Hawks edge Mount in first meeting of season

Matt Metcalf, Assistant Sports Editor
Posted 12/23/14

Bishop Hendricken and Mount Saint Charles have combined for the last nine state hockey championships, so whenever they meet, it’s always a battle.

It was no different on Friday night.

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Hawks edge Mount in first meeting of season

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Bishop Hendricken and Mount Saint Charles have combined for the last nine state hockey championships, so whenever they meet, it’s always a battle.

It was no different on Friday night.

After losing the state title series 2-1 last year, the Hawks got the best of Mount in their first meeting of the season, edging the defending champions 5-3.

Hendricken put together a solid all-around team effort in the win, as five different players recorded a goal.

“It was a good win for us because we got production from some different guys,” Hendricken head coach Jim Creamer said. “Offensively, we had a good night.”

It didn’t take long for the Hawks to get on the board.

At 2:10 of the first period, Andrew Hopgood and Brandon Mitchell pressured Mount’s defensemen and caused a turnover. Mitchell worked the puck out in front and Hopgood was able to collect the loose puck and fire it past Mounties’ goaltender Zachary Vanesse, giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

A little less than five minutes later, Eric Edwards released a shot from high in the slot that found its way past Vanesse to increase Hendricken’s lead to 2-0. Brandon Waterman picked up an assist on the goal.

Mount’s Joe Sanchioni was called for an elbowing penalty at 9:15 of the opening period, giving the Hawks an opportunity to tack on to their lead.

But Mount had other ideas.

Mount captain Patrick Holmes read a pass at the blue line while killing the penalty and went in on a breakaway and scored to cut the Mounties’ deficit to 2-1.

Hendricken would answer right back, however.

Mitchell and Hopgood were at it again with less than two minutes left in the first period. Hopgood chipped the puck by a Mount defenseman in the neutral zone, setting up a 2-on-1 break with Mitchell. Hopgood took a low, hard shot off of Vanesse’s right pad that angled right to Mitchell, who buried the puck into an empty net to make it 3-1.

Hendricken’s ability to get in on the forecheck and keep its feet moving throughout the game created scoring opportunities and also drew penalties.

Less than a minute into the second period, Hendricken’s hard work in the offensive zone drew an interference penalty against Mount.

Just seconds later, Hawks’ defenseman Jason Comeau took a shot from the point that found its way through traffic and into the back of the cage, increasing Hendricken’s lead to 4-1.

Holmes scored his second goal of the game at 8:35 of the second period, when he created a turnover in the offensive zone and beat Hendricken goaltender Matt Kenneally, who was being screened by Kevin Valentine in front of the net.

But the Hawks once again returned the favor shortly after.

Waterman used his speed to beat a Mount defenseman wide and ripped a shot blocker-side past Ryan Hanaway, who relieved Vanesse in net, to make it 5-2.

“Waterman was great tonight,” Creamer said. “He had a great scrimmage against Catholic Memorial the other day and he was able to put it together tonight.”

To start the third, Hendricken’s Alex Leite and Tim Poulin were called for penalties less than a minute apart, setting up a 5-on-3 power play for the Mounties.

However, the Hawks put together a flawless penalty kill, denying any plan that Mount had of creating some momentum.

Kenneally, in-particular, came up huge on the kill to keep the score where it was.

“He did a great job when we were on the 5-on-3, he made a couple of big saves,” Creamer said. “He was great overall. I have no complaints.”

Mount would cut into its lead with a shot that banked in off of Kenneally from behind the net by Sanchioni to make it 5-3, but the Mounties never got closer than that.

The Hawks controlled the game throughout, out-shooting the defending champs 31-17 in the win.

Waterman, Mitchell, Hopgood and Edwards led the Hawks’ balanced offensive attack with a goal and an assist apiece.

Hendricken continued its winning ways into Saturday night, where it beat Smithfield 5-1 at Thayer Arena.

After surrendering the first goal to the Sentinels, the Hawks came back with five unanswered goals to put the game away.

Waterman scored two more goals against Smithfield and Reilly Miller, Pat Creamer and Bryce Dolan also got on the score sheet for the Hawks.

Hendricken is now 4-1 in league play and will be back in action on Friday at 2 p.m., when it takes on Franklin High School in Mount’s Holiday Face-Off Tournament.

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