Stars shine at coaches all-star games
WORCESTER >> There were fireworks a-plenty at the Massachusetts State Hockey Coaches Association’s Boys All-Star Game Sunday.
Catholic Memorial’s Connor Fryberger and Franklin’s Ben Paterson each registered a pair of goals to go with an assist, while Marshfield standout Tommy Carroll (two goals) added a spark as the Southern AllStars capped the winter with a memorable 8-7 victory over Team North at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Rink.
“I think (this) is a great take for the seniors,” said Team South and Boston Latin boys hockey coach Frank Woods. “It allows them one more game, and they enjoy playing this game. The pace is excellent. There’s a lot of skill out there.”
Following a somewhat slow start, fans witnessed a barrage of scoring at the onset of the second period, led primarily by the Northern All-Stars. Catholic Conference stars Brady Plaza of St. John’s Prep’s sniped the net with a one-timer from just inside the blue line, and St. John’s (Shrewsbury) standout Luke Gerardi added a pair of goals in a divided second period, with Team North holding a 3-1 edge at the makeshift intermission.
“We went into the locker room at halftime,” said Carroll. “(We said:) ‘We’ve just got to bring it. We had to bring it. The energy wasn’t up in the first half. I think the bench had a spark there, we started popping some in. That’s how you finish it.”
Back on the ice, the Southern stars flipped a switch. Suddenly, the chemistry between the athletes began to show, as goals started being registered left and right. Over the final half of the game, Team South outscored Team North, 7-1.
With 3:39 left in regulation, Fryberger put the South ahead for good, as he gained a bit of space in transition. After making a deke around the keeper, the senior lost sight of the puck, wondering where it had gone. The whistle sounded, as it turned up under a pad across the line. At that stage, his group had pulled off a rally to take a 7-6 lead.
“I didn’t think it went in at first,” Fryberger said. “I just kind of made a couple of moves, and just threw it on net.”
Reading’s Cam Fahey cut the deficit to 8-7 for Team North with a play reminiscent of the acclaimed Michigan “wraparound” goal with 1:17 left, but that was as close as his group could get. St. John’s Prep star Christian Rosa added a pair of goals for the Northern All-Stars.
For Woods, the comeback victory put a close on a winter season in which his Boston Latin team capture its first Div. 2 championship since 2005. It was an added bonus that the Wolfpack coach was joined by two of his players at the showcase with Aidan Fitzpatrick and Matt Carrara alongside.
“(Great way) to sort of cap it off,” said Woods. “What was nice was that we had two of our guys here in the game today. To see two of our guys play in this game, with both Fitzpatrick and Carrara, it was nice to see.”
North girls grab 4-3 win
WORCESTER — The latest installment of the Massachusetts High School Hockey Coaches Association girls’ All-Star game has to be considered a rousing success.
Waltham senior Angalisa Caceda, Catie Kampersal of Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading and Newburyport standout Abby Stauss sniped a trio of consecutive goals in the final period, rallying Team North to a wild 4-3 victory over Team South at the 2024 MSHCA Girls All-Star Game at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.
“This is one of the best events ever,” said Team North and Burlington girls hockey coach Rick Sheehan. “Absolutely. Especially for the seniors. They really enjoy it. They enjoy each other. For a group that just came together today, and I know a few of them know each other previously, but they’re all laughing and joking. They’re dancing with the music between whistles. It was a really good experience today.”
The two star-studded teams struggled to find the net in the opening period. As one could expect, given the fact that two recent championship goaltenders were standing on opposite sides of the ice. St. Mary’s (Lynn) star Gianna Tringale stood on her head in the first for the North, while Duxbury’s Anna McGinty held serve for the South. Team North struck first with 1:09 to play in the period, as Reading’s Delia Roy fired a shot through traffic to make it a 1-0 contest.
In a unique twist designed in-part to aid with the day’s events, the second period was essentially split into two halves, each running 8:30. The Southern All-Stars responded on both sides of the intermission however. Bishop Feehan’s Caitlin Kelly and Jen Birolini of Pembroke registered two goals within a one-minute stretch to put their group ahead, 2-1. Then, just two minutes after the intermission, Team South picked up a third tally off the stick of Canton’s Ana Lehan, cruising into the final period with a comfortable 3-1 lead.
With 9:44 left in regulation, the Northern All-Stars began their final charge, as Caceda buried a shot off an assist from Arlington Catholic’s Kathleen Simmons to cut it to 3-2. Then, just 1:16 afterwards, they would find the equalizer from Kampersal, stunning the crowd onhand.
With 6:17 remaining, the Northern All-Stars gained possession, and began throwing pucks at the opposite net in a flurry. Stauss collected the puck, then potted the clinching goal for her squad.
Molly Driscoll of Belmont/Watertown was credited with an assist during the game-winning sequence for Team North.
“I was just trying to get shots up,” said Driscoll. “It was 3-3, there wasn’t a lot of time left. Just trying to get anything on net. The first (attempt) hit the post, deflected. But we had a player coming down (the ice) with me, trailing the whole time. She was able to tuck it in, and that really saved me at the end there.”
Tringale registered 17 saves for Team North in net. Meanwhile, McGinty collected 16 saves for Team South.
“I like to think (wins) come from coaching,” chuckled Sheehan. “But they’re all just such good players. It was a great game. Back-and-forth, could have gone either way. We ended up banging in some rebounds, getting some puck luck, which is good.”