By DAN PAWLOWSKI
TEWKSBURY — The Wakefield High boys’ hockey team embarked on divisional play last night at the Breakaway Ice Center in Tewksbury against fellow Middlesex League Freedom Division opponent Wilmington.
With both teams enduring tough starts to their seasons against multiple Liberty Division schools – Wilmington came into the night at 1-4 while Wakefield was 0-5 – it was almost like the beginning of a new campaign.
An even tug-of-war for 45 minutes ended with the home Wildcats scratching out a 4-3 victory after scoring two unanswered in the 3rd period to first tie it and then take the lead for good with just over seven minutes left.
The Warriors had a few more terrific chances combined with a 5-on-3 advantage late for over a minute but couldn’t find the equalizer.
“Even” isn’t even accurate enough to describe this one. The Warriors outshot the Wildcats by just two (25-23) and both teams got chances on the power play (4 penalties for Wakefield, 3 for Wilmington).
The Warriors took a slight, 1-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to a goal from senior Tylor Roycroft, assisted by freshman Joe Covelluzzi and junior Andrew Nemec. Covelluzzi played a perfect puck in front from the boards behind the goal line and Roycroft finished top shelf to open the scoring.
Junior goalie Robby Kimball was sharp in the 1st collecting five saves and in the final three minutes, the Warriors killed a penalty including a Wilmington 5-on-3 for 21 seconds thanks to sharp work from the PK unit including senior Frank Leone and juniors Daegan Pothier, Cam DePrizio and Trevor Veilleux. After killing the 5-on-3, senior Brian Purcell flew out of the penalty box and lifted a stick at the blue line to force a turnover. Kimball made a solid stop to help kill the rest of the advantage and finish the period.
Wilmington responded in the 2nd, tying it up about a minute in on a scrum in front.
The Wildcats got another power play in the middle of the period but the Warriors were up to the challenge again as Kimball made the save of the game with a sprawling left pad stop on a deflection in front. In fact, the Warriors, tired of playing defense, decided to go for a bid of their own when DePrizio won the puck in the neutral zone and Nemec skated it in. The lefty fired one from the off wing and it fought through Wilmington’s junior goalie Tyler Marinho for a 2-1 lead.
The Warriors extended their lead to 3-1 on a goal from Leone, assisted by senior Liam McNeill and freshman Brayden Myette.
Myette made it happen by hustling to keep a loose puck in the Wilmington zone right at the blue line and playing it in. Leone later scored on a near-post finish with 3:32 left.
Another Wilmington power play came right after the tally and this time, the Wildcats converted when senior Adam Ebert found the back of the net.
Wakefield got a man advantage in the final 1:52, the best chance coming on a Veilleux shot from the point that hit the post.
Wakefield’s 3-2 lead dried up quicker than the ice in the 3rd as the Wildcats gave their fans plenty to cheer about with a goal 28 seconds in to tie it at 3-3.
The Wildcats never relinquished that momentum the rest of the way, playing a solid defensive game combined with their second power play goal of the night after a too many men on the ice penalty to Wakefield.
Wakefield’s minute-long 5-on-3 with about five minutes left only featured one shot on net as Marinho and the Wilmington defense stepped up to get the win.
The Warriors will look to turn the page this Saturday against rival Melrose (0-5-1) at Boston University’s Agganis Arena at 2 p.m.