Buzzards Bay, MA– Game two of the day here at the Gallo Ice Arena with a division four semifinals matchup between the number four seed Sandwich Blue Knights and the number one seed Norwell Clippers.
The first period would bring some up and down action with each side trying to gain possession in the early moments of the period. Norwell was able to bring a heavy forecheck on the sandwich defenseman early and make it difficult for them to get the puck out. Norwell continued to bring all the pressure with some great high scoring chances from all around the offensive zone but couldn’t seem to get it by the Sandwich junior goalie Mitchell Norkevicius. Sandwich would battle back towards the end of the period with a goal from sophomore forward Jack Connolly who would get a puck deflected off his skate to trickle by the Norwell goalie to put Sandwich up 1-0 with three minutes to go. Norwell would generate a great response in the very next shift with hitting the post in the slot to almost tie this game up but would head into the intermission down 1-0 with plenty to play for here in the semi finals matchup.
The second would be underway with Sandwich coming out with some good energy to start, getting pucks deep and on net to try and increase their lead early in the second period. Sandwich would keep the ice tilted in the Norwell end with another shot from inside the circle that would hit the post and be cleared by Norwell to keep this game at 1-0. Norwell would pick up the physical play and create some good chances halfway through the period with Sandwich getting some quick counter attacks off by turnovers in the neutral zone by Norwell. Norwell would answer with four minutes to go by senior defenseman Joseph Daly cleaning up a rebound in front from a Nolan Petrucelli shot to tie this game up 1-1. Sandwich would have a good response with some good attacking zone time towards the end of the period but would head into the third tied up 1-1.
The third period brought an exciting start with both sides going up and down the ice with Norwell getting a couple shots on net to start the period. Norwell would get an early power play and capitalize with a shot from the point from junior forward Kevin Leary that beats the goalie low to put Norwell up 2-1. Sandwich was able to get one right back with eight minutes to go from senior forward Colin Mclver with a shot from the point to tie this game 2-2. Norwell would control the remaining minutes left in the third with all sorts of chances down in the Sandwich end but once again junior goalie Mitchell Norkevicius would stand on his head to force this game into overtime tied at two.
Overtime would have to settle this one as each side would come out flying with up and down action in the four on four period. Norwell would have a good chance late in the overtime period with a shot skimming the crossbar but both sides played a conservative period heading into overtime number two.
The second overtime period would start with some three on three action as Sandwich would get a great two on one opportunity early but would be stopped by Norwell’s freshman goalie Quinn Devin. Both sides would trade shots all period long but Sandwich would get a breakaway with seventeen seconds left in overtime and score from sophomore forward Jack Connolly to send Sandwich to the final at the TD Garden to face Watertown.
⭐️ F Jack Connolly, Sandwich
⭐️⭐️ F Colin Mclver, Sandwich
⭐️⭐️⭐️G Quinn Devin, Norwell
