Agawam Stops McCann Tech in Season Opener
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The Agawam hockey team Saturday scored two quick goals at the start of the second period to break a tie and went on to a 5-2 win over McCann Tech in the Hornets' season opener at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink.
Evan Connery and Cole Buffum each had a goal and an assist for the visitors, who responded after giving up the game's first goal in the third minute of play.
McCann Tech coach Matt Parise said he was disappointed with the result but pleased with the effort he got from his squad.
"I think, overall, we played these guys last year, and think we lost 9-1," Parise said. "We were in this game, most of the game, obviously, and we had chances. So I'm happy with that.
"They're a Division 2 team. They're a division ahead of us. We will play them again and we'll be ready. It is a tough league. There's a lot of tough teams in this league."
The Hornets showed that they could compete right away when John Stack scored with an assist from Liam Noyes, 2 minutes, 28 seconds into the contest.
Agawam had the answer about two minutes later when Aiden Pisano beat Hornets' keeper Ben Harris on the short side. And the visitors scored again two minutes after that to take a 2-1 lead.
McCann Tech continued a high-scoring first nine minutes of play, tying the game, 2-2 when Gabe Lescarbeau blasted a shot from the blue line for a power play goal.
Stack and Dallas Ritcher had assists on that goal, which sent the teams into the first intermission all even.
Agawam came out firing in the second period, scoring 31 seconds in and again, on the power play, in the fifth minute of the period to go ahead, 4-2.
The Hornets had some opportunities to cut into that lead as Agawam went to the penalty box four times in the period, including three times in the last 6:25 of the stanza.
But McCann Tech came away with nothing to show for the back-to-back-to-back man-up chances, the last one extending through the first minute of the third.
"I don't feel we were deflated," Parise said of the missed opportunities. "I just feel we were a little tired. I'm running two lines, and these kids didn't realize what that meant, because this is the first year we've run just two lines. I've always run at least three ... and it took its toll.
"[Agawam] was a big, physical team. They were big boys. But I thought, overall, that the kids did play some good hockey."
One bright spot was the performance of sophomore Harris, who made 24 saves.
"That was Ben Harris' first start in goal, and I think he did pretty dang well," Parise said. "So I think there were a lot of good positives to take away from tonight."
McCann Tech (0-1) will take a break from the Fay-Wright Division on Monday when it plays its second of three home games to open the season. Connecticut's Housatonic Valley Regional will be in North Adams for a 7 p.m. puck drop.