Brick Novice Hockey Tournament at West Edmonton Mall: Day 4

By Max Rausch

EDMONTON — The Boston Junior Bruins defeated the California 2001s at the Brick Novice Invitational Hockey Tournament at West Edmonton Mall on Thursday, triumphantly breaking a 3-3 tie in the third period to finish with a final score of 4-3.

After two hard-fought games resulting in ties, Bruins coach Chris Masters said it was a victory richly deserved.

“The last two games they played their hearts out and played great,” Masters said.  “I think for them to be rewarded for that effort is a huge confidence boost.”

The first period saw the 2001s on an aggressive streak, keeping the puck in their possession without letting the Bruins hold onto it for long. While the Bruins’ defense was sturdy, they were unable to prevent California’s Nicolas Kent from scoring an unassisted goal midway through the first period.

The Bruins ignited in the second with an early goal by Matt Boldy. They capitalized on the momentum by mounting a gutsier offensive, fighting harder for control of the puck.

But the determined 2001s kept pace with their opponents, and five and a half minutes in, Harrison Schreiber scored the second goal for California, assisted by Jonathan Panisa and Dominique Petrie.

The needle was fixed in the red zone for the rest of the second period as both teams continued to trade goals. Conor Lovett, son of Bruins head coach Bill Lovett, tied the game once again with an unassisted goal eight minutes in.

It was answered a minute later by none other than Harrison Schreiber, netting his second goal of the game on a powerplay.

Boston was hampered by two consecutive penalties later on: Jack Venturelli was called out for hooking at eight and a half minutes, and Peirce Kenney for cross-checking at eleven and a half. One body short for most of the remaining time, the Bruins were forced into a defensive posture until the end of the second period.

Down one goal, the Bruins burst onto the ice with renewed intensity in the third. Some keen passing allowed Conor Lovett to score again just after six minutes. Not a minute later, he scored his third goal of the game, unassisted, after a lightning breakaway.

While Boston’s morale soared, California’s seemed to falter. The 2001s were wounded by two hooking penalties in the middle of the period—by Quinn Emerson at around seven minutes and Ryan Johnson at eight minutes—and their teamwork visibly suffered. Boston continued to dominate until the final whistle blew.

Masters hopes his team’s morale will give them an edge as they progress in the tournament.

“I really expect us, as we move forward, to use that confidence to give us a jump in that next game.”