Canton, MA – In the final game of three at the Catholic Conference Showcase from Canton Ice House, the Xaverian Hawks hosted the St. John’s Shrewsbury Pioneers. This game was power-packed with offense and Xaverian came out on top 7-4. Here’s how it went down:
Xaverian didn’t waste any time getting on the board. Just 10 seconds into the game sophomore Ryan Bello stripped the Pioneers defenseman at the faceoff dot and beat senior goalie Dylan Fanale to give Xaverian the 1-0 lead. Two minutes later SJS would capitalize on a Xaverian turnover in their high slot area. Sophomore Brady Chenevert picked off the Xaverian D-to-D pass and snapped a shot bar down over senior goalie Joe Vanaria’s shoulder. One minute later, SJS freshman forward Chase Warsofsky was in on a breakaway and got hooked, the resulting call was a penalty shot, which was denied by Vanaria keeping the score tied. Xaverian would strike again a few minutes later. Junior Colvin Callahan received a pass behind the net from sophomore Jack Fitzpatrick and threw a puck on net from the goal line, hitting Fanale and bouncing in. Under a minute later Xaverian would extend their lead to 3-1. SJS was trying to clear their zone with a puck flip, but junior Devin Gosciak jumped up and caught the puck to keep it in the zone. He then slid it across the royal road to sophomore Joe Van Handorf who snapped a quick shot far side, beating Fanale. SJS would call a time-out and make a goalie change after the goal with junior Dante Sousa coming in to relieve Fanale. With 8:29 to go, Gosciak beat the SJS defenseman wide and it looked like he attempted a pass across-crease to his teammate, but it ended up sliding five-hole under Sousa. The period would end with Xaverian leading 4-1.
Things changed quickly in the second period as SJS got on the board early. Junior Daniel Menyalkin carried the puck over the blue line and left a drop pass to senior captain Luke Gerardi. Gerardi didn’t hold onto the puck for long and snapped off a shot using the defenseman as a screen. He beat Vanaria far side to cut the Xaverian lead to 4-2. Both teams picked up their physicality in this frame and the period was full of good, clean hits. Each team had a power play chance but both came up empty. Both teams traded even-strength scoring chances and both goalies played well, making timely saves. Unlike the first period, SJS scored the only goal and the period ended at 4-2, setting up a wild third period.
The third period felt more like the first period with five more goals being scored, and Xaverian would get the scoring started. Hawks senior defenseman Ryan Smith took a shot from the side wall that deflected off junior Ben Kramer and ended up on sophomore Daniel Gentile’s stick in the slot. Gentile wouldn’t miss, beating Sousa for Xaverian’s fifth goal of the game. SJS was not going to go away and kept working hard, especially down low and it paid off. With 9:58 to go in the game, Menyalkin won a puck battle behind the net, carried the puck over the goal line and beat Vanaria short side to make it 5-3. Both teams traded even-strength chances and then with 5:13 to go Xaverian took a penalty, allowing SJS to get back in the game. Freshman Ryder Bisson slid the puck to Gerardi who walked down the zone and made a great move to change his shooting angle. Gerardi ripped a shot bar down, knocking the water bottle off the net, cutting the lead to 5-4 Xaverian. The Hawks kept pushing and getting pucks deep behind SJS defensemen. With 2:51 to go junior defender Matty Dion passed the puck from behind the net finding junior Jackson Morse wide open in the slot, beating Sousa to give Xaverian their sixth goal of the game and regain the two-goal lead. With a minute left, and a faceoff in the Xaverian zone, SJS decided to leave Sousa in net playing 5-on-5, and just couldn’t get control of the puck. It looked like the game was going to end 6-4 but with 2 seconds left, Xaverian scored their seventh and final goal of the game. Junior Nate Patch sent a shot from the point that was tipped home in the slot by senior Jack O’Neil. With 11 goals being scored it was an exciting game with lots of momentum swings and tons of offense, and Xaverian got the win over SJS 7-4.
Three Stars:
- F Devon Gosciak Xaverian
- F Luke Gerardi, St. John’s Shrewsbury
- F Daniel Menyalkin, St. John’s Shrewsbury
