Playoff fever came to an end for the Vineyard boys hockey team Thursday evening as the top-seeded Norwell Clippers took down the Vineyarders 5-0 at The Bog in Kingston.
While the score appeared lopsided, the first two periods were anything but. The eighth-seeded Island squad more than held their own on defense and had some good looks on offense that just didn’t find the back of the net.
Vineyard defensemen Nick Rego and Wyatt Wiggin did a strong job shutting down the Clipper wingers’ attack and throwing Norwell off their offensive groove. The Vineyarder’s physicality in both zones also kept the pressure on their opponents as the score was knotted up 0-0 going into the first intermission.
At the start of the second period, one could hear a pin drop in the packed arena. Tensions remained high as the battle continued. Back and forth the teams went as an offside call wiped out a Clipper goal and a massive hit from Fankie Paciello nearly jump-started the Vineyard offense. However, it was Norwell who broke through first and after two periods the Clippers held a one goal advantage.
Unfortunately, the third period quickly slipped away from the Vineyarders after they gave up two goals within 30 seconds of each other. A power play goal later in the period proved to be the finisher as the Vineyarders’ playoff bid concluded in the elite eight. The boys finish the season with a record of 14-9.
