Power Play Senior Hockey action returned to the John A. Ryan Arena on the first Saturday night after the New Year, pitting the hometown Boston Gold Kings (BGK) versus the Holyoke Papermen. The Gold Kings started the night in second place, and by the end of the night they were still there thanks to an offense that clicked early and often, and a sterling performance from goaltender Mike Cowell. Final score of this one was BGK 7 and Holyoke 2.
To say that the BGK’s dominated from start to finish is probably a little bit of hyperbole, but they scored 53 seconds in and again 6 minutes later to take a 2-0 lead, and they never looked back. Goals were courtesy of a Brandon Garneau breakaway and a G.J. Grinnell backhander off a pretty feed from Matt Baldino. Holyoke mustered 10 shots in the period, but didn’t consistently threaten. They scored their only goal of the night (until a garbage-time goal with a minute left in the game) when a BGK breakdown allowed Papermen forward Sean Egan to finish a play that teammate J.D. Anderson started, with Cowell left out to dry. So, 2-1 after one period, but it didn’t feel that close.
The Gold Kings made sure the score reflected their control of the game in the second period, with a three-goal flurry in the span of 7 minutes. J.T. Freedman, Dave Mackenzie and a power play goal by Matt Baldino accounted for the scoring. Defenseman Mackenzie was especially active at both ends, all night long, and was one of the stars of the game with two goals and an assist. Late in the period, and with a 5-1 lead, the Gold Kings committed back to back penalties and provided the Papermen with a 5-on-3 opportunity and a chance to get back in the game. During the 5-on-3 though it was the Goldkings with the best scoring opportunity, as Grinnell intercepted a Holoyoke pass and went in alone with visions of a shorty to make it 6-1, but he was stonewalled by the Papermen goalie.
The Gold Kings survived the shorthanded mess they created for themselves, and 2:08 into the third period Christian Baldino made it 6-1, and 7 minutes later Mackenzie’s second finished the Gold Kings scoring. At 7-1, and the outcome firmly in hand, both teams went through the motions for the next 8 minutes. A late Gold Kings penalty gave Holyoke one last power play opportunity, and they converted at 18:55 to say they at least converted on one power play opportunity (1 for 6 on the night).
Mike Cowell — let’s not forget him! He was in perfect position all night, seeing pucks clearly and saving them cleanly, limiting rebounds to perhaps a handful. Final numbers say he faced 36 shots, and so he saved 34 and was in control all night long, cutting off angles and making the job of goaltender look easy. Cowell now has two of the Gold Kings five wins on the season.
In two weekends the Gold Kings will host first-place Hudson twice, a Saturday night affair and a Sunday matinee, with a chance to to close the gap between first and second place. In the meantime, the Gold Kings head to Norfolk on Jan. 10 as they look to make it two in a row to start the New Year.
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1 2 3 – F
Holyoke 1 0 1 – 2
Boston 2 3 2 – 7
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1st Period
BGK 1 Holyoke 0… Brandon Garneau @ 0:53
BGK 2 Holyoke 0… CJ Grinnell from M.Baldino @ 5:51
BGK 2 Holyoke 1… Egan from Anderson @ 13:22
2nd Period
BGK 3 Holyoke 1… JT Freedman from Mackenzie & Bilafer @ 3:06
BGK 4 Holyoke 1… Dave Mackenzie from M. & C. Baldino @ 6:01
BGK 5 Holyoke 1… M.Baldino from C.Baldino & Lounsbury, PPG, @ 10:24
3rd Period
BGK 6 Holyoke 1... C.Baldino from Maher & Cordio @ 2:08
BGK 7 Holyoke 1… Dave Mackenzie from Drizen & Maher @9:46
BGK 7 Holyoke 2… Kass from Longhorn & Anderson, PPG, @ 18:55
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Christian Baldino, 1 goal and 2 assists
Matt Baldino, 1 goal and 2 assists
Brian Bilafer, 1 assist
Cam Cordio, 1 assist
J.T. Freedman, 1 goal
Brandon Garneau, 1 goal
C.J. Grinnell, 1 goal
Jon Lounsbury, 1 assist
Dave Mackenzie, 2 goals and 1 assist
Chris Maher, 2 assists