Hendricken Wins Holiday Face-Off Tournament
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Hendricken Wins Holiday Face-Off Tournament
The Hendricken boy's hockey team won the 18th annual Holiday Face-Off Tournament Championship Saturday at Adelard Arena. The Hawks won the final game 4-3 and can now call themselves champions of one of the most presitigious high school hockey tournaments in the region.
The day began with Franklin High School (MA) winning 3-0 over La Salle College (PA) in the 7th place game. The next game was the 5th place game between host Mount St. Charles and Fairfield Prep (CT). The Mounties kept things close and it was 1-0 midway through the third period, but a late surge by Fairfield led to 3 goals and a 4-0 win. Mount goalie Brian Larence was outstanding despite the loss, racking up 47 saves.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn the 3rd place game, La Salle Academy (RI) knocked off Bishop Guertin 2-0. The Rams were led by goals from Evan McGreen and Brendon Cordeiro, and La Salle goalie Tyler Walsh made 30 saves for his second shutout of the tournament.
In the nightcap, Hendicken and St. Joseph's (NY) met in the championship game, and in the early going it looked to be a blowout for the green and gold. The Hawks led 3-0 after 2 periods thanks to goals by Jamie Armstrong, Brandon Waterman, and Bryce Dolan. St. Joseph's wouldn't go quietly, however, and within the first 4 minutes of the 3rd period the score was 3-2. The Hawks responded, with Tournament MVP Andrew Fera finding the back of the net less than a minute later, scoring what would become the game winning goal as Hendricken held on for a 4-3 victory.
The tournament was a huge success for the 3 Rhode Island teams as a whole. While Mount St. Charles obviously would like to have been the in-state winner on their home ice, a 6-3 overall weekend for the Hawks, Rams, and Mounties shows that some of the best hockey in the Northeast is played in the Ocean State. It also establishes Hendricken furthermore as the team to beat in the early going of the RIIL season.
Tournament Placings
1st: Bishop Hendricken (RI)
2nd: St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute (NY)
3rd: La Salle Academy (RI)
4th: Bishop Guertin (NH)
5th: Fairfield Prep (CT)
6th: Mount St. Charles (RI)
7th: Franklin High School (MA)
8th: La Salle College (PA)
Power Pack: RI High School Boys' Hockey: December 27th
North Kingstown
Division Record: 3-1 (Division 2 South)
Overall Record: 3-1-1
North Kingstown beat Toll Gate 4-1 last Friday, but then fell 5-0 on Saturday against Cumberland. The Skippers are still in the hunt in Division 2 but the lopsided loss to the Clippers tells me they aren't an elite Division 2 team yet.
Last Week: #8
South Kingstown
Division Record: 3-1 (Division 2 South)
Overall Record: 3-1-1
South Kingstown lost a tough 2-1 matchup with Prout on Friday, but rebounded strong Sunday with a 3-0 blanking of Toll Gate. The Rebels are tied at the top of Division 2 South with their rivals from North Kingstown, but that score will be setlled Friday when the Skippers and the Rebels square off at URI's Boss Arena.
Last Week: #7
Prout
Division Record: 3-1 (Division 2 Central)
Overall Record: 3-1-1
Prout had a productive weekend last week with big wins over South Kingstown and Middletown. Residing in 1st place in Division 2 Central, the Crusaders' lone loss came in overtime to Lincoln on December 13th. This Weekend Prout will compete in the Smithfield Hockey Tournament, taking on Portsmouth and Bishop Feehan.
Last Week: Not Ranked
Burrilville
Divison Record: 1-1-2 (Division 1 Eccleston)
Overall Record: 1-1-2
Burrillville lost to Coventry on Saturday, but it's the Broncos 3-1 victory over La Salle on Friday night that has them earning a spot in this week's Power Pack. Burrillville hasn't been as consistent as you'd like to see, but beating the Rams shows the Broncos are capable of beating anyone when they're clicking on all cylinders.
Last Week: Not Ranked
Cranston Co-op
Divison Record: 3-2 (Division 1 Eccleston)
Overall Record: 3-2
Cranston Co-op dropped a 5-2 decision to Mount St. Charles on Saturday but rebounded strong with a 5-1 win over Barrington Sunday. At 3-2 Cranston Co-op has emerged as the top team in the Division 1 Eccleston division in the early srages of the season. They'll compete in the Smithfield Holiday Tournament this weekend, matching up against Bishop Feehan and Coyle in nonleague action.
Last Week: #4
Cumberland
Division Record: 3-0 (Division 2 North)
Overall Record: 3-0
Cumberland looked great in a 5-0 win over North Kingstown last weekend, and the Clippers are one of 2 remaining teams without a loss or tie this season. Cumberland will play in the Burrillville Winter Classic next week.
Last Week: #6
Lincoln
Division Record: 5-0 (Division 2 North)
Overall Record: 5-0
No one in the state has 5 wins except Lincoln, and the Lions are looking to add to their top overall record Friday night against Portsmouth. The Lions will play in the Burrillville Winter Classic next week as well.
Last Week: #5
La Salle
Divison Record: 1-2-1 (Division 1 Cimini)
Overall Record: 2-2-1
La Salle definitely didn't bring their A game against Burrillville on Friday, but the Rams showed some heart in tying Hendricken 2-2 the very next night. La Salle also won their opening round game of the Holiday Face-Off Tournament over Franklin High School. At 2-2-1 the record isn't great, but it's going to take a lot to drop La Salle (or any of the Cimini division teams for that matter) out of my Top 3.
Last Week: #3
Mount St. Charles
Divison Record: 4-1 (Division 1 Cimini)
Overall Record: 5-3
Mount St. Charles knocked off Smithfield and Cranston Co-op last weekend and lost a thrilling double overtime 2 shootout game to St. Joseph's in the opening round of the Holiday Face-Off Tournament on Thursday night. The tournament continues Friday and Saturday.
Last Week: #2
Hendricken
Divison Record: 3-0-1 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 4-0-1
Hendricken tied La Salle last weekend and then beat Fairfield Prep in the opening round of the Holiday Face-Off Tournament, setting up a rematch with La Salle tomorrow night at Adelard Arena. The winner of that game will play for the tournament championship on Saturday.
Last Week: #1
