Overview
Game of the Week has been postponed to February 5th at 4:30
On Saturday night at the Metropolis Rink, the two teams that have battled for the Davenport Division title for the past several seasons will face-off with the winner taking a lead in this year’s competitive league race.
Canton (7-4, 4-1) and Oliver Ames (5-4-1, 4-1) have each had up and down seasons, but once again sit in a tie atop the standings at the midway point of the league campaign.
The Bulldogs, who have won the league title in all four years since the Hockomock split into two divisions, have won four of their last five games, including impressive victories over King Philip (10-2) and Lincoln-Sudbury (6-2).
Led by the reigning HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Matt Lazaro (12 goals and 11 assists), Canton’s offense has kicked into gear after an inconsistent start. Player of the Year candidate John Femia (eight goals and 16 assists) and sophomore transfer Shaun Kirby (nine goals and nine assists) have also provided scoring punch for the Bulldogs.
Canton is one of the more balanced teams in the league and has also gotten goals recently from some other contributors on the top two lines including senior Brain Hagan and juniors Jim Jenkins and Seamus Pecararo.
The biggest concern for Canton coming into the season was an inexperienced blue line, but with sophomore Jackson Maffeo (two goals and seven assists), who has emerged as a solid two-way contributor, and seniors Tyler Murphy and Shayne Walsh, the defense has been solid for most of the year. Goalie Justin Slocum has allowed only 2.24 goals a game and is among the best in the Hockomock.
Of course, many would argue that the best goalie in the Hockomock will be lined up at the opposite end of the ice in the person of Jimmy Tierney. The two-time HockomockSports.com Goalie of the Year has been solid in net for the Tigers again this season and will once again provide a challenge to the offensive weapons that Canton possesses.
With Tierney displaying his usual form, OA has won three of its last four games, but the Tigers still lack a marquee win despite improving performances, particularly in the offensive zone.
Reigning HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Tyler Provost has been battling injuries all season, but is still a threat with his speed and his ability to influence plays on both ends of the ice. Fellow captain Tim Doherty has been providing many of OA’s goals and doing so in big situations, such as his recent winner against Milford.
Mark Homer has switched his lines at times this season and now is partnering freshmen center Owen Gallagher with classmate Rory Madden on he second line and the two rookies have provided a spark and depth on offense.
The Tigers are big and physical at the back led by seniors Albert Basse, Thomas McCormack and Dan Sullivan to add a layer of protection for Tierney. The defensemen will be challenged by the speed of the Bulldogs and need to play the angles right and deliver some of the hits that have become an OA trademark in recent years.
Tied at the top of the Davenport division, these rivals provide a contrast in styles and on Saturday will also provide a frontrunner for a league title.
HockomockSports.com Staff Picks | ||||||||||
Ryan Lanigan |
Josh Perry |
Jeffrey Pickette |
Jarett Leonard |
Alex DaLuz |
||||||
Game of the Week Staff | ||||||||||
Hockomock Sports |
Hockomock Sports |
SMAC |
Hockomock Sports |
Select Hoops |
||||||
Hockey |
||||||||||
Oliver Ames @ Canton Thursday, 4:30 |
||||||||||
Hockey Record | Lanigan 11-3-1 |
Perry 11-3-1 |
Pickette 8-6-1 |
Leonard 8-2-0 |
|
|||||
Boys Basketball |
||||||||||
Boys Basketball Record | Lanigan 17-7 |
Perry 21-3 |
Pickette 18-6 |
Leonard 13-4 |
DaLuz 13-5 |
|||||
Girls Basketball |
||||||||||
Girls Basketball Record | Lanigan 19-5 |
Perry 22-2 |
Pickette 18-6 |
Leonard 15-3 |
DaLuz 16-2 |
|||||
Total | Lanigan 48-15-1 |
Perry 55-8-1 |
Pickette 45-18-1 |
Leonard 36–10 |
DaLuz 29-7 |