The Wilmington Bantam 1 Wildcats skated into Saugus’ Hockeytown Arena recently missing several key players: Matthew Riley, Mason King, Brendan Cyr and Matthew Fogg, but welcomed call ups Brian Doherty and Brayden Doe to help fill the bench.
Brayden Warford was also in attendance but remained sidelined due to injury.
Despite the short roster, the Wildcats delivered one of their grittiest efforts of the season in a fast, back-and-forth matchup that ended in a hard-earned 2–2 tie.
For more than half the game, the scoreboard stayed frozen as both teams traded rushes, blocked shots, and big saves. Wilmington’s defense, led by strong gap control from Mason Desmond, kept Stoneham’s attackers to the outside and limited high danger chances.
But with 5:12 left in the second period, Stoneham finally broke through on a strange bounce unique to the quirks of the Hockeytown Rink.
A Spartans winger gained the zone, but was steered wide by Desmond, forcing him to dump the puck.
What should have wrapped behind the net instead caught an unpredictable deflection off the boards, popping right out to an unchecked Spartan in the slot, who buried it for a 1–0 lead.
The Wildcats answered midway through the third with a beautifully executed three-man rush. Jaydn Onos carried the puck out of the defensive zone and dropped it to Grayson Lynch, who feathered a smooth saucer pass over center ice to a streaking Zach Stroud.
Stroud crossed the blue line with speed and ripped a far side, top corner laser to tie the game with 8:18 remaining.
Momentum seemed to tilt Wilmington’s way, but a tough turnover at the offensive blue line gave Stoneham life. As Johnny Raposo tried to chip the puck out of the zone, the Spartans’ speedy center intercepted it and broke in alone on goaltender Evan Jageler.
The Stoneham forward converted on the breakaway, putting the Spartans up 2–1.
With 1:22 left, Wilmington pulled Jageler for the extra attacker, sending out an energized six skater unit that included Stella Hardiman, Jaydn Onos, Grayson Lynch, Mason Desmond. John Raposo and Zach Stroud. The move paid off ! Raposo, showing incredible determination, carried the puck nearly coast to coast through all the traffic.
Instead of forcing a contested shot, he unselfishly slid a perfect pass across the slot to Stroud on the back door. Stroud roofed it from just outside the far post, tying the game in dramatic fashion.
Goaltender Evan Jageler was outstanding throughout the night, turning away 27 shots and making several crucial saves to keep Wilmington within striking distance.
Despite missing several regulars, Wilmington matched Stoneham stride for stride in a tight, intense game that showcased wildcat will to fight back. Both teams generated quality chances, but the Wildcats’ late push and never quit attitude earned them a well-deserved point in the Valley League standings.
Loss to North Andover
The Wilmington Wildcat Bantam 1 team battled the Micro IceMen of North Andover (3–2–2) last Sunday night, returning to action after a 2–2 tie with Stoneham on November 22.
Missing regulars Johnny Raposo and Brayden Warford, the Wildcats bolstered their lineup with Brayden Doe and Jack Fennelly for what proved to be a physical, fast paced matchup.
Wilmington rolled three centers: Grayson Lynch, Alternate Captain Matthew Riley, and Stella Hardiman, while wingers Matthew Fogg skated with Fennelly and Alternate Captain Zach Stroud paired with Doe. On defense, Captain Brendan Cyr teamed with Jaydn Onos, and the Mason pairing of Desmond and King rounded out the blue line.
Evan Jageler got the start in net.
The IceMen opened the scoring with 7:58 left in the first period. After a defensive-zone draw won cleanly by Lynch, Onos delivered a heavy check in the corner, but the puck popped loose. IceMen forward Jared Lyons pounced, turning and firing a shot that deflected off Onos and slipped past Jageler low on the short side. North Andover carried a 1–0 advantage into the intermission.
Lyons struck again in the second, burying his second of the night. Pressure from Fennelly forced a point shot into traffic, and despite Jageler making the initial save, and a rebound stop but the third attempt finally found its way in, giving the IceMen a 2–0 cushion heading into the final frame.
North Andover extended the lead to 3–0 with 6:36 remaining in the third after a controversial sequence. As Mason Desmond attempted to cut up the corner with puck control, an IceMen stick clipped his skates, no call on the play, causing a turnover.
Teddy Lally quickly fed Cameron Crawford in the face-off circle, and Crawford snapped a low shot past Jageler.
Wilmington pulled their goalie with 3:15 left and surged with sustained offensive pressure, but IceMen goaltender Hunter Rauseo stood tall. North Andover sealed the game with an empty net goal, securing a 4–0 victory.