RallyNorth.net

Thu, Feb 21, 2008 05:00 PM @ Amesbury

Team	Final
Triton	6
Amesbury	0

Vikings drop winless Amesbury in regular-season finale

Friday, February, 22 By Evan Mugford
Staff writer

Last night at the Graf ice rink, the Triton Vikings ended their season on a positive note by beating the Amesbury Indians, 6-0.

The Indians' (0-19-1) frustrating season finally came to an end, and the Vikings | who narrowly missed a tournament berth at 8-9-2 | will also be looking toward the future.

Kevin Dodier's inaugural season as Vikings coach may not have been filled with post-game celebration, but it was a year abundant with memories of a team he won't soon forget. "Not making the tournament is always disappointing," explained Dodier. "But, as far as the kids go, I had a blast all year. It was such a great group, and we're really going to miss the seniors.

"The way the kids played today, I'm extremely proud of every one of them," said Dodier. "Like I said to the team earlier, I'm proud to be part of Triton hockey and I'm excited for the future."

From the way the first period unraveled, team records appeared to have no bearing on what was going to transpire. Both clubs played a defensive chess-match, keeping it out of each other's offensive zones and making one another work for any momentum build.

Vikings goalie and senior captain Justin Joslin was a wall, easily scraping up lazy shots on net as well as ricocheting any slapshots flying his direction, and for the time being, Indians sophomore goalie Matt Irwin was set on matching Joslin's defensive efforts. At the end of the first period, the score was deadlocked, 0-0.

Amesbury coach Peter Cignetti was happy with his team's mind-set in the initial period, but recognized the team's lack of intensity as the second began.

"I thought we started off pretty well," said Cignetti. "But, we just had a lapse in the second period that kept us from doing any damage, simple as that.

"In the second period they picked up their tempo, and we didn't," said Cignetti. "We didn't play to our potential and we shot ourselves in the foot."

The Vikings didn't waste any time getting off on the right foot as sophomore forward Craig White blasted home the night's first goal at the 14:25 mark, thanks to collaboration by fellow senior captains Chris LeSage and Cam Robinson.

Three minutes later the Vikings found the back of the net again as senior forward Paul Bishop scored off a nice passing by White and Robinson.

Then at the 8:11 mark, the Norse-surge pressed on as Bishop tallied his second goal of the game in part to the familiar tandem of White and Robinson.

The Indians had no answer to the Vikings onslaught, and six minutes later, nice teamwork by junior forward Sean Lawless and senior defenseman Josh McDougall found sophomore forward Ryan Dowling (first goal as a varsity player) for the period's fourth and final tally, pushing the Vikings to a comfortable 4-0 advantage.

A Vikings defensive stand-out over his four-year tenure, LeSage (recently accepted to St. Anselm College, Springfield College and the University of New England) was disappointed to not make the play-offs in his final season, but knows he can look back to a career with a plethora of great moments.

"We've made it 17 years in a row, so it's tough not to get there and continue the streak," explained LeSage. "But, as long as the underclassmen bring the right amount of heart and drive, I'm sure they'll be back in the mix next season. Every point counts, and they need to realize that."

The third period saw a few fiery checks and the Indians seemingly regaining some of the first period's aggression, but a handful of missed opportunities slammed the door shut for any possible miracle come-back and a Indian victory in the season's last game.

The Vikings did no wrong and Joslin continued his expert goal-tending, never giving the Indian competitors a decent angle. At 12:58, junior forward Brandon Middleton and Bishop (3 points) helped Robinson notch his second goal and fourth point of the contest. Then at 2:04, some nice action saw sophomore forward Mike Mysliwy and junior forward Michael McCarthy combine for the assist to a cutting Middleton, promptly ending the game, 6-0.

Despite their poor record, Cignetti was cognizant of what his team's chances were before the season even began. "This team was a pleasure to coach," stated Cignetti. "There were no disciplinary problems, the kids were always attentive, and we as a team never gave up.

"I knew what we had before the season started and I knew we were going to struggle a bit," said Cignetti. "Varsity experience was low, we dressed freshmen regularly, and for the majority of our players, this was their first experience outside of youth hockey.

"None of this is an excuse either," explained Cignetti. "I couldn't be happier with the kids. Being such a young team, this was a learning experience through and through, and hopefully all of this varsity exposure will amount to future success. We'll be a young team again next year, but that doesn't mean we won't be any less competitive."

Preparing the Vikings for next year was something Dodier is already thinking about.

"This off-season is going to be a good one," said Dodier. "We need to get bigger and stronger, and I know the kids are ready to do just that. We have the heart, so once we can absorb the physicality and gel some more as a team, we'll be able to get to that next step."