The John A. Ryan isn’t the only rink around that gets used with the frequency that matches Massachusetts drivers running red lights, but it sure feels that way. This past Saturday at 4 p.m. Watertown/Wayland was faced with the challenge of trying to end a drought dating back to Dec. 23 — as in the last (and only) time they won a hockey game, and they had to do it versus the sixth ranked Spy Ponders of Arlington. Up next would be the Boston (nee Watertown) Gold Kings of the Senior Power Play Hockey League as they welcomed the first place and undefeated Hudson Valley (as in New York State Hudson Valley) Reapers to the JAR. Six periods of hockey on a Saturday on the eve of a predicted whopper snowstorm.
Up first, Watertown/Wayland versus Arlington, and the Spy Ponders showed why they are one of the best teams in the State. They played disciplined hockey, they skated hard and fast, they passed well, and they never seemed out of position. Arlington scored 43 seconds in and it was all they would need on this afternoon. They scored seven more times though on the way to an 8-0 shutout.
Earlier in the week Watertown/Wayland played a top 20-ranked Winchester tight in impressive fashion, ultimately losing 3-2. One wondered if Watertown/Wayland could carry that effort over to this game, but it was ultimately an unfair expectation. This is not to say that Watertown/Wayland gave up or failed to play hard. That hasn’t been the case all season, despite the frustration that comes from entering the game with a 1-11 record. But Arlington was relentless with every aspect of their game, and made it very difficult for a team that struggles to score goals as it is, to find scoring opportunities.
Seven games remain for Watertown/Wayland to grow and improve. They remain a young team with a lot of underclassmen, and the Watertown/Wayland coaching staff will refuse to let this team hang its collective head. They will practice hard and play hard, and don’t be surprised if a win or two knocks on the door in the weeks ahead! Next chance — Wednesday, Jan. 28 versus Lexington.
1 2 3 – F
Arlington 3 4 1 – 8
Watertown/Wayland 0 0 0 – 0
Scoring Summary
1st Period
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 1… Vartanian @ :43
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 2… Petrillo @ 3:28
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 3… Yunes @ 11:00
2nd Period
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 4… Russell @ 3:20
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 5… Vartanian @ 3:32
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 6… Petrillo @ 7:14
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 7… Petrillo @ 11:37
3rd Period
Watertown/Wayland 0 Arlington 8… Mahoney. PPG, @ 1:54
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday January 28 versus Lexington at John A.Ryan Arena, 4 pm
Saturday January 31 versus Burlington at John A.Ryan Arena, 4:20 pm
Wednesday February 4 versus Wilmington at John A.Ryan Arena, 5:45 pm
Saturday February 7 @ Stoneham, 4 pm
Wednesday February 11 vs. Wakefield @ 7:45 pm
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The Boston Gold Kings, the defending champs of the PPSHL, had this weekend circled on their schedule. Why? A chance at redemption against the new kid on the block. The Hudson Valley Reapers out of NY State joined the league this season, came to the JAR with a record of 10-0. That record included two wins against the Gold Kings on their ice back on Dec. 13 & 14. On top of that, the champs felt as though they let two games slip away. Some undisciplined hockey led to giving up leads, and losing 4-2 and 5-3. Since those losses, the Gold Kings have gone 2-1, but their most recent game was a loss against last-place Norfolk where once again they gave away a lead late. So, which team would show up Saturday night? The defending champs or the ’26 version feeling the heat from the first-place Reapers? Unfortunately it was the latter, as the Reapers put a licking on the Gold Kings by the score of 6-1.
The first period provided an excellent brand of hockey, as both teams skated and checked with a purpose. In goal for the Gold Kings was Mike Cowell, seemingly the number one goal keeper. For the Reapers it was Mike Rockwell, as close to a Ken Dryden-lookalike as you will find in these parts. The late and great Dryden stood tall in net for the Canadians and made those watching when he played feel like there was no way to get a puck past him. On this night, the tall and talented Rockwell made it feel exactly the same.
The only goal of the first came as a result of a defensive breakdown of a rebound that Cowell perhaps should have controlled better, and forward Taylor Traenkle made him pay, scoring the first of what would eventually be a hat trick night for him. So, most nights a 1-0 deficit isn’t a big deal for the Gold Kings, as they have offensive talent across their four lines. On this night, though, the number one line of O’Leary and the two Baldino brothers just wasn’t clicking, and this malaise seemed to spread to the other three lines. No such problem for the Reapers. After a scoreless first eleven minutes, the Gold Kings scored their one and only goal of the night, albeit a beauty. Cam Cordio and Brian Cebula entered the zone with numbers, executed passes and then hit a trailing Jon Lounsbury who finished off the picture-perfect goal to tie it at 1-1. But then, the the wheels fell off the Gold Kings bus in a big way.
Traenkle scored his second as the Gold Kings began a pattern of undisciplined hockey and decision-making that plagued them the rest of the game. The goal came a minute-and-ten-seconds after Lounsbury’s goal, as the Gold Kings got caught up overreacting to some physical play on one side of Cowell, leaving the other side unmarked as a hard rebound off the boards landed on the stick of Traenkle who had half the net to pot what was the game-winner on the night. The Reapers scored one more, a power play goal, thanks to a Childers penalty for roughing. After two periods it was Hudson Valley 3 and Boston (Watertown) 1.
The third period was an ugly one for the Gold Kings. Frustration had set in and they took to the penalty box often, which led to two power play goals among the Reapers three third-period goals. Boston moves to 5-5-0-1 and the Hudson Valley remains undefeated at 11-0. Five regular season games remain on the schedule, and the second place Gold Kings almost assuredly will qualify for the playoffs, but they need to find their A-game and tighten things up if they want to solve the mystery of Hudson Valley and repeat as Senior Power Play Champs in 2026!
1 2 3 – F
Hudson 1 2 3 – 6
Boston 0 1 0 – 1
Scoring Summary
1st Period
Boston 0 Hudson 1… Treankle @ 13:51
2nd Period
Boston 1 Hudson 1… Lounsbury from Cordio & Cebula @ 11:32
Boston 0 Hudson 2… Treankle @ 12:42
Boston 0 Hudson 3… Shepherd @ 14:04, PPG
3rd Period
Boston 0 Hudson 4… Souza @ 3:01, PPG
Boston 0 Hudson 5… Jackson @ 4:52
Boston 0 Hudson 6… Treankle @ 10:48, PPG
Upcoming Gold Kings Games
Jan.31 @ Salem
Feb.7 @ Holyoke
Feb.14 vs. Norfolk @ the JAR, 7:35 pm
Mar.1 vs Hudson @ the JAR, 4:05 pm
Mar.7 vs Salem @ the JAR, 7:20 pm