Following a very disappointing 2010-2011 campaign in which the team only won three wins, the boys hockey team was poised to have a turnaround season this year and their season began on Wednesday, December 14 as they faced a strong Braintree squad.
Heralded as a Super 8 contender, the Braintree Wamps returned most of their team and looked to be near the top of the Bay State League once again. Walpole has a strong base of juniors with valuable varsity experience, as well as skilled sophomores who made an impact early.
After allowing an early goal off of a power play, the Rebels buckled down and settled into their groove. Walpole responded quickly as junior Matt Johnson scored his first ever varsity goal when he snuck one by the Braintree to tie the game up at one a piece. Walpole matched everything the Wamps threw at them as the two teams went into the first intermission with the 1-1 score.
The new-look boys hockey team showed their strengths in the second period as they dictated the tempo of the game while playing almost every player – including many underclassmen. Sophomore Tommy MacDonald scored his first varsity goal of his career when he made a shifty move to put the puck in the back of the net. With the score at 2-1 in favor of the Rebels as the third period began, it seemed that Walpole could get a clutch early season victory over a strong Bay State League foe, but Braintree was resilient and would not go down without a fight.
The Wamps started off the third slow, but they eventually tied the game up with about six minutes left. Almost immediately, junior assistant Captain Alex Carde answered Braintree’s goal with a score of his own, putting the Rebels ahead 3-2 with under four minutes left to play. Walpole could not hold on to win the game as a Braintree player slipped the puck past senior net minder Matt Nannicelli with a little over a minute left to tie the game 3-3. While it was a little disappointing to not get the win and two points, the Rebels were enthused with their good play against a quality opponent.
On December 17, the boys hockey team traveled to Natick to face an experienced Red and Blue team that, like Walpole, has its eyes set on postseason play. The Rebels had deja-vu as the team came out flying in the first period and were rewarded with a goal from junior Captain John White to make the score 1-0 going into the second period. Gradually over the course of the next two periods, the Rebels let their guard down and they lacked the same intensity that had been seen earlier in the game. Natick capitalized on Walpole’s mistakes and even the game at 1-1 early in the third period. The rest of the game was a solid hockey game as both sides have many chances to bring home the victory.
While another tie frustrated fans and players alike, the two games against Braintree and Natick brought out the best in Walpole as it has been proven that they can compete with the best teams in the Bay State League. With Newton North coming into Iorio on Wednesday, December 21, the Rebels hope to capture their first win and continue their push towards the playoffs.
