Monday, March 11, 2013
Next Stop for Big Blue: The TD Garden
It was big news out of Rome Wednesday when white smoke rose from a Vatican City chimney. There well might have been white smoke seeping out of Chelmsford Forum Wednesday night, and that was more likely from the searing heat generated by two well-matched hockey teams that rocked and walloped until Noah Maercklein notched an overtime goal to give Swampscott a 4-3 win over Medway and a berth in Sunday's State Division III Finals at TD Garden. In a game for the ages, Swampscott saw their 3-2 lead vanish with less than a minute to go and survived a shaky start to the overtime period. But there's a reason they call it "sudden death" overtime, and for Medway — a Division III finalist last year, it was for them the bell tolled. After a scoreless…
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Nunzio Morretti's Goal Sinks Buccaneers, 3-2
Things were starting to look bleak on the Swampscott side, as the clock ticked near the two minute mark and Bedford, up 2-1, intent to smother everything that crossed the blue line. Swampscott had other ideas, though. Turning up the offensive heat with aggessive--one might say desperate--skating, the Blue loosened the Bedford defense, through which Chris Carman found a seam and tied the game with a wrist shot from the slot that beat Bedford goalie Abram Grainger. Overtime seemed the likely destination--and maybe Bedford was feeling good about it. After all, the Buccaneers advanced in the tournament by knocking off top-seeded Lowell in a quarterfinal game that stretched through a 12-minute overtime period and an 8-shot shootout before the …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Big Blue have the Division III North title In their sights.
Having slayed the No. 1 (Lowell) and No. 2 (Marblehead) seeds along the way, Bedford High's Buccaneers and Swampscott's Big Blue arrive at Stoneham Arena for a 4:30 showdown today to decide who will represent the North when the MIAA Division III post-season tournament continues next week. Swampscott comes into the game fresh off a surprising upset over Marblehead Wednesday, but the Blue's performance was no fluke. Despite having lost twice, rather decidedly, to Marblehead during the regular season, Swampscott unwrapped an aggressive, tight-checking defense and remained patient offensively. That patience paid off. After a first period Nunzio Morretti goal was disallowed when the left net post dislodged, Marblehead went ahead 1-0 on a …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Swampscott slugged St. Joseph, 10-1, in the North Div. 3 quarter-finals; Marblehead is next up in the semi-finals Wednesday.
Cory Carmody's Hat Trick topped the scorecard as Swampscott buried St. Joseph's Prep 10-1 in Division 3 North quarter-final action Saturday at Stoneham Arena. With Marblehead topping Rockport 4-2 in Saturday's other quarterfinal, another bout between the North Shore neighboring rivals is set for Wednesday night, 5:10 pm at the Chelmsford Forum. Olympic star Nancy Kerrigan learned to skate at Stoneham Arena, but her ice hosted little finesse Saturday, as officials whistled 22 penalties and doused a near-brawl late in the third period. The chippy Phoenix, though, were no match for the Blue, and never were able to rise from the ashes after falling behind 5-1 at the end of one period. Swampscott ran away with three more in the second, and …
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Blue icemen prepare for the post-season run after a fine season.
The Big Blue skaters notched 15 victories in the 2012-13 season. Now the skaters are tournament bound. The tournament brackets are below. Swampscott plays March 2, against the winner of the St. Joseph's Prep vs. Northest Regional game. Bracket Notes: 1. Lowell (14-2-4) .800 2. Marblehead (17-5-0) .773 3. Swampscott (15-5-0) .750 4. Shawsheen (13-6-1) .675 5. Lowell Catholic (11-6-4) .619 6. St. Joseph Prep (9-6-3) .583 7. Wayland (9-7-4) .550 8. Weston (9-8-3) .525 9. Bedford (9-8-3) .525 10. Rockport (8-8-2) .500 11. Northeast Reg (8-8-4) .500 12. Latin Academy (9-10-1) .475 In the meantime, here are some photos of the Blue Crew by Robert Marra.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Big Blue leash West Springfield Terriers, 4-1
Swampscott tuned up for post-season tourament play with a 4-1 win over West Springfield Wednesday afternoon at Salem State's Rockett Arena in the Big Blue's final regular season hockey game. The Swampscott skaters defeated a solid Division 3 team in West Springfield. Big Blue's offense was sparked by Trevor Massey's 3 assists, and Corey Carmody and Chris Carman both had a goal and an assist. Tyler Peterson also chipped in with a goal. Tristan Bradley was in net with 16 saves. The Big Blue finished the season with a 15-5 record, tying the 1989-90 season as the team with the most wins and best record in Swampscott's Hockey history. Seeding for the tournament will be released on Sunday. The photos of the Big Blue team are by Robert Marra…
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Blue Blanked, 5-0
Marblehead left little doubt that they are the Big Man in the Northeast Conference (Small) as they dominanted Swampscott 5-0 in hockey action Wednesday night at Salem State University's Rockett Arena. Swampscott held tough through a tight first period, falling behind 1-0. But the Blue couldn't muster much offense against a stout Marblehead defense, and what little they could was stifled by Marblehead goaltender Harrison Young. Still, it was a 1-0 game deep into the second period, but Marblehead netted two quick goals in with just under five minutes left in the period. And when Marblehead turned its attention to protecting its lead in the third period, Swampscott was stymied repeatedly beyond center ice. The Headers added a pair of goals…
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Swampscott Marblehead Face Off at 8 Tonight
If it's not enough that any re-enactment of the Swampscott-Marblehead rivalry--in any sport--always promises a slam-bam affair, tonight's hockey game between the two tourney-bound teams adds a shot at the Northeast Conference (Small) title. Marblehead counts a December 22 6-3 victory among its 12 wins this season, and Swampscott relishes the chance to avenge the defeat. Puck drops at 8 p.m. at the Rockett Arena at Salem State University.
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Monday, January 21, 2013
Undefeated Beverly was too much.
Beverly's undefeated Panthers handed Swampscott's Big Blue its second loss of the season Saturday afternoon at Salem State University's Rockett Arena, scratching out a 4-1 win in a game where Swampscott's offense just couldn't get untracked. Things got off to a great start for the Blue early in the first period when Griffin Hunt intercepted a pass near mid ice and blasted a point-blank shot past Panther goalie Tim Birarelli. The 1-0 lead, however, was the extent of Swampscott's joy for the day. Beverly's defense ruled the rest of the afternoon, frustrating Swampscott constantly from mounting any offensive threat. Beverly's Graham Doherty tied the score, and a Jack Morency goal at the end of the first period put Beverly out front to stay…
Friday, March 2, 2012
Wayland Warriors End Big Blue Season, 3-1
Wayland rode a mid-game three goal flurry, stingy defense, and some solid goaltending by Ben Boschetto to take a 3-1 win in the opening round of the Division 3 South hockey tournament and bring the Swampscott High season to an end Thursday night at Stoneham Arena. Swampscott's lone goal came with 2:45 left in the game off the stick of Captain Gino Cresta, whose tally marked the conclusion of one of the finest careers in Big Blue hockey history. But Cresta's success came too late, as he and his mates were continuously frustrated throughout the night by a Wayland defense that hounded Cresta and any other Blue jersey that crossed the blue line. The teams battled through a scoreless first period, but the floodgates opened — if only for a …
Elaina Kramer
5:44 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The town is behind you and we're all so proud of you - congratulations! Model team, model players! more ›