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Cape Cod Whalers Cruise to Massachusetts Tier I 16U Title

By Tom Robinson - Special to USAHockey.com, 03/17/15, 6:30PM MDT

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Casey Carreau went from lead playmaker to lead scorer in the state tournament

Casey Carreau led the Cape Cod Whalers in assists during league play.

With a national tournament berth on the line in the Massachusetts District champions, Carreau turned into the team’s top scoring threat.

Carreau scored six goals in five district tournament games, including an unassisted goal en route to a 3-0 victory over the North Suburban Wings in the Tier I 16U final.

The title in the tournament, which was held in November, earned the Whalers a berth to the Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier I National Championships March 26-30 in Amherst, N.Y. The Massachusetts District conducts its championships and determines its national qualifiers at the end of a fall season in order to free players up to compete in high school and prep school hockey.

Cape Cod went 12-3 and finished third in the 16-team Massachusetts Midget Selects Tier I 16U League. The Whalers also led the league in scoring. Graham Montgomery led the potent offensive attack through league play with 17 goals and 30 points in 15 games.

In the district tournament, Cape Cod went 5-0 and outscored opponents 24-7. Adian Murphy made 24 saves to complete the shutout in the championship game win over North Suburban.

Each Massachusetts championship was decided by pool play followed by semifinals and finals.

Junior Eagles Beat Junior Terriers in Tier I 14U Rematch

Josh Barton scored the overtime game-winner when the Boston Junior Eagles defeated the Boston Junior Terriers 3-2 in the Massachusetts Tier I 14U championship game.

The two Eastern Hockey Federation teams in the Tier I 14U final split their regular-season meetings.

The Eagles allowed just one goal in three pool play games before battling past the Boston Bandits 4-2 in the semifinals.

Defenseman Jack Babbage came to the Eagles with national tournament experience this season after playing for the Syracuse Nationals last season.

“We play all three zones well,” Eagles assistant coach/team manager Brian Casey said. “We back-check well. We cycle well. And we’re really good from the blue line out. We have a fantastic goalie [Connor Hopkins]. He’s big. He’s quick. And, we have a very experienced and solid defensive corps.”

Tier II Roundup

The Greater Boston Vipers averaged more than six goals per game in an unbeaten run through the Massachusetts Tier II 18U tournament. After scoring 22 goals in pool play, the Vipers got through the elimination rounds with a pair of overtime victories.

Ryan Smith scored the goal to get the Vipers past the Quincy 67s in a 4-3 semifinal battle. Andrew Somerville and Bernie McGovern set up the goal.

In the championship game, the Vipers opened a 3-0 advantage over the Coastal Whalers. But the Whalers rallied and eventually took a 4-3 lead with eight minutes left. Greater Boston’s Mike McPherson tied the game to force overtime. McGovern then created the fore-checking pressure that set up Somerville for a one-timer from the slot that secured the 5-4 win and Massachusetts title.

The Neponset Valley River Rats recovered from a tournament-opening loss to dominate the rest of the way in the Tier II 16U division. The River Rats outscored four opponents by a total of 33-6, including a 6-0 championship game victory over the South Shore Kings. Both teams in the Tier II 16U final advanced to nationals.

The Springfield Rifles won the Tier II 14U title 3-2 over the Bay State Breakers.

The Tier II tournaments are held at different sites March 26-30. The 18Us are headed to Troy, Mich.; the 16Us to Plano, Texas; and the 14Us to Salt Lake City.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.


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