After press time: Melrose defeats Lexington 3-2 (Jan. 24)
Published January 26, 2024
Melrose fights back but edged, 3-2
STONEHAM—Theirs is a unique rivalry and on Jan. 20 the Melrose High and Stoneham High hockey teams battled to another close contest with the Spartans escaping with a win, 3-2, at the Stoneham Ice Arena.
Melrose had fought back from a 0-2 deficit late in the second period to truly make it a game but saw the Spartans hit a game-winning goal to end things in Stoneham’s favor.
Melrose’s Joe Smith played smoothly in the net and Melrose coach Joe Ciccarello credited the effort. “He did well,” he said, while acknowledging strong showing for Stoneham “They’re well coached and they play hard. They come at you all game long so you can’t make many mistakes. But we continually let up early goals and for a team hard luck on scoring, that doesn’t help.”
After falling to a 0-2 deficit late in the second period, Melrose launched a comeback. Melrose players Jack Wright, Jack Feeney and Quinn Haggerty were instrumental.
It was late in the 2nd period and prompted when Jack Wright won a face off. “It was great face off by Jack who won the draw to Jack Feeney who did what we talk often about, shoot quick.”
From there, Melrose’s Quinn Haggerty found the net for a score. “He had a great tip,” notes the coach.
Melrose’s second goal came early in the third when that same line had a great fore-check which led to a goal by Jack Feeney that made it 2-0. The coach explains, “Jack Wright wiggled the puck loose as the first guy in and Jack Feeney grabbed the puck and quickly went to the net and scored.”
Melrose defense is showing signs of improvement but the coach stresses the need to play without error. “As a group, they’re getting better. We just can’t have any stupid penalties from them. I do think that Griffin Brady is quickly becoming a top level defensemen.”
There are takeaways from a game, which really could have gone either way. “We played hard. We didn’t quit,” says the coach. “That’s my main focus now. We are struggling to get that first win, and I just want to see the character on this team and how hard we keep working, or who already packed it in.”
Right now Melrose is outside the Power Ranking bubble of 32 teams to advance to post season. But there is a lot of season left and even a low win seasons can qualify a team based on strength of schedule, which Melrose certainly has.
Says the coach, “There are plenty of games left to make a move and try and get in the top 32. But we need to play together as a team. We can’t let egos or any other selfish motive come before the team winning. WE over ME.”
Melrose gets a chance to prove that on the ice when they host Lexington and Arlington at Kasabuski Arena starting on Wednesday (post deadline) and on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. against the Spy Ponders (8-2-1).