Beaupre shines late for Oyster River

EXETER – Peter Harwood has come to expect Cam Beaupre to come through in clutch situations for the Oyster River High School boys hockey team this winter.

That certainly was the case Wednesday night as the Bobcats squared off against Winnacunnet in a matchup of two of the top teams in Division II at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Nearly 2 minutes into a 5-minute major power-play, Beaupre controlled a deflection off Winnacunnet goalie Owen Helton in front of the net, and poked the puck to the back of the net, breaking a scoreless tie with 4:55 minutes left in regulation.

Beaupre added an empty-net goal with 46.7 seconds left, lifting the Bobcats to their fifth straight win, a 2-0 decision over the Warriors.

“His strength is his speed, and he’s finding the puck and using his skills,” Harwood said. “He’s become an impact guy for us.”

Beaupre now has eight goals and 10 assists on the season.

“The puck bounced out in front and I happened to be at the right place at the right time,” Beaupre said. “I got the puck on my stick and shot it. It took a few bounces, and it went in. It was pretty exciting.”

Oyster River, with its fifth straight win, is now 10-3-2 on the season, while Winnacunnet, losers of two straight and three of five, is now 12-4 after a 10-1 start.

“We set some goals for us at the beginning of the season, and all those goals are still in front of us,” Winnacunnet head coach Paul Kinnaly said outside the Warrior locker room.

Winnacunnet had nine penalty minutes in the third period, including the five-minute major with 6:55 left in a scoreless game.

“That (penalty) certainly was the momentum changer,” Harwood said. “If we don’t score one there, I think the momentum goes back to Winnacunnet. It was huge to get that first goal; that certainly was the difference maker.”

“We need to stay out of the penalty box, and play 5-on-5,” Kinnaly said. “I was happy with how we played 5-on-5.”

Oyster River, during its five-game winning streak, has outscored the opposition, 21-7; with no more than allowing two goals in a game.

“Lately our focus has been ‘can we keep the puck out of the net,’” Harwood said. “This win is huge for our confidence. We hoped to play with the top teams in the league and not give up four or five goals. I think, for at least one game, we answered that question.”

Oyster River goalie Cole Harwood had 25 saves, while Helton had 22.

Winnacunnet is off until next Wednesday when it visits St. Thomas Aquinas at Dover Ice Arena. Oyster River will host Spaulding on Sunday at the Whittemore Center.