After press time:
North Reading falls to Newburyport (Jan. 29)
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
GLOUCESTER — No longer is it important to just win games, but under today’s MIAA Power Rankings system, which determines playoff positioning, it is paramount that a team outpaces opponents by wide margins, at least three goals in most instances.
The North Reading ice hockey team filled that tall order on Saturday afternoon by handing Rockport a 7-3 defeat, not only marking their fifth straight win but also the fifth time in as many outings in which the surging Hornets won by a differential of three or more goals.
The Hornets have outscored their last five opponents – Everett, Pentucket, Triton, Northeast Tech, and Rockport – by a whopping 31-5 margin.
“Strategically, you have to coach with the rankings in mind,” said North Reading coach Brian McAuliffe, who improved to 8-4 overall and 6th of 48 teams in the MIAA Division 4 Rankings. “First and foremost is the win but we have to remain aware of the emphasis placed on the scoring gaps.”
Christian Lava led North Reading over the Vikings, adding four goals and an assist to his team best 23-points (14-goals, 9 assists). The lone helper might have been a fifth goal, as Lava skated in as part of an odd-man rush, but gave up the shot and instead, dished to the trailer, Tom Gazda, who obliged by burying his second of the game.
“We didn’t start out playing as hard as we wanted to,” said Lava, referring to the Hornets fragile 1-0 lead after the first period. “But in the second period, we always tend to step it up and score goals.”
Lava put three consecutive behind beleaguered Rockport netminder Luke Holmes, who faced 50 North Reading shots in all. The natural hat trick, spaced over an 8:41 span, included the eventual game-winner. Lava added a fourth tally early in the third.
“Today, Christian had what they call a big Texas hat trick,” said assistant coach Chris Deming, describing the dynamic sophomore’s productivity. “Because with four goals, everything is bigger in Texas!”
Three minutes into the game, Tom Gazda found the back of the net for his 9th of the season, off a rebound. James Nelson, back after missing a pair of games with a shoulder injury, provided one of his two assists on the day.
Lava combined with Max Forristall on a second period power play and moments later, made it 3-0, on a feed from Brendan Gazda. It was beginning to look like North Reading might match the 6-1 drubbing over this Rockport club, which took place in December.
But midway through the second, the Vikings took advantage of a brief letup and beat Hornet goalie Steven DeLisle with back-to-back scores to draw to within a goal.
“Ill-advised penalties cost us and we let them back in the game,” said McAuliffe. “That’s really the only negative aspect of this game and it’s something we’ll have to work on.”
The Hornets pulled themselves together and were soon in front 5-2 on Lava’s third of the game and Gazda’s second, which was a shorthanded tally. The stubborn Vikings battled back with a power play goal early in the third period, briefly threatening the all-important three-goal margin, but Forristall answered the call with his 7th of the year, followed moments later with Lava’s fourth of the game.
“We had just enough depth tonight to wear them down,” said McAuliffe, who currently leads the Cape Ann Baker Division at 5-1. “We executed and had some really pretty goals. The guys are connecting on plays and you see the result with all of the scoring.”
North Reading now heads into one of the more challenging segments of their schedule, facing Newburyport Wednesday evening (results in after press time), Amesbury next Wednesday, and 11-1-1 Essex Tech on Saturday, Feb. 8.