Holiday Face-Off Tournament Drops the Puck- Hendricken, La Salle Win
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Holiday Face-Off Tournament Drops the Puck- Hendricken, La Salle Win
The 18th Annual Holiday Face-Off Tournament dropped the puck Thursday night, beginning a 3 night tournament that pits Rhode Island's best high school hockey programs up against other top regional hockey schools. Hosted each year by Mount St. Charles, this year's event kicked off with several outstanding games, and the Rhode Island teams were well represented. Hendricken and La Salle were victorious in the opening round, and it took 2 overtimes and 2 shootouts for St. Joseph's (located in Buffalo, New York) to knock off the host Mounties.
The tournament opened with Hendricken's come from behind 4-3 victory, culminating with Jamie Armstrong's goal in the final minute of the 3rd period for the Hawks. The next game saw Bishop Guertin score an impressive 4-0 win over La Salle College High School (from Pennsylvania). The 3rd game was a 1-0 grinder won by La Salle Academy (RI) behind Joe Manown's 1st period goal and Tyler Walsh's 27 saves. The final game pitted the host team against St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and it delivered "Game of the Year" type drama.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMarc Squizzero scored 2 goals for Mount, but St. Joseph's came back twice to even the score at 2 after 3 periods. After 2 overtime periods proved unsuccessful in crowning a winner, the 2-2 deadheat turned to a shootout to settle the score.
As Mount St. Charles celebrates its 50th year at Adelard Arena (including honoring 9 members of the 1963-64 team that opened the rink before Thursday's game) it seemed fitting that a shootout, which you NEVER see in high school hockey, was needed to decide Mount's game Thursday night.
After each team sent 5 shooters to center ice to attempt a penalty shot, the score remained tied. Each team netted a pair of goals in the shootout, which was also highlighted by some fantastic saves from MSC goalie Brian Larence, who stood on his head Thursday and kept the home team in the game with save after save down the stretch.
A second shootout was started, with 5 new shooters from each side selected, and after 7 shooters St. Joseph's had clinched a victory by virtue of a 2-0 shootout win.
The updated tournament bracket is pictured to the right. Hendricken and La Salle face off Friday at 6 p.m. Mount St. Charles meets La Salle College in a consolation bracket game Friday at 4 p.m.
Please note every team will play Saturday. The winner of Hendricken and La Salle will play the winner of Guertin and St. Joseph's in the Championship game, and the losers of those semifinal games will play each other Saturday as well. The winners of the Mount/La Salle College and Fairfield/Franklin games will play each other Saturday, and the losers of those 2 games will meet each other on Saturday as well.
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
