The Gloucester boys hockey team faced perhaps their toughest test yet on Tuesday evening when they traveled to O’Brien Ice Rink in Woburn to take on the Tanners.
A perennial Division 2 state power, Woburn went into last year’s state tournament as the No. 2 seed in a deep bracket, advancing all the way to the semifinal round before falling to Canton.
The Fishermen gave them a real run in the recent early season matchup, but ultimately fell by a 3-1 score. The game was knotted at 1-1 heading into the third and final period before Woburn netted the go-ahead goal and connected on an empty-netter late in action to seal the deal.
Lukas Albano scored his team’s lone goal for a 1-0 lead, while Gloucester goalie Trey Marrone turned forth perhaps his best performance of the young season, keeping his team in it by making 21 saves.
Now sitting at 1-2 on the year, head coach Derek Geary and his group will turn their attention to the annual Cape Ann Savings Bank Holiday Tournament at Talbot Rink. The Fishermen will begin their quest at a title against unbeaten Medford (2-0) on Friday at 7 p.m.
The event’s other two competitors — Medfield (2-1) and Marblehead (0-3) — will open tournament play at 5 p.m. on the same day, with the winners of the two games then facing off on Saturday evening in the championship clash. The two losers will play for third place honors at 5 p.m. prior to the title tilt at 7.
Gloucester lost to Medfield in double overtime last year in Round 1 of CASB play, before rolling past Medford, 6-0, in their consolation bout.
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Also happening locally this holiday season is the boys basketball BankGloucester Holiday Jamboree. Just three teams will compete for a crown this winter: Danvers, Salem Academy and host Gloucester.
The Fishermen (1-2), who won last year’s event, are aiming to bounce back from a lopsided loss to state powerhouse Masconomet last Friday. They’ll take on Danvers (2-2) first on Monday, Dec. 29 at 6:30 p.m. before hosting Salem Academy (2-1) on New Year’s Eve (Wednesday) at 12:30 p.m.
If any of the three teams go unbeaten at 2-0, they will be crowned champions. If not, there will be no victor this year.
On the girls side, Gloucester (0-4) will compete in the Winthrop Holiday Tournament beginning on Monday against the host Vikings at 4 p.m. Should they secure their first win of the young season, the Fishermen would advance to the championship game on Tuesday back in Winthrop.
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In Rockport, both the Vikings’ boys and girls hoop teams will play host to their own Cape Ann Savings Bank Holiday Tournament. Other competitors include Neighborhood House Charter School, Northeast Metro Tech and Notre Dame Cristo Rey on the boys side, and Ipswich, Northeast Metro Tech and Academy of Notre Dame on the girls side.
The Rockport girls squad goes in as the favorite, bringing their impressive 5-0 record into the competition. Sophomore star Sunny Gallagher and her squad will take on Northeast Tech first on Friday at 4 p.m. while coach Phil Whitley and his boys team host Northeast Tech at 6 p.m. on the same day.