O’Connell lifts BC High past Malden Catholic
Junior forward Danny O’Connell set the tone with a huge hit on the first shift of the game and later scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period, leading a fast and physical BC High team to a 3-1 victory against
Malden Catholic in a Catholic Conference encounter yesterday at Malden’s Valley Forum Arena.
“You want to set the tempo, and Danny did that,” Eagles coach John Flaherty said. “Any time one of your leaders can step up and start the game that way, it gives a little bit of a jump to the rest of the team.”
O’Connell, who also had an assist, scored the game-winner with 6:46 remaining in the third period after Thomas Kramer (two assists) set him up with a pass in the high slot. O’Connell blasted a slap shot through a screen and past Malden Catholic goaltender Kyle Casey to put the Eagles up, 2-1.
“(BC High) is a big strong team, very physical,” Lancers coach John McLean said. “I thought they punched us in the face for the majority of the game.”
BC High goalie Luke Garrity, rarely tested in the first two periods, was at his best when the game was on the line. He made 11 saves in the decisive third period, the bulk of his 17 for the game, including two game-saving stops on Malden Catholic forwards Thomas Albert and Justin Collins in the game’s final minutes.
Troy Ladka added an empty-net goal, his second tally of the game, with 35 seconds left to seal the deal and hand the Lancers their first conference loss of the season.
In other boys hockey action:
Ryan St. Jean stopped 16 shots for his first shutout of the season as Wilmington (4-7-4) blanked Melrose, 4-0, in Middlesex League play.
In nonleague action, John Lockhead collected two goals and two assists as East Boston (13-2-1) shut out Weston, 4-0. Hoops nominees
Bay State Conference girls basketball stars Sayawni Lassiter of Newton
North and Kelly Fogarty of Walpole headline a local group of nominees for the McDonald’s AllAmerican Game, which will be played on March 29 in Chicago. Also receiving nominations were Ishanna Brown ( Springfield Central) and Amaya Finklea-Guity ( Noble and Greenough). Former Boston Herald Dream Teamer Kellan Grady of Catholic Memorial, now at NorthfieldMount Hermon was one of five members of his team to receive nominations, the others being Jerome Desrosiers, Matt DeWolf,
Tomas Murphy and Andrew Platek.
Rivers standout Jermaine Samuels (Villanova) was nominated as were a trio from Springfield Commonwealth Academy: Derrick Ellis, Hasahn French and Shyheim Hicks. . . .
Former Thayer Academy standout Rob Dixon (class of 1979) will have the court dedicated in his name to honor his many years as player, coach and off-thecourt accomplishments.