Hornets set big goals in coach McAuliffe’s first season
Published December 19, 2019
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
BEDFORD — In the expansive world of competition and sports, it has been said that a positive attitude far outweighs talent in the pursuit of success. Talent might win games, but it is attitude that wins championships.
Early in the high school hockey season – very early, in fact – the North Reading Hornets already seem to have the right attitude. After skating to a 2-2 tie with Bedford in the season opener on Saturday evening, there seemed to be a positive outlook with this team and their newly-minted coaching staff, that bodes well for the long campaign ahead.
“Out team goals include winning the league and to be competitive in the state tournament,” said first-year coach Brian McAuliffe, who had previously worked for the past decade alongside former coach John Giuliotti. “With the weapons we have at our disposal, I certainly think we’re capable of that.”
Capable would be goaltender Cameron Alter, who stonewalled the offensively potent Bedford Buccaneers, particularly during a hectic overtime segment.
“Cameron stood on his head tonight,” said McAuliffe. “They outshot us by a wide margin and he came up big. He made some huge saves on a number of labeled shots, even in the overtime period. Cam has been working toward this seven-days-a-week, he wants this role, and he’s definitely ready for it.”
North Reading was prepared for the season to get underway last Wednesday when they were slated to face Danvers in what everyone thought was the opener. But a scheduling glitch – namely an early start not sanctioned by MIAA officials – required the teams to either postpone or scrimmage. McAuliffe chose the latter and in the aftermath of a 5-1 defeat, was pleased that the Hornets season didn’t start out on such a negative note. As he explained, the last-minute scrimmage gave his players an opportunity to “get rid of the cobwebs.”
In front of a big crowd at the Edge Sports Center, Bedford jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Sean Doucet early in the first period. The Hornets had just killed off the first penalty of the contest and were still getting organized when Vaughan collected a feed from Michael Giles, crept past the defense, and tucked one behind Alter, low to the stick side.
After the intermission, North Reading pounced on the Buccaneers and answered with a pair. Defenseman Matthew Ryan came up with the first Hornet goal of the season, tying it at 1-1 just 44-seconds into the middle frame. Crashing the net with Alex VerColen and Francis Brachanow, Ryan snagged a rebound from goalie Timothy Mead and was more than happy to give it back to him, drilling it to the back of the net.
Four minutes later, the Hornets claimed a 2-1 lead on a shorthanded tally from VerColen. Skating on the power play, Bedford was telegraphing lazy passes through the neutral zone. Storm Davis stole the puck and fed VerColen for the go-ahead goal.
“I thought in the second period, we had the game in hand,” said McAuliffe. “After being down early, I thought we came out in the second period and accomplished the things we wanted to do.”
Unfortunately, Bedford spoiled the North Reading season debut, knotting the contest at 2-2 on a power play goal early in the third. Buccaneer co-captain James Demeo, who is projected to finish at or near the top of the Merrimack Valley/Dual County League in scoring, lit the lamp unassisted with just seconds remaining on a man advantage.
In an effort to reduce the number of ties, which many believe is excessive, the MIAA introduced a pilot program this year, adding one five-minute, four-on-four overtime period. Bedford held the upper hand during the OT, but Alter was in the zone and preserved the tie.
“Absolutely,” said Alter, when asked if he saw a potential tournament team in the making. “We had it tough last year. We obviously know what it’s like to lose, now I think its time to know what it’s like to win. I think we’re ready for that.”