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Whitewashed by Winthrop 2-0 in finale
Melrose
falls one point shy of an MIAA tournament slot
Larsen Arena– The Melrose Red Raiders
roller coaster ride for a post season birth was derailed for good on
Friday night (2/20/09) when they were shut out by the Winthrop Vikings
by a score of 2-0 in their season finale. The Red Raiders were
finalists taking on the host Vikings in the annual “Freeze” Tournament
Championship game and they competed fiercely with an opportunity to
not only win the tourney but to also capture the coveted MIAA Playoff
slot they coveted this season which ended in a 9-10-2 overall record
for the2008-2009 season. In the end Winthrop Goaltender Pat Feely had
the last say turning aside 18 Melrose shots to preserve the victory
for the Vikings on their senior night.
In the first period both teams competed
hard in the neutral zone and the defense corps kept play on the
perimeter. Both Ryan Faye and Feely were frequently “snowed” by their
opponents who were able to break through for loose pucks near the
crease and had to control rebounds. Winthrop enjoyed three (3) man
advantages to one for Melrose but the Raiders had the better chances.
Captain Chris Powers had the best opportunity cutting the right circle
and whistling a wrist shot high but Feely snared it. The home crowd
erupted when Brendan Loomis was able to put Winthrop on the board with
.10 seconds left in the period jamming home a rebound past Fay at the
right goal post on his the second or third attempt and Melrose had to
tighten up.
The middle period brought more of the
same with excessive whistles and some special teams action for both
teams. The Raiders has some decent power play chances but could not
solve Feely who was a large physical presence in goal. Winthrop scored
again to make it 2-0 at the 12:24 mark when Defenseman Jake Rand
rushed the right wing and fired a slap shot that Faye flashed out a
pad on but left a rebound in front for a streaking Ken Hodgkins who
was able to pounce on and shoot in to an open corner.
In the third period Melrose played with
determination and tried valiantly to break through while Winthrop
dumped puck after puck back to the neutral zone. Junior Peter Hanson
drew a key penalty against and escaped serious injury when he was
driven into the end boards from behind by two Winthrop players half
way through the period. Captain Powers was pulling double duty
generating rush after rush into the Winthrop zone to try and rally the
Raiders. Lady luck eluded Melrose when Senior Colin Murphy’s
backhander clanged off the right post fluttered up and over the
shoulder of Feely in the games waning moments and soon after the
emotional letdown of the season ending defeat set in.
The 2008-2009 Red Raider Team collected
20 points in a tough Middlesex League and were disappointed having
come up just one point shy of their team goal to make the tournament.
They played with passion and pride for one another and made Melrose a
“Hockey Town” once again.
Thanks and congratulations goes out to
the players and coaches of the 2008-2009 Red Raiders
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