Belmont, Norwood earn berths in tournament finals
WALPOLE >> The MIAA power rankings haven’t exactly reflected the strength the Norwood boys hockey team identifies to, with its membership in the TriValley League seemingly weighing it down to No. 11 in the latest update.
Beating a former Bay State Conference foe for a second weekend in a row Sunday night, to advance to the Brinn final in the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament, seems like a better representation.
With goals from three different players and a 37save outing from goalie Anthony Amato at Rodman Arena, sixth-seeded Norwood (12-1-1) continued to show off its power with a 3-1 win over No. 2 Braintree.
It’s been quite the tournament debut for the Mustangs, who also beat thirdseeded Weymouth in the first round. Now it awaits No. 4 Belmont in the division final next Sunday.
“The TVL League that we’re in, I don’t think we get any respect in there anyway, but we’re a pretty good team,” said Norwood head coach Chuck Allen. “We’ll enjoy this now, it’s a great tournament. … I’m proud for these kids, more than anything. They’re starting to believe they can win. Coming to this tournament prepares you for the state tournament too, so it’s a great feeling for these guys.”
While a lot the Grade-A looks on him were limited by the defense, Amato was a critical figure in the win as the Mustangs were outshot in every period. Braintree had a couple good looks at the doorstep in the first, but he held a shutout through much of the day.
Norwood’s attack rewarded him in the second period, as the forecheck generated a turnover just inside the Wamps blue line. Sam Lally received the puck at the left circle, and he struck top shelf for the 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the frame. Braintree started to pepper Amato again as the period went on, but highlight-reel stickwork from TJ Martin set up his insurance goal from the right circle with 3:21 left in the frame to go up 2-0.
Another goal from Ryan Valeri a couple minutes into the third was big as well, building a 3-0 lead before Braintree uncorked a barrage of shots on Amato
the rest of the way. Jack McDonough’s tip-in just as Norwood killed a penalty cut the deficit to 3-1, but Amato saved the other 16 shots the Wamps got on him in the period.
“Our goalie played real well today,” Allen said. “We had two nice goals, and scoring that third goal was a huge thing going up three.”
The suspenseful action was the second of two Brinn semifinals on the day at Rodman Arena, as fourth-seeded Belmont (78-1) broke up a small skid to power past eighth-seeded Walpole, 4-0.
Adam Bauer had two goals and an assist to lead the attack, while younger brother Ethan Bauer withstood a few high-quality bids in a 22-save shutout.
“We knew that we had to come with our A-game, we knew we had to grind. We knew we had to play fast, physical and get pucks to the net,” said Marauders head coach Tim Foley. “We accomplished it in the second and third period, mostly. … (Getting to the final) was our goal.”
Play was much more even than the final score suggests, as teams traded opportunities the whole way in a 26-22 Belmont shot advantage. But while Walpole couldn’t seem to get that final execution when they set up a high-percentage scoring play, the Marauders did.
The forecheck helped Adam Bauer collect a puck above the left circle early in the first, which he fired for a 1-0 lead 4:01 in. Walpole whiffed on a one-timer in the slot in response, and then Ethan Bauer stoned another one-timer from the same spot shortly after.
Teams traded fruitless chances up until 6:34 remained in the second, when Leo Packard went bardown from inside the right circle off a good feed from Sean Noone at the right wall. Three minutes later, Belmont took a 3-0 lead on Adam Bauer’s second goal.
“We’re coming together as a team at the right time,” Adam Bauer said. “Got commitment from all three lines, and obviously put the puck in the net, which is nice.”
His brother wouldn’t allow anything past him the rest of the way with a seven-save third period, and Adam Bauer helped set up one more goal for good measure — feeding David Kioumejian from below the goal line early in the final frame.
Being able to have such a big impact on reaching the final with his younger brother was meaningful.
“It’s awesome, I’m proud of him,” he said. “Nothing better than playing with my brother, it’s awesome.”