CLIPPER CLASSIC
Undefeated Cumberland faces Cranston West in D-II semis
WOONSOCKET — Lather, rinse, repeat for the undefeated Cumberland hockey team in the Division II playoffs.
For the second straight playoff series the Clippers will play a team it embarrassed at Adelard Arena during the regular season. And, for the second straight playoff series, the Clippers know they’re going into the series as heavy favorites against a team that knows it’s going to have to be physical and try to take Cumberland out of its game.
“We have to beat smart, we have to be composed and show poise,” Cumberland coach Mark
Andreozzi said prior to Tuesday night’s practice at Adelard. “We’re not used to the playoff atmosphere like this. I know we were in the playoffs last year [against La Salle], but we were the underdog then. It’s nerve-wracking and it’s intense. Playoff hockey is intense.”
When the No. 1 Clippers and this weekend’s semifinal opponent, No. 4 Cranston West, met at Adelard, Cumberland’s top line of Jordan Cullion, Jackson Shevlin and Aidan Clarey dominated the game to lead their team to a 6-0 victory. The game, however, was marred by an obscene amount of penalties. Cumberland went 4-for-14 on the power play after the Falcons were called for 14 penalties totaling 44 minutes. Cumberland received five penalties for 10 minutes.
It was a similar scene to Cumberland’s Game 1 victory Friday night over North Smithfield when there were seven players in the penalty box at the final buzzer. The message from Andreozzi to his team is clear with a trip to the final for the first time since 2016 on the line.
“We have everything to play for. This team just hasn’t lived it enough,” Andreozzi said. “There’s more tension this year in this division. It’s grittier this year and we need to be more composed and not fall into the trap of sloppy hockey.”
Scouting the Falcons wasn’t an issue for Andreozzi and his coaching staff because the Clippers and Falcons have played twice in each of the last three seasons. Both teams dropped down from Division I after last season when they were both eliminated quickly in the playoffs. The Falcons went 11-5 and are coming off a sweep of No. 4 RMR co-op in the quarterfinals.
Cumberland boasts the strongest defense in the division, which will be tested against the high-octane Falcons. Sophomore goalie Jack Byrne allowed just two goals in the quarterfinal sweep of North Smithfield and just 13 during the regular season. He, thanks to help from defensemen Sean Meers, Ryan Taylor, John Mello and Sam Juntunen, allowed just one goal in two victories over the Falcons this season.
West’s Jaycob Hargreaves was fourth in the division with 42 points (22 goals and 22 assists), while junior Cam Koretsky had 40 points (18 goals and 22 assists). Dylan Demers chipped in with 10 goals and 19 assists and Josh Zambarano had 11 goals and 10 assists.
“They have, what, two kids with 40 points? Then you have another one with 30 and another one with 20,” Andreozzi said. “They have scoring up and down the lineup. To me, we played really well in that 6-0 win, but I don’t think that’s indicative of how good Cranston West is. This is the semifinals and they winner gets to go to the finals. We’re expecting above and beyond their best.”
The best way to stop the Falcons is execute the same game plan that frustrated the Northmen over the weekend. Just like North Smithfield, Cranston West has talented forwards that like to skate the puck into the zone, but Cumberland’s back-checking forwards did a good job thwarting attacks and start- ing odd-man rushes.
Last Friday, the Clippers used a dominant forechecking game to score three goals against the Northmen in the opening six minutes to put the game away. Andreozzi would like to see a similar effort when the series starts tonight at 8 p.m. at Adelard.
“We’re an enigma,” Andreozzi said. “I didn’t think we were ready Friday and then we just come out and dominate for a period and a half. Sunday, I thought we were focused. I thought we came out good, but we weren’t as crisp. That’s what gave North Smithfield some hope. What we did Friday happens few and far between. If we can get some what of Friday’s start and some of Sunday, I’d be happy.”
The series shifts to Cranston Vets tomorrow night at 6:10 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will take place back at Adelard Monday night.
No. 2 Ponaganset and No. 3 PSW meet in the other semifinal series starting tonight at Levy Rink at 7.