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Boys hockey captures Battle Road Classic with two tight wins

The wins against Acton-Boxborough and Lexington on December 27 earned the Pats their fourth straight Classic victory.

By Max Furman ·

Declan Daley (No. 8) after he buried a pass from Ben Brooks to take the 1-0 lead in the second period against Lexington in the Battle Road Classic final. Photo by Hugh Finnerty
Declan Daley (No. 8) after he buried a pass from Ben Brooks to take the 1-0 lead in the second period against Lexington in the Battle Road Classic final. Photo by Hugh Finnerty

The Acton-Carlisle boys varsity hockey team topped perennial rival Lexington, 2-1, to win its fourth straight Battle Road Classic on December 27. The Game 2 victory came after the Patriots advanced to the final with a 4-3 shootout win over Acton-Boxborough earlier in the day. 

Battle Road Classic Game 1: 

  • Final score: CCHS 4, Acton-Boxborough 3 (officially a 3-3 tie, victory in the shootout)
  • Big game: After the intense contest ended 3-3, the Pats won the shootout, as goalie Sam Griswold (27 saves overall) stopped all of Acton-Boxborough’s shootout attempts, and Joe Grasso deked the A-B netminder and flicked in a backhander for the game-winner.
  • Turning point/game changer: Declan Daley fired a laser from the top of the circle to give CC its third goal.
  • Unsung hero: Cal Alexander assisted on CC’s opening goal, threading a cross-ice pass to Owen Moynihan.
Late in the second period, Chris Bono (No. 3) celebrates with Tommy McKenna (No. 13) after McKenna’s goal extended CC’s lead to 2-0 over Lexington. Photo by Hugh Finnerty
Late in the second period, Chris Bono (No. 3) celebrates with Tommy McKenna (No. 13) after McKenna’s goal extended CC’s lead to 2-0 over Lexington. Photo by Hugh Finnerty

Battle Road Classic Game 2: 

  • Final score: CCHS 2, Lexington 1
  • Team record: Overall 3-1-1; Dual County League 1-0
  • Big game: Daley tallied goals in both games of the tournament, netting the puck on a deft feed in front from center Ben Brooks to open the scoring.
  • Turning point/game changer: Tommy McKenna scored the 2-0 goal with a deflection on a long shot by Grasso, who assisted on both CC goals, tallying  four points in the two-game tournament.
  • Unsung hero: The defensive pairing of Christopher Bono and Jake Jones repeatedly frustrated Lexington’s attack, especially during the Minutemen’s furious efforts in the final period.
  • Up next: The Patriots were to travel up Route 2 to Arlington on December 31 for a faceoff with Arlington Catholic.
Tommy McKenna in pursuit of his first goal of the season. Photo by Hugh Finnerty
Tommy McKenna in pursuit of his first goal of the season. Photo by Hugh Finnerty

CCHS 4, Newton South 0

A balanced offense, a solid defense, and superb goaltending led the Patriots to a convincing 4-0 victory on December 17 in the opening game of Dual County League play.

  • Team record: Overall 1-1; Dual County League 1-0
  • Big game: Griswold shone throughout the game, earning the shutout in his first start of the season. Daley, Grasso, Alex Fivek, and Theo Price scored for the Patriots; defenseman Will Steffens led the team with two assists.
  • Turning point: Fivek broke the scoreless tie midway through the second period.
  • Unsung hero: In his first-ever league game for CCHS, freshman Ben Brooks assisted on the opening goal.

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