As the Holliston High hockey players exited the locker room for the second period of Saturday night’s Tri-Valley League matchup with Westwood, Wolverine head coach Mike Welby politely paused to hold the door open as the Panthers skaters filed out.
It was a moment of generosity, but the last extended by anyone from the Westwood’s camp for the remainder of the night.
After losing two straight to start the campaign, Westwood took out its frustrations on Holliston, pounding its host at Veterans Arena, 7-1. Westwood is now 1-2 on the young season while the Panthers remain winless at 0-3.
Leading the charge was Freddy Tonsberg, who picked up four goals in the effort, all but one assisted by linemate Al Royer.
“This was definitely a team effort,” said Tonsberg, who added an assist on a late score to make it a five-point night. “I think we moved the puck much better tonight than the earlier games and we took advantage of the power plays.”
An understatement, if ever there was one. The officials handed Westwood 10 man-advantage chances and Westwood made the most of them, scoring five special teams goals.
Holliston head coach Steve Martin questioned the validity of several of the calls, but understood why his team spent much of the game playing shorthanded.
“I don’t think it was a lack of discipline on our part,” he explained. “We’re just learning how to play a more aggressive style of hockey and I think towards the end, the officials thought we were going to goon it up and they wanted to keep it under control.”
Westwood carried the play at the outset, peppering Holliston goalie Tom Donovan with a dozen shots before the Panthers were able to register their first on Wolverine netminder Joe Maher. Donovan played well but was finally breached by Tonsberg, who lifted a soft, but well-placed flip just under the crossbar. The goal, at 7:22 of the first, was assisted by Kevin Gavin.
The Wolverines made it 2-0 while skating on their first power play. Holliston penalty killers effectively cleared the slot but that focus opened up unhindered passing lanes, including one used by point man Brett Egizi to feed Justin Kucher, who ripped a blazing shot from the right circle that beat Donovan. The goal, at 8:52, later proved to be the game-winner.
Holliston regrouped in the second, halving the deficit on a goal by John Themeli during a scrum in front of Maher. The sole Panther score, which took a tricky ricochet off a Westwood defender’s skate, was assisted by Jack Willard at 7:31.
“I think our kids just fell into a lackadaisical attitude,” said Welby, referring to the Holliston resurgence during the middle period. “They felt they didn’t have to pressure anymore. It was the type of game that any goal would get you right back in it. They got that fluke goal and all of a sudden, it’s 2-1, and we’re no longer in control.”
The Panthers were definitely playing a better brand of hockey in the second but a sequence of events in the latter moments of the period set them back on their heels and they never recovered.
First, Tonsberg scored his second, a power-play goal at 11:07, when he tipped in a shot from Royer, who was manning the right point. Egizi added an assist. And a minute later, Holliston had a goal waved off when the officials determined it had been kicked into the net.
“If they don’t call back that kick-in goal, all of a sudden it would be a 3-2 game,” said Martin. “Westwood is the second best team in the league and we played them pretty well until the third period.”
Martin was referring to the wheels falling off the Holliston wagon in the final frame, when Westwood reeled off four unanswered goals and exacted a heavy toll on the man advantage.
Tonsberg enjoyed a hat trick, driving home his own rebound, with a helper going to Royer at 3:51 for a 4-1 lead.
Westwood preyed on Donovan, who managed to stop 31 on the night, with a 3-on-1 break late in the period. Gavin finished the rush, while assists were credited to Brendan Leahy and Shane Maher, at 10:39.
Exactly a minute later, Egizi made it 6-1, on the power play from Tonsberg and Royer.
And with 2:37 left in the game, Tonsberg was at it again, wrapping up the scoring with his fourth, from Royer.
“I was pleased that our guys came out in the third period and didn’t stop skating,” said Welby. “So far this season, the third has proved to be our best and that’s good to see. I definitely think this is a good sign for us.”
