St. Paul's School varsity boys' hockey team hit the road this afternoon, traveling north to take on local Lakes Region School opponent, the Tilton School Rams. The Big Red, playing their second game in twenty-four hours, started the game slowly and never really got their up-tempo game going. Although the Big Red had a sluggish start to the contest, they finished the first eighteen minutes of play tied with the home team at two goals apiece, with St. Paul's School goals coming from Sixth Former Pat Cooley (Rutland, VT) and Fifth Former Anderson Kilbourne (Duxbury, MA).
In the second period, the Big Red team defense surrendered two more goals: one off a defensive zone face-off on the right side of the rink and one originating from below the goal line in the left corner. To the Tilton School's credit, they thwarted the high-flying Big Red in the neutral and offensive zones throughout the entire game. The Rams quickly recovered dumped and loose pucks, turning them up in transition to prevent the visitors from establishing quality scoring chances.
In the third period, Tilton scored their fifth goal on a shot attempt off an odd-man line rush. The sixth and final Ram goal was scored when St. Paul's School had their goalie, Blake Truchon (So. Burlington, VT), pulled for an extra attacker. Newcomer Fourth Form student Mitchell Smith (Thunder Bay, ON) scored his first of what many St. Paul's School hockey enthusiasts believe will be many more New England Prep School hockey goals, by banking home a rebound shot on the doorstep of the Tilton goal mouth. Smith's goal originated off the stick of Sixth Form captain Matt Vohra (Valley, NS) from the right half board in the offensive zone.
This year's varsity hockey team will look to regroup on Monday and Tuesday, strengthening their team defense as they prepare for a big week of Lakes Region hockey ahead. They have home games on Wednesday and Friday against Vermont Academy and Kimball Union Academy, as well as an away game at Proctor Academy early Saturday evening. We hope to see you in the Hockey Center for what will be an exciting week of prep school hockey!
