BARONS ICE HOCKEY SOARS OVER SHERWOOD ARROWS 8 - 1
by John Spencer
Jan. 22, 2010, LAUREL, MD. After a three-game non-league interlude, the B-CC Barons ice hockey team returned to MSHL action with a convincing 8 – 1 decision over the Sherwood Arrows. Senior center David Fillinich once again led the Barons, tallying six points on the night – four goals and two assists. With the win, B-CC raised its league record to 3 – 4 and overall record to 4 – 6. More importantly, the Barons moved past Sherwood in the MSHL Montgomery East standings and now control their own destiny for the final playoff spot if they can win their remaining four games. Coach J.T. Burton liked the way the Barons "came out of the gate," approaching the game with a "playoff atmosphere."
Despite the lopsided final score, each team got off to a slow offensive start in the first period. Sherwood's first shot came three minutes in and B-CC's followed 30 seconds later. However, the Barons controlled much of the action in the period and throughout the game with great puck control in the Sherwood zone, digging in the corners and exerting extra effort at both ends of the rink. In all likelihood, this period was the best 15 minutes B-CC has played all season.
B-CC sophomore Tomas Dvoracek broke the scoreless tie at 6:43 of the first period, converting on a 3-on-1 breakout. The score seemed to increase the Barons' intensity and confidence immediately as only 18 seconds later Fillinich scored his first goal of the game to extend the lead to 2 – 0.
At 4:49, with junior defensemen Miles Vanderveen off on a holding call, Fillinich scored his second of the game and B-CC's third short-handed goal of the year, making the score 3 – 0. In response, Sherwood called a timeout to gather their composure, but it didn't work as they were whistled for a penalty seconds later. Just as that penalty expired, Fillinich completed his first-period hat trick with 2:31 remaining sending the score to 4 – 0. For the period, B-CC out-shot Sherwood 9 – 5. As usual, goalie Nathan Pratt was a steadying presence between the pipes, letting no puck past the door.
The second period was a different story. After the game, Coach Burton expressed frustration that the middle frame remains the Barons' "demon" period. The energy level and effort dropped off markedly and Sherwood capitalized, out-shooting the Barons 17 – 10 for the period. Fortunately, goalie Pratt had his "A" game on, with several impressive saves, in particular one at the 9:30 mark using his toe, as he kept Sherwood off the scoreboard for another period.
B-CC extended its lead to 5 – 0 at the 4:45 mark on a spectacular play by senior Harrison Pratt. From the blue line, Fillinich hit a backhanded lob towards the Sherwood goal. Pratt caught the puck with his glove, dropped it to the ice and flipped it behind the Arrows' goalie in almost one continuous motion. Just more than 10 seconds later, junior Nathan Shearer scored, making the score 6 – 0 and commencing the running clock under the new "mercy" rule.
The third period was relatively uneventful as the Barons prevented Sherwood from mounting any kind of comeback or momentum. Although the Arrows broke through for their first goal at 14:14 on a power play, only 10 seconds later the Barons returned to a six-goal lead and running mercy clock on Shearer's second goal with an assisted from Fillinich. B-CC closed out its scoring on Fillinich's fourth goal at 9:10 when he beat a number of Sherwood defenders on the left side and deposited the biscuit into the back of the net. Each team took five shots in the period. For the game, Sherwood out shot B-CC 27 – 24.
BARONS NOTES: Fillinich now has 17 goals and 7 assists on the season and is one of the league's top scorers… Goalie Pratt turned away 26 of 27 Sherwood shots (.962 save percentage) and for the season has an .846 save rate on 350 shots… Mae Frawley had an outstanding game with several great shifts, a near goal in the third period and once again taking hard hits. She was knocked down twice, once in front of the net and once along the boards… The backchecking and shot-blocking of Vanderveen, junior Nathan Gelfand-Toutant and freshman Jack Walpuck were excellent… The largest crowd of the season was in attendance as home team B-CC shared the stands with Sherwood, which also practices and plays at Laurel… The Arrows' leading scorer, sophomore Kyle Nicholas, was not at this game.
BARONS UPCOMING GAMES: Wednesday, January 27th at 8:15 p.m. at the Wheaton Indoor Rink against Blair; and a nightcap on Friday, January 29th, 9:55 p.m. at Rockville Ice Arena against the Northwest consortium (Poolsville/Einstein).