It wasn’t hard for Paul Yameen to be satisfied with the effort.
The longtime coach obviously knew what his Newburyport boys hockey team was facing that past weekend, when tradational superpower St. John’s Prep traveled up to the Henry Graf Rink for the 18th annual Lt. Derek Hines Memorial Game. But even through a 6-1 defeat to an Eagles program ranked No. 2 in the entire state, the Clippers more than held their own.
And perhaps more importantly, they didn’t back down to the challenge.
“I want to see a team that’s going to come out and battle,” said Yameen. “I think if we bring that effort and that grit (against St. John’s Prep) every day for the rest of the season, we’re going to be alright.”
Well, they appear to have brought it on Monday night.
In the first round of the annual Newburyport Bank Classic tournament, the Clippers skated to a 6-4 victory over visiting North Andover. Led by Henry Waddell, Luke MacIsaac, Jagger Gudaitis, Axel Becker, Mason Varay and Owen Mongeau, the Clippers (12-7-2) were able to advance to the tournament finals, where they’ll now take on Algonquin on Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. scheduled puck drop.
Can the Clippers keep that same effort for another game?
Because after that, it’ll be on to the Division 2 state tournament.
Newburyport came in at No. 17 in the latest rankings that were released on Tuesday morning, and if the seeding holds, will play rival Gloucester (No. 16) in the first round. The Clippers have knocked the Fishermen out of the playoffs in each of the last two years — in the Round of 16 two years ago and the first round last year — but both of those game were at the Graf, where this potential matchup would take place at the Talbot Rink.
Amesbury ties Norwell, sets up matchup with Triton
At least it doesn’t go down as a technical loss.
But the Amesbury hockey team probably feels like it left one on the table on Monday afternoon, skating to a 5-5 tie with Norwell in the first round of the Bank Classic Tournament before falling in a shootout. A result that drops the Redhawks (10-7-2) to the consolation bracket, where they’ll play Triton — which lost to Danvers, 7-0, in its first round game — on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The final shots-on-goal for the game, though: Amesbury 51, Norwell 17.
Sophomore sensation Grady Stickney continued his torrid season for the CAL Baker-champion Redhawks in the technical tie, scoring four goals. Two of which were while down a man, as Stickney has now scored an incredible 10 shorthanded goals this season. Owen Bartniski had the other tally for the Redhawks, and Evan Murphy (2), Tommy Puorro (2), Ryan Franz, Colin Brown, Logan Pickering and Thomas McElaney had assists.