GLOUCESTER — Every detail counts.
Sometimes they go your way and pay off handsomely in the long run; in other instances, mistakes that might seem inconsequential at the time ultimately result in a setback.
It’s the latter scenario that befell the Gloucester boys hockey team Saturday night at Talbot Rink, as they couldn’t rally from a second period deficit and saw their six-game winning streak snapped thanks to a 5-4 loss to Masconomet.
The Fishermen (now 6-2) got a hat trick from senior center Brett Cunningham as well as a goal and an assist from his linemate, left wing Colby Jewell. But they couldn’t overcome a 4-goal second stanza from the visiting Chieftains, nor a tally they allowed with just 30 seconds left in the first period.
“We dominated that first period,” said head coach Derek Geary, whose team held a 15-7 edge in shots after 15 minutes and 42-23 for the game. “But (Masco scored on) a simple hustle play. That’s a case where two Masconomet kids outhustled two Gloucester kids, and they get a big goal. Those goals that happen late in periods, it’s almost like they count for two instead of one.”
That tally, which started when Johnny Mireault dug a puck out of the right corner and hit linemate Ben Merrill on his tape out front for an easy one-timer, led to a surge in momentum for Masconomet (now 7-2) in the second. Merrill scored again less than three minutes into the middle frame, and Colten Russo’s power play goal increased their lead to 3-1. Two more goals by Mireault off breakdowns saw the Fishermen trailing, 5-3, with one minute to go.
“We have to be encouraged in that it was an excellent high school hockey game, we carried the play and outshot them basically 2-to-1,” Geary said. “But they were more opportunistic and maybe got 1-2 more bounces than us.”
Merrill and Mireault, the left and right wingers, respectively, on the Chieftains’ first line, both had four points. Goaltender Chris Sacco was also solid in finishing with 38 saves.
“We responded very well tonight,” said Chieftains head coach Andrew Boepple. “Several of our goals were very timely. And Chris not only stopped most of the shots he saw for us, but also made the second and third saves off rebounds when he had to.”
After being swept in a home-and-home series last year, Masconomet has now won six of its last eight meetings against the Fishermen. The two teams will square off again Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Haverhill Valley Forum.
Gloucester cut its deficit to 5-4 with nine minutes to go after Cunningham completed his hat trick with yet another man advantage goal. The Fishermen had two more power play chances over the final six minutes, but wasn’t able to cash in on either one.
They pulled goalie Nick Tarantino (18 saves) for an extra skater with 1:30 remaining and had three point blank opportunities to tie it, but again were denied by Sacco and time ran out.
“Our first unit was fatigued by that point. And it’s tough to lose,” said Geary, with his thumb and forefinger nearly touching to make a point,” when you can taste the tying goal but miss it by this much.”
Despite the setback, Geary stressed it wasn’t for lack of effort. He was pleased not only with his top line, but also second and third liners such as Charlie Terelak, Giacomo Martell, Winn Linn and Colby Warren (“when Colby really skates, he’s one of the top skaters on the ice.”).
“The first thing we look for as coaches is compete level and hustle, which is 80 percent of high school hockey,” said Geary, whose team has another huge clash coming up at NEC front runner Winthrop Wednesday. “We were happy with that tonight; we just didn’t get the result we wanted.”
Masconomet 5, Gloucester 4
at Dorothy Talbot Rink, Gloucester
Masconomet;1;4;0;5
Gloucester;1;2;1;4
First period: G, Colby Jewell (Brett Cunningham, Joseph Orlando), 8:33; M, Ben Merrill (Johnny Mireault), 14:30.
Second period: M, Merrill (J. Mireault, Anthony Cerbone), 2:52; M, Colten Russo (Miles Mireault), ppg, 5:34; G, Cunningham (Orlando, Jewell), ppg, 11:26; M, J. Mireault (Jack Wheadon, Merrill), 12:01; M, J. Mireault (Alan Weitzman, Merrill), 13:13; G, Cunningham (un), ppg, 13:40.
Third period: G, Cunningham (un), ppg, 6:01.
Saves: M, Chris Sacco 38; G, Nick Tarantino 18.
Records: M, 7-2-0; G, 6-2-0.