×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Cards have all the power in 6-2 opening win over Trinity

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jan 17, 2021

Bishop Guertin goalie John Casey reaches back to hold off Trinity's Cooper Gaudio during the Cards; 6-2 win Saturday night in Hudson. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

HUDSON – The two concerns going into the Bishop Guertin High school boys hockey season were scoring and goaltending.

They certainly had plenty of scoring in Saturday night’s season-opening 6-2 win over Trinity of Manchester at Cyclones Arena.

And the goaltending certainly held its own.

But of course Cardinals coach Gary Bishop, like most coaches, sees how things could have been better.

“This was our first scrimmage of the year,” Bishop said. “And it looked like it. We were sloppy, our passes weren’t crisp. Little plays that usually work were a second or two off. … We’re happy with the goal scoring part.”

And how about five power play goals? That’s what Guertin enjoyed, including three on a third period five-minute major taken by perhaps Trinity’s best player, Anthony Dizillo, for a high hit. Those three tallies put the game away for the Cards, who were already up 3-1.

“That was critical, no doubt about it,” Bishop said. “All of a sudden their best player takes a five minute major. And he usually kills all their penalties; he’s a really good player.”

It was a 1-1 game until late in the second when Avery Abbott buried a shot from the point at 13:28 to give the Cards a 2-1 led at intermission – their only even strength goal. Then, at 3:03 into the third, the hulking Dan Woodford picked up the first of his two scores to give the Cards a 3-1 cushion.

Still, Bishop saw how things could have been better.

“The power play, it’s got a lot of work (to do),” Bishop said. “Too many people trying to do too much alone. In a power play, the name of the game is pass the puck, not carry the puck. I want them to move the puck.”

But at least they scored. Derek Amaral had two of the three goals during that five-minute major, and he added an assist on the night. The other was scored by Woodford.

The Cards went back to their 2020 glory, when Sean Kelley opened the scoring, assisted by Mike Kiely (first of two assists), also on the power play at 5:24 of the first for a 1-0 lead. That was the combo that beat Exeter in overtime last year in the Division I quarterfinals.

The Pioneers evened things up with a power play goal of their own by Aidan Palmeter three minutes into the second.

Their only other goal was late in the third by Dizillo.

Meanwhile, Bishop has to like the fact his players aren’t shy about putting the puck on net.

“They did shoot, I’ll give them that,” Bishop said. “And they found out that (Trinity goalie Colton Gooden, 22 saves) struggled low, so they kept shooting low. Early in the game, they went crossbar, and the kid caught everything. Later, they started sliding the puck, and he struggled with that.”

Meanwhile, John Casey had 14 saves for the Cards. As Bishop said, “He stopped the ones he had to stop,” he said.

Brian Jenkins and Logan Vogel also had assists for the Cards, who now are at Londonderry in a holiday morning affair (11 a.m.) at Tri-Town Arena in Hooksett on Monday.

Another chance to impress the coach.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *