Every promising season gets cut short eventually. The GHS boys hockey team fell this weekend in their 4-2 loss against the Newburyport Clippers.
Gloucester was led by goals from assistant captains Colby Jewell and Chris Karvales. Assists on the two goals were from James Sanfillipo, Colby Warren, and Chris Lojacono.
Both teams came into the Sweet 16 game knowing that it would be an aggressive and gritty match. In Gloucester’s previous meeting with Newburyport, they prevailed with a 5-2 win after being down 0-2. When they met in this matchup, they couldn’t come out on top.
Newburyport started scoring right away, slipping one through goalie Nicholas Tarantino one minute into the game. Jewell sniped a penalty play goal to the top corner 6 minutes in before the Clippers scored again near the end of the period.
Only one goal was scored in the second period, from Gloucester’s own Karvales who pushed his own rebounded shot into the goal. Gloucester’s game visibly became more aggressive and they thwarted multiple Clipper opportunities.
A 2-2 tie to start the third period gave way for either team to take home the win, but Newburyport was the team that capitalized on it. Newburyport scored 6 minutes into the game and scored their final goal at the buzzer to move onto the Elite 8.
Newburyport’s defense was crowding Gloucester’s star players all night, from double-teaming Brett Cunningham to repeatedly smashing Jewell into the boards. All of Gloucester’s players were visibly aggressive all game, competing hard against the Clippers.
The Fishermen have finished off their season with a record of 11-9-2. Thank you to all the seniors for your hard work over this season, as well as seasons past.
