On January 29^th, the St. Paul's School boys varsity hockey team traveled to Milton Academy to take on the "Mustangs" on Roberts Rink for a 4:00 PM puck drop. After fifty-four minutes of play, the "Big Red" skated off the ice surface with a 1-0 victory, and goaltender Blake Truchon ?26 (South Burlington, VT) posted his first shutout of the 2024-2025 campaign. Truchon was spectacular in the net all game. The "Delphian Club" member was especially on point with his play when the Millville skaters were whistled for penalties at various points in the contest. Truchon also made several key saves at critical moments in five-on-five play, enabling his teammates to regain their defensive structure and build their offensive attack.
 
Fin Kilbourne ?27 (Duxbury, MA) scored the game's only goal—8 seconds into the start of the second period. Fin Kilbourne lined up at the opening face-off on the right side, with his brother Anderson Kilbourne  ?26 (Duxbury, MA) at the center position and Harry Dermody  ?26 (Bedford, NH) at the left wing position. The "Big Red" trio won possession of the puck and immediately entered the Milton Academy defensive zone. Dermody, the initial puck possessor, skated the puck into the offensive zone on the left side and slid the puck to Anderson Kilbourne on his right. The older Kilbourne then drove and juked his way through the middle third of the ice towards the Milton net. When Kilbourne reached below the right offensive zone faceoff dot, he fired a pass to his younger brother, Fin, who was camped out at the top of the crease to bang home the game's only goal. For the remainder of the second period, the referees were active—making sure the two teams played within the rules of the game. Both teams created numerous scoring chances during special teams play, but both goaltenders were especially up for the challenge.
 
In the third period of play, the St. Paul's School defense was exceptional. The forward players demonstrated maturity and discipline with the puck in the neutral and offensive zones, making it hard for Milton to organize and sustain consistent offensive pressure. When there was a St. Paul's School team play breakdown, Truchon was there to help recalibrate his teammates on the goal at hand—a good, hard-played, disciplined road hockey game.
 
The St. Paul's School varsity hockey team will be in action again on January 31^st in the Hockey Center on Gordon Rink at 6:45 PM when they take on the Northfield Mount Hermon "Hoggers."