PEABODY — To say the Bishop Fenwick boys hockey team crossed a long-awaited goal of its list on its Senior Day Saturday would be an understatement.
Fenwick has found itself looking up at St. Mary’s in the Catholic Central League standings with frustrating defeats in recent years..
But the Crusaders flipped the script on the Spartans in a 3-2 win at McVann-O’Keefe Skating Rink to sweep the season series with their local CCL rival. Fenwick defeated St. Mary’s 3-1 in the first meeting back on Jan. 29.
“We’ve been up and down and now these kids are starting to believe in what we do and what they can do,” Fenwick (9-7-2) coach Jim Quinlan said. “It seems like we always finally get the team going at the end of February.
“We’re a team that was always at the bottom,” Quinlan said. “Now we’re fighting for co-champs of the CCL Large if we beat Lowell Catholic (Feb. 20 at 5:10 p.m. at Chelmsford Forum). If we win that game we’re co-champs with Austin Prep.”
The Spartans, who dropped to 11-6-2, were haunted by seven penalties, two of which led to Fenwick goals.
“We beat ourselves (Saturday) more than anything,” Spartans coach Mark Lee said. “We took some real dumb penalties. We found ourselves shorthanded a lot, especially when we were trying to make a comeback. Those two power play goals were the difference of the game. As long as we take those kinds of penalties we took, our season will end.
“We can play with anybody when we’re disciplined,” Lee said. “This was a great example of what happens when we’re not.”
Fenwick wasted no time making things difficult on the Spartans. Ian Worthley’s goal eight seconds into Fenwick’s first 5-on-4 advantage gave the Crusaders a rapid 1-0 lead in the opening period. John Bernbaum extended the lead to 2-0 five minutes later.
“Right off the bat, Ian scores a power play goal on a nice shot,” Quinlan said. “We work on our power play every day. You can see it. We scored two power play goals. We work the puck. We have some good scorers up there. That was the difference in this game.”
A much-needed goal from Harrison Kinne cut the lead to 2-1 headed into the first intermission.
Fenwick cashed in on another 5-on-4 advantage midway through the second period, this time on Diego Segee’s tally with 9:45 to go in the frame. The Spartans answered toward the close of the period with Kyle LoNigro sneaking one into the back of the net. Fenwick led 3-2 at the second intermission.
Chasing a one-goal deficit, the Spartans continued to hurt themselves with penalties over the last 15 minutes. St. Mary’s was whistled for four penalties, the last of which was a 5-minute major for boarding with 2:36 to play. Those mistakes, along with a couple clutch saves on Fenwick goalie Jack Vieria’s part, kept the Crusaders on the right track for the 3-2 win.
The Crusaders need one point over their final three games of the regular season to qualify for the Division 1 North state tournament. Their first chance to get that point will be against Peabody Monday (2) in the annual Carlin Cup.
St. Mary’s has two games remaining, both at the Cardinal Hockey Classic. They’ll take on Malden Catholic Wednesday night (8).
“We’re capable of playing with anybody on any given night,” Lee said. “We can’t be disciplined one game and do what we want the next. Individually we didn’t play disciplined at all. We can’t keep giving them power plays and that’s what we did. We can finish really strong but if discipline doesn’t change, we won’t.”
