NEC all-star hockey game a high-scoring tilt

SALEM – The best that the Northeastern Conference had to offer on the ice this season got together Saturday at Salem State’s Rockett Arena for the league’s annual All-Star Game.For some, it was the finale of a season, but for others, it was a chance to keep their legs fresh, with the state tournament beginning on Tuesday and Thursday for most teams.The crowd that came to the venerable barn at Salem State was treated to an entertaining game as the White team composed of Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Lynn and Revere broke a 5-5 second-half tie en route to a 9-6 win over its counterparts from Winthrop, Saugus, Swampscott, Marblehead, Peabody and Salem.The game was played in two 30-minute halves and it took less than a minute for the White team to get on the board as Gloucester’s Ben Favazza netted an Andrew Irving rebound.It stayed 1-0 until midway through the first half when Swampscott’s Gino Cresta set up Marblehead’s Austin Haley to tie the game and ignite a barrage of offense. Less than a minute later, J.D. Hodgkins gave the White team back the lead.Trevor Massey tied the game with 12:40 left and Saugus’ Drew Oxley put the dark team ahead two minutes later, assisted by Kurt Rodrigues and Chris Carman. On the next shift, Johnny Interrante was set up by Fishermen teammates Matt Brennan and Favazza to tie the game at 3-3.Winthrop’s Dan Eruzione then capitalized on a 3-on-0 break with teammates Chris LeBlanc and Matt Todisco to make it 4-3 with 5:45 left but Mike Russo tied the game with 1:50 left, assisted by Interrante and Favazza.R.J. Tiorano scored early in the second half to give the White team back the lead at 5-4 but Tyler Bates tied the game 43 seconds later, assisted by Ian Maag and Cresta.Marco Mazzarelli put the White team ahead for good with 25:00 left before Danvers’ Joe Strangie netted the eventual game-winner, assisted by Hodgkins.LeBlanc closed the lead to 7-6 with 16:00 left but Strangie’s second of the game was followed by an Andrew Irving goal with 2:50 left to close the scoring.