For Norwich, it’s game time
Cadets start another playoff march
N.E. HOCKEY
Trophy season is here and defending Division 3 national champion and 12th-ranked Norwich (18-6-2) is already sharpening the skate blades for another run at the hardware.
On Saturday at home, Norwich needed a goal by sophomore forward Todd Jackson at 3:07 of double overtime to turn back stubborn Castleton, 2-1, which received 49 saves from senior Ryan Mulder. The Cadets held a 51-8 edge in shots.
The win propels Norwich, which claimed its 19th regularseason crown in the last 20 years, into the New England Hockey Conference semifinals against No. 4 seed UMassBoston (17-9-0), which defeated No. 5 New England College (1212-2), 5-3, at Eddie Barry Rink in Dorchester. UMB’s top line of sophomore Nolan Redler (21-3) of Winchester, senior Colin Larkin (1-2-3) and freshman Zack Bross (0-2-2) combined for three goals and five assists.
“We have a good young team. They’re working hard,” said Norwich coach Mike McShane, who had to replace 10 graduated seniors from last year’s NCAA champs. “(Kevin) Salvucci is a real good player and we have a kid from France (Tom Aubrun) and a kid from Manitoba (Braedon Ostepchuk) and they’ve been splitting the chores in net and doing a good job.”
Plymouth native Salvucci (50 goals, 45 assists) is nearing 100 career points. Aubrun, a sophomore, is 7-1-0 with a 1.52 goalsagainst average and .934 save percentage. Ostepchuk, who was recruited from the Selkirk Steelers of Manitoba’s MJHL, has a 11-5-2 mark, 1.99 GAA and .924 SP. Anchoring the defense is senior Connor Evangelista (39-12) of Wakefield.
McShane, a Wakefield native who owns a remarkable 37-year coaching record of 722-341-67, with stops at St. Lawrence and Providence College before arriving in Northfield, Vt., said the biggest difference in today’s game is the goaltending.
“All these teams now have good goaltenders,” he said. “That’s the biggest difference that I’ve seen. That and the recruiting. Everybody recruits hard. There’s a lot of good players out there. There’s is no more Div. 2. You have to work hard at it.”
Quiz of the week
This NHL great captained three U.S. Olympic teams? Who is he?
Answer below.
Olympic trek
Harvard coach Ted Donato jetted to South Korea early yesterday morning in order to watch his son and Crimson forward, Ryan, play for the United States in the Olympics.
“It’s not exactly like going over to Bajko Rink in Hyde Park, but it’s one of those life experiences,” the elder Donato, who played for Team USA in the 1992 Olympics, said. “It’s a long trip but it’s an incredible opportunity that trumps work, and sometimes you have to put aside the coach card and, quite frankly, I’m excited.”
Local fans were hopeful that a young Donato might play the second night of the Beanpot. He did. And, he scored a goal. Only, it was freshman Jack in the consolation win over Boston College.
“The fan who would probably be the most excited would be his mom, who was probably flying over the North Pole when he (Jack) scored the goal,” Donato said.
Slap shots
Providence has reached 20 wins for a fifth straight season, a program record. Sophomore Jacob Bryson became the first Friars defenseman since Stephen Wood back in 2002-03 to record 20 assists . . . .
Quite a week for Boston College senior Toni Ann Miano, who bagged the Beanpot winner in OT against Boston University before scoring her 17th goal in a 5-0 win at Maine, setting an Eagles single-season mark for goals by a defenseman . . . .
BU senior Victoria Bach notched career goal No. 100 in the women’s Beanpot to join former Hobey Baker Awardwinner Chris Drury (113) as the only Terriers to hit the mark . . .
Quiz answer
Former Wisconsin star Chris Chelios captained teams in 1998, 2002, 2006.
Drop the puck!