Crusaders claim Bank Classic title

NEWBURYPORT – Four third-period goals carried Bishop Fenwick to a 5-2 decision of Pentucket in a penalty-filled Doyle Division championship game of the 18th annual Newburyport Bank Classic at Graf Rink Friday night.Senior Drew Thibodeau wrapped up his Fenwick career in style with a goal and three assists as the Crusaders finished 5-16-2.Play grew increasingly fractious as the action progressed and by game’s end the referees had ejected five players and assessed five four-minute majors for various infractions. The teams combined for nearly 40 minutes in penalties, including 23:30 in the second period alone. The game was halted with 1:17 to play.”It’s been a tough season but I’m proud of the way we finished up. I don’t condone anything that happened but sometimes games get out of hand,” said Fenwick coach Dan Lynch. “We said going in we wanted to finish on a positive note and this gives us something to build on for next year.”Pentucket (8-11-2), which saw its post-season hopes end with Thursday night’s loss to North Reading, generated a 9-4 edge in shots in an otherwise uneventful first period.The tenor of play changed dramatically in the second period but amidst the mayhem, both teams scratched out a goal.Mike Napolitano gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead at 6:42, burying the rebound of Drew Thibodeau’s initial shot for a power play goal. The Sachems drew even with 4:59 left in the period when Bob Barry worked the puck deep into the slot and it slid to John Orlando for a tap-in to the left of Crusaders’ goalie Pat O’Leary (16 saves).Orlando gave Pentucket a 2-1lead at 32 seconds of the third period but Fenwick’s Jake Brennan tied it less than a minute later. Thibodeau then took over, burying the game-winner with a slick backhand deposit at 5:22 before setting up goals by Nick Coccolutto (8:58) and Nick Finan (9:31).FOURNIER DIVISIONLincoln-Sudbury 6, Peabody 0The Merrimack Valley Conference/Dual County Division Two champion Warriors (15-2-3) clinched the Fournier Division title and the second seed in the upcoming Division Two North Sectional with a dominant performance. LS was in control from the outset, piling up a 46-14 edge in shots.Senior keeper and captain Joe Powers (26 saves), played the first two periods and was selected as a Fournier Division all-star along with senior captain Matt McIsaac. The Tanners, who defeated both Beverly and Danvers during a three-game winning streak, finished 8-11-2 on the season.Matt Hall’s power play tally at 6:14 of the first period provided L-S with the only goal it required. Shane Sefton stretched the lead to 2-0 by period’s end. Jordan Dow finished with two goals and two assists as the Warriors pulled away over the final two periods.Danvers 3, Trition 2Joe Strangie’s rebound strike with little more than four minutes to play proved to be the game-winner for the Falcons in the Fournier Division consolation game. AJ Couto and Mike Disciullo had second-period goals and Alex Taylor turned back 14 shots as the Falcons (10-6-4) played stout team defense and outshot the Vikings, 30-15. Triton finished the regular season with a 12-8-1 mark.