The juggernaut Winthrop High boys hockey team rolled merrily along this past week, defeating three opponents by a combined score of 22-4 to improve to 13-2-1 overall and 5-0-1 against their rivals in the North Division of the Northeastern Conference (NEC).
However, coach Dale Dunbar’s Vikings will face a crucial battle this Saturday afternoon when they host Gloucester, which is in second place in the NEC North, for a 3:30 opening face-off at the Mike Eruzione Center at Larsen Rink.
The Fishermen, who are 3-1-1 vs. NEC North opponents, battled Winthrop to a 2-2 deadlock in their initial meeting a month ago and will come into Larsen needing a victory in order to move into a tie for first-place with the Vikings.
For Winthrop on the other hand, a victory will clinch an outright 2023 NEC North title for Dunbar’s crew.
A standing-room-only crowd is expected to be on hand for the battle between the Fishermen (who are ranked #11 in the Division 2 power rankings) and the Vikings (who are ranked #2 in the Division 4 power rankings) in a contest that looms as the game of the year in the NEC.
The Vikings prepped for the big encounter with a 9-0 victory over NEC South foe Beverly this past Monday evening at Larsen.
Winthrop came out strong and never looked back, netting three goals in the opening period by Phil Boncore (from Adian Survilas & Colin O’Leary), captain Jack Hayes (unassisted), and Survilas (from Mike Holgersen).
The Vikings potted another trifecta in the middle period on goals by Jackson Andy (from Holgersen), Jack Hayes (from Petey Silverman & Holgersen), and Jack H. again (from Colin Banfield & Silverman).
And to maintain their 3 x 3 pace, the Vikings lit the lamp three more times in the final period on goals by Boncore (from O’Leary), Glen Calla (from Boncore), and Holgersen (from Jack Hayes).
Captain Jack Hayes notched the hat trick, with Holgersen accumulating a four-point night with a goal and three assists. WHS goalie Nicholas Babine earned the shutout in net.
Last Saturday night the Vikings trekked to the Salem State College arena to take on NEC North foe Marblehead. The Magicians always present a tough challenge for Winthrop and Saturday’s encounter initially proved no exception.
Winthrop won the teams’ first meeting by a score of 4-1, but Marblehead had thoughts of an upset through most of the first two periods. The Magicians grabbed a 1-0 lead with a goal late in the first period and, after Boncore (assisted by capts. Jack Hayes & Silverman), knotted matters early in the second period, the Magicians scored to regain the lead, 2-1.
But that proved to be the apogee for the Magicians’ hopes to pull a rabbit out of their helmets.
Winthrop responded by scoring the next three goals — Survilas (from Holgersen & asst. capt. Billy Hayes); Silverman (from Jack Hayes & Billy Hayes); and Boncore (from Silverman & Billy Hayes) to take a 4-2 advantage after two periods.
Marblehead kept things interesting, scoring a goal early in the final period to make it a 4-3 affair, but the Vikings sealed the deal with three unanswered goals for the 7-3 finale.
Silverman lit the lamp twice (assisted by Hunter Fife and then unassisted) to claim the hat trick and Jack Hayes (from Holgersen and Boncore) reached the back of the Magicians’ net.
Last Wednesday the Vikings hosted another NEC North rival, Danvers, and skated to a 6-1 triumph.
Winthrop had edged the Falcons in overtime, 3-2, in the teams’ first meeting in mid-December, and for the first half of the rematch, it appeared as though Danvers once again would be a tough out (to use a baseball term).
After a scoreless first period in which Winthrop had numerous opportunities to score but could not find the handle, the Falcons flew out to a 1-0 lead early in the second period.
However, the Vikings responded less than a minute later when Silverman, assisted by Jack Hayes, brought the contest back to level.
The 1-1 deadlock on the scoreboard as the Zamboni methodically cleaned the ice after the second period did not foretell the Viking Volcano that would erupt in the final 15 minutes in which Dunbar’s Demons struck for five goals, three of which came in a three-minute span.
Silverman began the offensive onslaught with a goal off a nice pass from Jack Hayes. Luke Gthinji, assisted by Billy Hayes, lit the lamp to make it 3-1 and Silverman struck again, assisted by Jack Hayes & Colin Banfield, to up the count to 4-1.
Cap’n Pete closed-out the Falcons with two unassisted goals — giving him a five-pack on the night — for the 6-1 finale.
Viking netminder Nicolas Babine turned in another strong effort in between the pipes to earn the “W.â€
After Saturday’s contest with Gloucester, the Vikings will make the long trek to the Haverhill Valley Forum for their final NEC North game of the season against Masconomet next Wednesday at 8:00. Winthrop edged the Chieftains in OT in their first meeting a month ago.