PEABODY — Coaches often say they aren’t sure what needs to be worked on until they get a first glance at their teams in a live game scenario.
If that’s the case, the Bishop Fenwick boys hockey team has a lot of work to do.
Fenwick’s offense couldn’t maintain possession of the puck and its defense couldn’t keep Triton away from the net. The end result was a 6-0 win for visiting Triton Saturday night at James McVann/Louis O’Keefe Rink to spoil Fenwick’s season opener.
“It’s just disappointing, the way we played,” Fenwick coach Jim Quinlan said. “Defensively, offensively. Everywhere on the ice we got beat to pucks. Triton just beat us to every loose puck, manhandled us on the ice. I’m just disappointed in my team.”
Sam Rennick led the Vikings with three goals.
“Sam knows how to find the quiet areas, which is why he scores goals. And he’s pretty slippery,” Triton coach Ryan Sheehan said. “He actually plays well defensively, which he’s gotten better at since his sophomore year when we first had him. Defense leads to offense and he does a good job at both of them.”
TJ Regan, Mike Beevers and Jack Forest each scored one goal. Triton goalie Ben Fougere earned the shutout win in net.
Fenwick goalie Jake Moniz finished with 17 saves.
The Vikings were the more aggressive team from the opening whistle. It only took Triton 3 1/2 minutes to put Fenwick in a 1-0 hole when Regan fired a shot into the back of the net with 11:26 remaining in the first period. Rennick made the most of Tom Girard’s assist two minutes later and Triton led 2-0.
“The forecheck is a big point of emphasis for us,” Sheehan said. “We like to be as aggressive as possible. It works out. When they’re moving their feet, the forecheck looks good.
“These guys were moving their feet, fired up and ready to play.”
That’s where it stood at the end of the first period, with the Vikings holding a 9-3 edge in shots.
“We got beat to the puck every single time,” Quinlan said. “Every time there was a loose puck we got beat. Every time we got the puck, we threw it away to them. We gave up the puck constantly. Turnovers were just ridiculous. I don’t know if it’s just the first game of the year. Maybe it was my fault but it was disappointing.”
Fenwick’s attack looked much improved in the second period. The Crusaders outshot the Vikings 10-7 but had nothing to show for it. Rennick added a goal to Triton’s lead with 9:59 remaining in the period. Fenwick trailed 3-0 after two periods of play.
Goals from Rennick (unassisted with 9:39 to play), Beevers (assisted by Girard with 3:30 to play) and Forest (unassisted breakaway with 1:50 to play) in the third period put the game well out of Fenwick’s reach for the 6-0 Triton win. Fenwick couldn’t capitalize on four power play opportunities in the third period.
The Crusaders have the week to hit the drawing board and analyze their miscues. They’ll host Arlington Catholic next Saturday night (6) when they open Catholic Central League play at McVann/O’Keefe.
“We have a lot to do,” Quinlan said. “We have a week of practice. We have a lot to work on.”
