One big night down, hopefully a few more to go for the Greenfield hockey team.
The Green Wave honored their seven seniors on Saturday night in an 8-0 victory over Mount Everett at Collins-Moylan Arena in Greenfield. The victory wrapped up an undefeated Wright Division record, as Greenfield captured the league title outright on the strength of a 9-0-1 mark (10-6-2 overall).
“Those seniors can leave their high school careers having won the Wright championship all four years they’ve been with the program,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard lauded. “They all played their hearts out on their home ice for their last regular season game.”
Captains Kevin Baumann and MJ Paulin, along with fellow seniors Owen Willhite, Logan Hume, Ben Given, RJ Grondin and Jake Croteau, were honored at the game, which coincided with the annual Petrin Alumni Hockey Game.
“That group, you have a gambit of players who have really helped us come together as a team in a variety of ways,” Bouchard said. “Not only this season, but the last four years. They really encapsulate what it means to play Green Wave hockey.”
Greenfield led 4-0 after one period, and put two in the back of the net in each of the final two periods to get the win on Saturday. Sammy Knight scored twice in the win, while Baumann (goal, three assists), Shane Prusak (goal, assist), Paulin (goal, assist), Grondin (goal), Jake Jurek (goal), Trevor Kuchieski (goal, assist), Croteau (goal) and Jayson Smith (assist) all got in on the act offensively.
Goalie Josh Bordeaux stopped all seven shots he faced for the team’s first shutout of the season.
The win halted a three-game losing streak, and Bouchard hopes it will provide some momentum as the postseason begins Monday night. Greenfield, seeded No. 2 in the Western Mass. Class B Tournament, will battle with No. 3 Belchertown in the semifinals at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m., and the winner will play either No. 1 Chicopee Comp or No. 4 Chicopee in the sectional title game on Thursday back at the Olympia (6:30 p.m.).
“We do know a lot about their organization, and they know a lot about ours having played each other two times a season for as long as I can remember,” said Bouchard of Belchertown. “A lot of these players grew up playing together, whether on local or club teams. So it’s very exciting, and we’re very excited to be part of the new Western Mass. tournament format and state tournament format. It’s playoff time now, so every piece and second really matters.”
Greenfield went 1-0-1 against Belchertown during the regular season, including a 7-1 win when the teams last met back on Feb. 5. The Chicopee-Chicopee Comp semifinal will follow Monday night’s game at 8:30 p.m.