PHOTO ESSAY: OT victory over Masco on Senior Night

Since their entrance to the Northeast Conference, or NEC, the Masconomet Chieftains have been dominant. When they arrived at Dorothy Talbot rink last Saturday, the Gloucester Fishermen were hungry for redemption from last season. As Masco was on the verge of tasting victory once again, Gloucester had other plans in OT. The rivalry game marked Gloucester’s senior night, where they honored the team’s five seniors: Cade Cooper, Chris Dailey, Kellen Moran, Giacomo Martell, and Colby Warren.

In the first period, Warren set up and won the opening faceoff for the Fishermen. The two teams spent the majority of the first quarter skating back and forth through each other’s offensive zones. Gloucester maintained strong passing and shot attempts, with Masconomet matching their energy.

As time dwindled in the first quarter, Freshman Luke Salah netted the first goal of the night. He stunned Masconomet’s goalie with a sharp wrist shot, putting the Fishermen up 1-0 entering the second period.

Martell and a Masconomet defenseman got feisty after the latter instigated post-play. The ballsy style of play continued throughout the game, as more than 5 Gloucester and Masconomet players served penalty time.

Cameron Amero has been a major factor for the Fishermen throughout the season, controlling much of the offensive zone during his shifts. Alongside his freshman trifecta of Luke Salah and Jackson Harnish, he has played an influential role for the team. Many of Gloucester’s shots included his golden touch, whether it was his own shot or an assist.

Defenseman Sam Sanfillipo controlled both zones of the ice in the matchup, often starting offensive pushes and taking shots. After a monumental season as a freshman, the sophomore took on a bigger role in his second season. He is currently ranked 13th for Defensman Scoring in the Gloucester Times’ scoring chart.

Thomas Cribbs stands among his classmates with a homemade “Easy Stop” sign. The student section, decked out in their “White-Out” themed outfits, supported the Fishermen with a number of chants and jabs towards their rivals.

Gloucester children, high schoolers, and parents lined the walkway to the ice for the return of the team. Going into the third period, Gloucester prepared for a large offensive pushback from the Chieftains. The Fishermen still held the 1-0 lead as they entered the final fifteen minutes of gameplay.

After scoring their second goal of the matchup and grasping the lead, the Chieftains celebrated in front of Gloucester’s student section. Gloucester’s student section proceeded to boo Masconomet during their celebration. Masconomet snuck past the Fishermen in the third period as they scored their first two goals, which put them ahead 2-1.

Gloucester’s time to score was shortened, so the Fishermen increased the gameplay intensity.

Head Coach Derek Geary decided to pull goalie Trey Marrone in the final minutes of the game, adding another skater to his lineup. With a little over a minute left, Dailey played the role of the hero as he netted the game-tying shot from center ice. The goal was assisted by seniors Martell and Cooper.

Dailey, followed by Sanfillipo, skated over to the student section in celebration of the former’s goal. The goal helped him garner a 9th-place rank in Defenseman Scoring in the Gloucester Times’ scoring leaders. The Fishermen would soon enter their 7th overtime game of the season.

The starting roster rallied around the bench as Head Coach Geary spoke before the start of overtime. With the game on the line, the Fishermen needed to harness the overtime finesse they’ve shown all season. Before the game, Gloucester had a record of 4-0-2 in overtime matchups.

As he awaited the start of overtime, Cooper set up alongside his teammates with a mission on his mind. It was Cooper who proved to be Gloucester’s saving grace in overtime. The senior buried the game-winning goal past Masconomet’s goalie off a sharp pass from Dailey. The power play goal marked Cooper’s 13th goal and 28th point of the season.

As the student section roared behind him, Colby Warren awaited the arrival of his teammates. The Fishermen piled atop the senior as they celebrated their 5th overtime win of the season. As the team struggled at the beginning of the season, this win was a statement to their opponents: the Fishermen are hot. They’ve won their past 6 of 10 games, tending to thrive in close situations that mirrored their win over the Chieftains.

Masconomet’s record dropped to 4-13 after the loss, but they remain in the Division 2 playoffs with a ranking of 30th. Gloucester, which will qualify for the playoffs regardless of its ranking, is currently ranked 22nd. The Chieftains, despite being set for a postseason run, have struggled through the 2024-2025 season. Opposed to last year’s record of 13-7 and 15th place ranking, the formerly dominant Chieftains dropped the season series to Gloucester and a majority of the NEC.

Amero and Cooper met with young fans after the win, who asked for gloves and other paraphernalia. The kids surrounded them to congratulate the players on the win. Teammate Marrone later gifted one of his goalie sticks to a fan.

With a single game left in the regular season, Gloucester sits at a record of 10-8-2. The Fishermen are set to go head-to-head with the Winthrop Vikings on February 21st.