MIAA Massachusetts High School Hockey

Springfield Cathedral vs. Norwood Game Recap--Dec. 31

Canton, Mass.—Springfield Cathedral (5-0-2) remains unbeaten after a 6-0 New Year’s Eve beat down of Norwood (1-3-1).

The Panthers got two goals apiece from John Leonard and D.J. Petruzzelli, as well as a goal each from Sal Kacoyannakis and Dan Petrick. Keith Petruzzelli had 19 saves for his fourth shutout of the season.

Three shorthanded situations in the first period didn’t seem to phase Cathedral, killing all three penalties called against them. D.J. Petruzzelli’s first of his two goals came on the second man-down situation.

“The guys did a good job killing the penalties,” said Panthers coach Brian Foley. “We definitely didn’t want to be man-down, it kind of ruined the flow of the first period for us. But we were able to recover from those and get some even-strength goals.”

Leoanrd’s first goal at 3:57 opened the scoring for Cathedral. Petruzzelli’s first followed at 8:33, with Kacoyannakis’s coming at 11:57.

The Mustangs were able to weather the storm in the second period, receiving some outstanding goaltending from Dennis Drummey. But with just 32 seconds left in the period, Petrick’s goal staked the Panthers to a commanding 4-0 lead. The goal pretty much killed any momentum Norwood had made up in the first 14 minutes of the period.

“The goal to make it 4 was nice,” said Foley. “I think that’s a big difference, 3 or 4. And then we were able to finish up in the third with another decent period.”
Leonard and Petruzzelli scored again in the third to round out scoring for Cathedral.

The Mustangs have now been shutout in three consecutive games, dating back to Dec. 20 vs. Weymouth. The team has been outscored 15-0 during its three-game skid, and is winless since its opening night victory over Brookline.

“I thought overall we played a good game,” said Norwood coach Bill Clifford. “I thought we played a very good game, against the No. 1 team in the state. I thought the kids worked hard, they were disciplined out there, they played their positions and they did everything the coaches asked of them. I don’t think the score indicates the way we played.”

The Mustangs will attempt to get back on track Saturday vs. the Milton Wildcats at Canton Metropolis Rink at 6 p.m. in its first Bay State—Herget Division game of the season. Springfield Cathedral also plays next on Saturday, at noon vs. the Matignon Warriors at the Olympia Center.

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