taking a 1-0 nonleague win over Swampscott, the Raiders took the ice last Wednesday for their biggest regular-season game of the year against Belmont. The Raiders fell just short to their rivals, 4-3, despite a spirited third-period comeback.
Watertown High goalie Jason Hughes has a moment to himself during the Raiders game against Belmont at Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink on Jan. 27, 2016.
Following a scoreless opening frame, the second period was nothing short of a nightmare. A pair of goals by Belmont captain Dave Bailey gave the Marauders a 2-0 lead, and sophomore Connor Dacey added a third to leave Watertown reeling.
The Raiders weren’t backing down, however, as a huge goal from Raider senior Nick Martino in the final seconds of the period silenced the Belmont crowd, and cut the lead to 3-1 heading into the final period.
The lead was cut to just a goal in the early minutes of the third period when senior Michael Giordano buried a rebound to make it 3-2 with 12 minutes to play.
Barry Dunn (4) and the crowd at Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink follow the action in the Watertown end near goalie Jason Hughes as the Raiders played in Belmont on Jan. 27, 2016.
Hopes of a Watertown comeback took a blow with eight minutes to go. Belmont junior Cam Jefferson went bar-down on Raider goaltender Jason Hughes, leaving Hughes with no chance as the Marauders took a 4-2 lead.
Raider senior Tyler Poulin, in a near-replica of his highlight-reel goal against Marlborough earlier in the season, kept Watertown hopes alive with just under seven minutes to go. He put an offensive-zone faceoff through his opponent’s legs and roofed a shot past Marauder goaltender Kevin Dacey to cut the lead to one once again.
That would be all she wrote, however, as the Raiders couldn’t find one more breakthrough, taking a 4-3 loss at the hands of their rivals.
Watertown High goalie Jason Hughes has a moment to himself during the Raiders game against Belmont at Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink on Jan. 27, 2016.
Four days later, it would be more of the same against Middlesex League powerhouse Burlington, as a Tyler Gardiner hat trick wasn’t enough for the Raiders, as Watertown fell, 5-3, to move to 6-9 on the year.
The Raiders now enter the final stretch of their season. They finish up with a four-game homestand — Stoneham (Feb. 3), Wilmington (Feb. 6), Melrose (Feb. 10), and Wakefield (Feb. 13) — followed by a trip to Marlborough to take on Nashoba Regional as Watertown still holds out hopes of a winning season going into the playoffs.
The Watertown and Belmont hockey teams take part in the opening ceremonies at Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink in Belmont prior to their game on Jan. 27, 2016.
–Feb. 3, 2016–
