GLOUCESTER — The Cape Ann Savings Bank boys hockey tournament was officially underway at Talbot Rink Tuesday evening. The Marblehead Headers (0-5) took on reigning tournament champion Barrington (RI).
Unfortunately for Marblehead, it dropped its first game, 2-1.
“I thought it was a good effort from our team – from start to finish. We just had a couple of mistakes – not through lack of effort – but missed coverage,” said coach Mark Marfione in his second season helming the program.
The Headers started the game strong and just four minutes into the game, Charlie Grenier gave them the lead, 1-0.
It was a forecheck from Kyle Hart that chipped the puck loose. He went on to shoot the puck, and Grenier was there to slot home the rebound.
“I think this was Charlie’s best game of the year. We want him to be harder to play against and be harder on pucks,” Marfione said. “I think he responded well to that and had his best game of the year.”
In the second period, still holding onto the slim cushion, it was Marblehead goalie Leo Burdge’s turn to stand up and make plays. Burdge saved some of Barrington’s best efforts to keep the game scoreless after the second period.
“Leo has been good for us all year. He comes up with timely saves and he’s been solid for us all year,” Marfione said. “Leo’s goaltending has been a bright spot for us this year. He makes the saves you expect him to, but also pulls out some nice saves that you don’t expect him to get to.”
Unfortunately for Marblehead, the third period was one to forget. Barrington scored on its first shot of the period at the 7:29 mark to level the game, 1-1.
Then, four minutes later, Barrington broke the deadlock. A scramble in front of the net allowed Trent Senn to fire a loose puck into the back of the cage.
Despite the loss, Marfione said he liked what he saw from his team effort-wise, and that his group will start “stringing some wins together” if it continues.
“I think that it was the most complete game we played all year. When we have that effort level, we’re going to be in games. We wanted a better result, obviously, but I think we were focused the whole time,” he said. “We played a lot in their end. We got a lot of shots on net. If we have that effort level every night, hopefully, we’re going to start stringing some wins together.”