SOUTH BOSTON– Lynnfield saved its best for last in the opening game of the Michael Giordano Classic.
After two tough-luck periods, the Pioneers boys hockey team played perhaps its best 15 minutes of the season in a 4-goal third frame en route to Thursday morning’s 4-1 win over Danvers at Francis L. Murphy Rink.
Lynnfield scored three of its goals via power plays.
“We’ve been a slow-starting team,” Lynnfield coach Jon Gardner said. “In every game we’ve built through every period. It’s 10 a.m. on the day after Christmas. We got here early, did a walk through at Fort Independence to try and get them going. The penalties Danvers took really helped us. We cashed in on a 5-on-3 and we just kept riding the power play, which has been a problem for us early in the year. They’re starting to figure out how to get things going. I’m glad they took advantage of the man advantages.”
The Pioneers followed the lead of senior forward Sam Pifko, who scored three goals.
“Sam’s just a hard-nosed kid,” Gardner said. “He has a long frame, long reach. He takes a beating up front. It’s good to see him get rewarded for that. He’s selfless on the power play. Being the net guy, it’s a tough position to play. He has a motor for a big kid.”
Jackson Hammersley netted one goal. Ronald Fuccillo recorded three assists. Daniel Mack and Brenden Henehan each logged one assist.
After a scoreless opening period in which both teams came up empty on power plays, Danvers found an opening and made the most of it to grab the lead. Jake Ryan’s tally put the Falcons up 1-0.
Danvers kept the momentum on its side until the closing seconds of the period, when the Falcons were whistled for two penalties within a few seconds to give Lynnfield a 5-on-3 heading into the third period.
It only took Pifko 27 seconds to knot the score at 1-1 with 14:33 to play. Hammersley followed suit two minutes later, bumping Lynnfield’s lead to 2-1 and the Pioneers never looked back. Pifko’s 4-on-3 slap shot with 5:18 remaining found the back of the net, making it a 3-1 Lynnfield advantage. The senior notched his hat trick 30 seconds later to seal the Pioneers’ scoring.
Pioneers goalie Jake DeBenedictis finished the win with a highlight-reel glove save in the final seconds.
“Jake’s solid,” Gardner said. “He’s been as close to flawless as we’ve seen in this 4-game stretch. He’s only given up five goals in four games, which is solid. Even at the end, it’s like this insignificant part of a 4-1 game and he makes a nice save. He wasn’t giving up that goal. I’m proud of him. He worked really hard in the offseason.”
Lynnfield (2-1-1) will play Boston Latin Academy Friday (4) in the tournament’s championship game.
Boston Latin Academy defeated tournament host Boston Latin School 4-3 (shootout) in its first-round game. All four teams in the tournament qualified for their respective state tournaments last winter.
“We played Boston Latin (School) four years ago in the (state) tournament,” Gardner said. “We love the way they run their program, love the history of their school. My father in law was a graduate in the 1960’s. I live in Boston so I’m in South Boston all the time. As soon as they had this tournament, knowing we had a chance to play in it we jumped right on it. It’s nice to have another North Shore team and the two city teams.”
GIRLS HOCKEY
Peabody/Lynnfield 4, Medford/Malden 2
Sammie Mirasolo’s hat trick powered the Tanners to victory. Hannah Gromko scored one goal. Peabody/Lynnfield (4-1) hosts St. Mary’s Saturday (4) at McVann/O’Keefe.
