The Northwood Junior hockey team headed to SUNY Oswego last weekend to face off against Gilmour Academy, a prep school from Ohio. They played one game apiece on Saturday and Sunday.
Cole Leal ’18 celebrates a Husky goal.
After a tough loss in overtime in Beantown, the team wanted to respond quickly the following weekend. “It was important to jump on them early and get the first goal and build off that” said Matt Shanklin (2019, Forward). The Huskies did just that. Tommy Bannister (2020, Forward) scored early in the first period, but after that it was a seesaw battle between both teams. However, Northwood finished the game on top 6-4. Other goals came from Cole Leal (2019, Defense), Sam DiBitetto (2018,Forward), Cody Monds (2020, Forward), Jared Lambright (2020, Defense). And the game winner came from Santeri Hartikainen (2018, Forward). Jake Mucitelli (2019, Goalie) picked up another win in net. He was very solid in the performance and made a key save at the end of the game.
The next game the Huskies came out hungry and ready to battle as soon as the puck dropped. The Huskies jumped on Gilmour and dominated the game, controlling the play and winning by a score of 7-0. Rico Dimatteo (2020, Goalie) was great in goal and picked up his second shutout of the year. Goals came from DiBitetto, Monds, Bannister, Hartikainen, Will Arquiett (2019, Forward) and Drew Rose (2019, Defenseman) picked up two goals in the win.
Jack Dugan ’17
Not only was this game a big win for the Huskies in beating a fellow competitive prep school, but also Head Coach Chadd Cassidy picked up his 100th win behind the Huskies’ bench. Cassidy’s three-year tenure at Northwood has been nothing but success. His first two years he picked up 85 wins. This year he has led the team to a 15-3 record. Pat Callahan (2018, Forward) has a lot of respect for his coach. “He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, and he’s helped me progress and change my game.” Jack Dugan ‘17, a Providence commit who currently leads the USHL in scoring, was drafted by the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and said “Coach Cassidy made me into the person and player that I am today.”
Next weekend the Junior team leaves school on Thursday to travel to Indiana to face off against St. Andrew’s College, St. Laurent Patriots, and Shattuck Saint Mary. “It’ll be one of our biggest weekends of the year,” said Sean Bunting (2019, Forward).
