We said that the Newburyport boys hockey team was heading into a gauntlet to close out its regular season.
Well, apparently the team didn’t get the memo.
On Thursday night, Newburyport welcomed in a talented King Philip team that came in ranked 11 spots above it in Division 2. But the Clippers absolutely made a statement with the playoffs only a couple of weeks away, dominating to a 6-0 victory at the Graf behind a three-goal effort from Jack Sullivan and the first career shutout from sophomore goalie Sean Murray (24 saves).
It was the fourth straight win for the Clippers (10-5-1), who have now gone 7-1-1 over their last nine games and have moved up to No. 17 in the latest rankings that were released a day after the victory. Sullivan forced two turnovers and scored two straight breakaway goals just five minutes into the game, then completed the hat-trick on the power play off a great backdoor pass from Henry Waddell. The Clippers would then take a 4-0 lead into the first intermission when Davis Pons sent Waddell on a breakaway, and the junior converted a nifty backhand-to-forehand finish.
Luke MacIsaac would find the back of the net with 33 seconds left in the second period, then again at the start of the third during a 4-on-4. And the entire time, Murray was making sure there wasn’t even the slightest thought of a comeback attempt.
Haidaczuk the hero once again for Triton wrestling
All Mike Haidaczuk has done this year is thrive in pressure moments.
Earlier during the winter wrestling season, the heavyweight — needing a pin — got one to lift Triton to a dramatic 42-42 tie against Keefe Tech. And wouldn’t you know it flash forwarding to Thursday night, and basically the exact same situation presented itself once again with the Vikings trailing Excel Academy by a point heading into the final match.
Hey, not a problem for the captain.
Trailing 5-1 late in the first period, Haidaczuk fought off his back for a reversal before earning a huge pin (1:45), lifting Triton to the thrilling 39-34 match victory. Both sides won an even seven matches, but it was the Vikings (8-13-1) fighting off their backs and saving eight points by not getting pinned that ultimately made the difference.
“We finally had a full team effort,” said Triton coach Shawn McElligott. “It came down to heavyweight, and captain Mike Haidaczuk fought off his back down 5-1, and came back to pin his opponent for a huge Viking victory.”
Triton would get four other pins on the day, coming from Riley-Anne Tarmey at 106 (1:42), Austin Scolamiero at 138 (3:28), Foster Campbell at 150 (3:53) and James D’Amato at 190 (3:05). Thomas Henebury would then earn a big 20-17 decision at 113, and Emmanuel Garcia won by forfeit at 120.
Newburyport girls hockey nearly upsets Beverly
You can’t help but be impressed by the effort.
The first time that the Newburyport and Beverly girls hockey teams played each other back in early January, it was a convincing 10-1 blowout by the hands of the Panthers. The rematch took place on Saturday night, and the Clippers needed to somehow find a way to upset a team ranked 29 spots above them in Division 1 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
And they nearly did it.
Newburyport was within a goal with less than two minutes left, but Beverly would get an empty-netter to skate away with the 4-2 victory. Senior goalie Cody Saboliauskas played “the best game of her life” to keep her team in it, according to coach Josh Freeman, and the Clippers (4-10-0) almost took down a team that has 10 more wins than them.
An Olivia Wilson goal tied the game at 1-1 after the first period, and the score would stay the same heading into the third. Beverly (14-3-0) scored early in the final frame, then took a 3-1 lead with just over five minutes left. But the Clippers kept fighting, getting a second goal from Wilson to make it 3-2 with still over three minutes left on the clock.
Unfortunately, a penalty sent Newburyport to the box with 1:56 left. The Clippers pulled Saboliauskas to get it back to 5-on-5 and created a couple of chances, but the Panthers would get an empty-netter to clinch it.