Senior captain Nelson guides Hun to season-opening win
HAMILTON >> Hun coach Ian McNally may just throw the needle and thread away.
Senior Brian Nelson made his debut as captain Wednesday with a goal and four assists to pace the Raiders ice hockey team to a 7-2 season-opening win over Bishop Eustace at Iceland.
Conspicuously missing, however, was captain confirmation on the chest.
“I botched getting the C ready for his jersey,” McNally said with a laugh. “We may have to keep the streak going and not put it on so he’ll keep getting points.”
The Yardley, Pa. resident equaled his entire output for assists from last season when he had nine goals and four helpers.
“I definitely got a little lucky,” Nelson said. “I haven’t played that well in a while, so it was nice. My linemates (Matt Argentina, Felix Turcotte), it’s the first year we’re playing all together and we’ve got some great kids. So it wasn’t just me, they were finishing my passes.”
Argentina, coming off a huge freshman season, added two goals and two assists while Aidan McDowell had two goals. Turcotte added a goal and an assist and Brendan Mrotchek had two assists.
“It’s nice to score goals,” McNally said. “Everybody feels good on the bench and is in the right mood. Mood’s half the battle sometimes. We only had one scrimmage. Some of the guys we haven’t even seen play in games that much. It’s just nice to be able to get a game in and one where we could score some goals.”
The Raiders scored three power play goals and also spent a lot of time short-handed as they committed seven minor penalties. McNally felt some of that had to do with a little rust and the game’s onesidedness.
“It’s our first real game, and when you’re up by three or four you don’t focus on every second the way you probably should,” the coach said. “Every penalty could cost us a game. Today it didn’t, but it was a little loose and that’s why both teams ended up taking penalties.”
Argentina gave Hun the lead 5:15 into play when Nelson sprung him on a partial break-away that the sophomore converted. A Nelson power play goal made it 2-0 and, after Eustace scored with 1:45 left in the period, McDowell scored on the power play 24 seconds later to re-gain the cushion.
The Raiders put it away with two goals in the second period and two more in the third, as Eddie Evaldi scored the final Hun goal. Jackson Cole finished with 26 saves.
“We just had a week off for Thanksgiving break so we weren’t on the that much,” Nelson said. “But we had a good practice yesterday, we were ready to go. We were excited to get our first win.”
The reigning Mercer County Tournament champions hope it’s the first of many as they have a slew of returnees. And it’s up to Nelson to lead them.
“Brian’s a guy that kind of does everything the right way, acts the right way, says the right things,” McNally said. “This is his reward, he deserves to be our captain with the personality he has around our team.”
For Nelson, it is a goal realized.
“It’s definitely a real honor,” he said. “I’ve been looking to be captain since I was a freshman. I’m just trying to lead be example. Work hard in the offensive and defensive zone, be a playmaker and be myself. I’m not gonna try to be fake at all, just lead by example to get the job done.”
Whether he’s wearing a C or not.
Bishop Eustace (0-2) 1 0 1 – 2 Hun(1-0)322–7
G: B-Saracino, Paolini. H-Argentina 2, McDowell 2, Nelson, Turcotte, Evaldi. A: B-Adams, Clear, Gardyasz. H-Argentina 2, Nelson 4, Turcotte, Landry, McDowell, Mrotchek. Shots: B-28, H-38. Saves: B-Staashaught 31. H-Cole 26.