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Melrose “Edged” again by Wakefield 2-1
Wakefield Coach extends win streak over Melrose
Flynn – The Wakefield
Warriors on the strength of late third period goals by James Beaton
and Matt MacKay defeated the Melrose Red Raiders by a score of 2-1 at
Flynn Rink. It was the fourth straight victory for Warrior Head Coach
Derek Edgerly over his former team Melrose where he was an assistant
coach for few seasons. The win bought the Warriors record to a
successful 9-6-4 which is good enough to advance to the state
tournament. Melrose’s Middlesex League record fell to a 5-12-2 for the
season but they have played well in the second half.
This game was also an
emotional game for Wakefield and they played with heavy hearts as a
popular senior classmate, Chris Rollins, lost his life earlier in the
week. Many students and teachers attended his memorial service earlier
in the day pushing back the start of this varsity game. Many of the
Warriors made make shift name tags for the back of their hockey
sweaters with the name “Rollins” stenciled in black in tribute. For
Melrose it was a day of fare wells on the annual “Senior Day” as Billy
Allan, Nick Clark, Mike Fimiani, Sean Morris and Elias Thorp all
played their final varsity home game on the very ice surface their
dreams were made of some 10-12 years ago. Proud parents of both the
Senior players and cheerleaders were honored one the ice prior to the
start of the game with bouquets of flowers and commemorative pictures
on the ice.
For the game itself it was very reminiscent of the recent Melrose vs
Woburn game with good close checking, physical contact and key
goaltending. Wakefield was feeling very confident coming in to play
Melrose after defeating Watertown in the previous game and advanced to
the playoffs for the second straight year on a late goal by JJ Losco.
But in this game unlike the 5-0 white washing Melrose took at
Kasabuski earlier this year the Raiders carried the play for most of
the first period and scored the first goal. Forward Eric Farr batted a
Colin Murphy's pass out of mid air past starting goaltender Dan Parisi
for Wakefield three minutes into the game to make it 1-0. As it would
turn out Paris came out of the game moments later to be replaced by
sophomore Chris Czarnota and he would be the story of the game with
some clutch goaltending especially the glove.
There were multiple opportunities for Melrose on the power play as
Wakefield took many unwise penalties for misconducts and flagrant
fouls but they could not capitalize. They enjoyed a pair of 5 on 3
chances in the second period but Czarnota was there to make the saves.
The Wakefield defense and forwards did a good job clogging the slot to
block or deflect shots from the point while killing penalties. At the
other end Melrose goaltender Sean Morris was equally as strong and
through two the Senior was working on a shut out.
In the third period the
play opened up and more penalties were called against each team but
Wakefield had the better chances. They tied the score with 5:02 to
play when Garrett White fed James Beaton in the slot on a two on one
break in. He beat Morris to the short side with a low hard wrist shot.
Two minutes later Wakefield broke the tie and went ahead 2-1 on a goal
by Senior Matt MacKay who was battling near the crease and was covered
by a Melrose defenseman but some how chipped the puck past Morris.
Junior forward Mike Fitzpatrick who had rushed the puck deep made a
nice play backhanding it out from behind the net into the swam of
players Melrose and Wakefield in front and MacKay got the lucky roll
and made good on it. As he raised his stick in triumph one could not
help but notice the “Rollins” swatch on the back of his jersey and the
emotion of the moment. Perhaps there was another assist on the play.
Wakefield closed out a final threat from Melrose as they pulled Morris
for an extra attacker. It was tough ending for Melrose on their home
ice. The MHS Cheerleaders presented their posters to the Red Raiders
after the game.
Melrose plays their final
game of the season on Wednesday February 20th at Everett at 8:00PM
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