Published February 13, 2019
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — The Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team skated to a 3-3 tie against guest Triton last Saturday afternoon at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. With that result, the Pioneers went 0-1-1 against the Vikings this season.
Overall, the Pioneers’ record went to 10-4-3 overall and 6-2-3 in the Cape Ann League.
Ron Fuccillo gave the locals a 1-0 lead scoring on the power play 6:23 into the game. George DeRoche and Jaret Simpson both assisted.
The Vikings tied it up 1:20 later as Sam Rennick scored.
DeRoche made it 2-1 with 2:07 remaining in the first period also on the power play. Simpson and John Simonetti were both credited with the assists.
With 8:47 left in the second, Rennick lit the lamp again to tie the game at two.
LYNNFIELD’S SENIORS, including George DeRoche (10) and Will Garofoli (21) have been waiting a long time for this. The boys beat Newburyport 5-4 on Feb. 6 for the program’s first win against the powerhouse Clippers in seven years. DeRoche had a hat trick and an assist to lead Lynnfield to the big win. (Robin DeBenedictis Photo)
Lynnfield then regained the lead just 21 seconds later as Will Garofoli scored assisted by Simonetti and Leo Quinn.
The Vikings then tied the game with 5:39 remaining in the second as Mike Beevers scored.
Triton outshot the Pioneers on goal, 24-20, as Lynnfield goalie Aidan Kelly made 21 stops to go to 10-4-3 in net.
“It is always a close game when we play them,” said Lynnfield head coach Jon Gardner. “Ryan (Sheehan the Vikings head coach) always has his team up for us. I was happy to get a point out of that game.”
Sheehan is a Lynnfield High grad.
Big win over Clippers
On Feb. 6, the Pioneers edged visiting Newburyport, 5-4, to finish at 1-0-1 against the Clippers this winter. It is the first time they have beaten Newburyport in seven years.
“It is nice to finally get that monkey off our back,” admitted Gardner.
The Clippers struck first 4:28 into the game. DeRoche then got pulled down on a breakaway and earned a penalty shot he scored on with 2:56 left to tie it.
Just 1:09 later, DeRoche scored again assisted by Simonetti.
DeRoche then got his hat trick 5:33 into the second period with Simonetti assisting again to make it 3-1.
With 20 seconds left in the second, Simonetti scored on the power play assisted by DeRoche and Simpson to send the team into the second intermission up 4-1.
However, the Clippers stormed back. They lit the lamp just 19 seconds into the third on the power play.
At the 5:17 mark they scored a second power-play goal to cut the lead to one.
With 5:42 left, they scored again to knot the game at four.
However, a pass deflected off a Clipper player and went into the net with just 13 seconds left as Simonetti was credited with the game-winning goal.
“We take them how we can get them,” said Gardner, about the game-winner.
Lynnfield outshot the Clippers on net, 28-23, as Kelly made 19 saves.
On Wednesday night (Feb. 13) the Pioneers host North Reading at 8:15 p.m. for Senior Night at McVann-O’Keefe Rink as they try for the season sweep over the Hornets. They then travel to Canton to play Westwood at the Canton Ice House this Saturday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. in a non-league game.
