Head of the class: Marblehead claims NEC South title with win over Lynn

LYNN – Marblehead was most people’s favorite to win the Northeastern Conference’s South title before the season, and on Wednesday against the Lynn Jets at Connery Rink, the Headers checked that off their list.The Headers scored three times in a five-minute stretch midway through the second period and then held off a Lynn charge in the third to take a 4-1 win and claim the South title.Click here for a photo gallery.”Any time you win a championship, it’s special,” Marblehead coach Bob Jackson said. “It’s a great reward for these kids. They’ve worked so hard this year.”It is the seventh league championship for the Marblehead program in its 65-year history and moved the Headers to a stellar 13-2-2 for the season.”They deserve this title,” Lynn coach Joe Conlon said. “They do all the little things, work hard and take advantage of any mistake you make.”The game was scoreless after the first before the Headers got the game’s first power play but failed to convert.After being held at bay by Nick Comeau for 21 minutes, Alex Whitmore’s rebound goal off Ben Koopman’s initial shot and whacks by Chris McLeod and Ryan Dempsey gave Marblehead the lead.”That’s something we worked on in practice (Tuesday) ? getting to rebounds,” Jackson said. “We told the kids to have their sticks down and be ready.”A little under two minutes later, Sam Snow got to another rebound and deposited it under the crossbar to stake the Headers to a 2-0 lead.Less than a minute later, Ryan Dempsey picked up the puck in the neutral zone, beat two Jets and then fired a laser over Comeau’s shoulder to stunningly give Marblehead a 3-0 lead with 4:05 left in the second.”That goal by Ryan was one of the best that I’ve seen in a long time,” Jackson said. “He won two one-on-one battles and then fired a perfect shot.”Lynn’s third line of Jack Carter, Kyle Devin and Ryan Coppinger was perhaps its best all night, and early in the third it was Carter who gave the Jets some life when he scored on a rebound.”Those guys really led the way in the third period,” Conlon said.The Jets kept on buzzing but Marblehead goalie Tony Cuzner came up with several clutch saves on quality chances to sustain the two-goal lead.Hunter Graves ensured ultimate victory for Marblehead with an empty-netter at 14:27.”To be 13-2-2 right now is a compliment to these kids,” Jackson said. “They have really come together and have worked really hard. Now our goal is to win as many games as we can to ensure a two or three seed in the tourney.”