Blackwell (hat trick) powers Eagles’ sweep of Vermont visitors

WILMINGTON – St. John’s Prep hockey coach Kris Hanson had a straightforward goal for this weekend’s two-game set against BFA-St. Albans of Vermont – win both games and secure four points toward post-season qualification. Mission accomplished.”Every game is critical at this point of the season, regardless of the opponent. Every point counts toward qualification and we need to pile up as many as we can,” Hanson said after the Eagles rebounded from last Tuesday’s frustrating one-goal loss to Central Catholic and improved their overall record to 5-2-1.Wearing pink game jerseys and socks in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness, the Eagles left BFA feeling blue with a 9-1 thumping at Ristuccia Arena Saturday afternoon. BFA arrived Friday with a 6-0-0 record and the No. 2 ranking in Vermont but left the Bay State having been outscored overall, 12-3. Goalie Tyler Kilburn (45 saves) gave BFA a chance in Friday night’s 3-2 St. John’s win, but the Prep was in complete control from the opening shift Saturday.Just 38 seconds into the game, Harvard-bound senior Colin Blackwell (hat trick, two assists) collected freshman Shane Eiserman’s chip pass off the wall, blazed down the right wing, easily turned a BFA defenseman and tucked a backhander past Kilburn into the far corner for a 1-0 lead.BFA briefly tied it at the 2:27 mark when Connor Roberts converted on an Eagles defensive zone turnover, snapping a shot from the left circle over Prep goalie David Letarte’s glove. However, the Prep surged to a 3-1 lead by period’s end when Kurker, stationed at the left post, swept a shot under Kilburn at 4:52; then threaded a cross-crease pass to set up the freshman Eiserman for a right post finish while on the power play with 8:12 left in the period.Blackwell completed his hat trick with goals on his first two shifts of the second period, including a shorthanded breakaway strike just nine seconds in that made it 4-1.”There are not a lot of Colin Blackwells out there and we’re fortunate to have him. He’s a difference-maker,” said Hanson.Senior Jon Farrow, freshman Jack McCarthy, sophomore defenseman Dillon Gargano and Kurker connected for third-period goals for the Eagles.The Prep now faces a key week in the Catholic Conference with Wednesday night’s visit to face undefeated Xaverian, a 2-1 winner against Malden Catholic Saturday, at the Foxboro Sports Center (6:10 p.m.) followed by Saturday’s trip to Malden Catholic (Valley Forum II, 7 p.m.).