AMHERST — The Amherst Regional hockey team took down Greenfield, 8-1, delivering the Green Wave their first loss of the season, Wednesday night at Orr Rink.
The Hurricanes (11-2) got off to a quick start and never looked back, exacting some revenge on the Green Wave (9-1-2) for eliminating Amherst from playoff consideration by one point last season.
“Coach’s motivator was that we didn’t get to playoffs last year because of these guys,” said Amherst’s Kouji Ishida, who had a goal and four assists. “He said keep going at them, we should beat these guys by a lot.”
The bad taste of last season’s game fueled the Hurricanes and was something that coach Mike Rousseau made sure to remind his young team about in the locker room before the game.
“Some motivational speaking prior to the game,” Rousseau said. “They scored a goal and they threw a rubber chicken on the ice (last year), so what I tried to do was tap into some anger. Our guys are young, we’re freshman and sophomore heavy, and they responded.”
Now, Greenfield is the team left with a bitter taste after suffering its first loss of the season. Still, the Green Wave remain one of the top teams in Division 3A and can use this game as a learning experience.
“I honestly think that this loss is going to work out for us in the end because it will push us forward and get us really focused,” Greenfield forward Doug Hanieski said. “We don’t really lose much, but this loss should give us a boost and motivate us to not have this feeling again.”
The game was physical throughout, with the power play playing a big part in the Hurricanes’ early run. Late in the game the action was bordering on getting out of hand with two unsportsmanlike penalties and a bench minor for each team with under eight minutes to go.
“I think a lot of the problem is that our emotions get to us,” Rousseau said. “A lot of times they have the first guy and there we go trying to protect him and we don’t realize that we now made it five on five. That’s youth. I can appreciate their loyalty but not stupidity, but we’ll discuss that tomorrow at practice.”
Both teams are looking to what lies ahead in the postseason, including a potential rematch. Regardless, each team likes how they stack up with the competition after Wednesday’s game.
“At the beginning of the season we talked about what our team goals were and not one time was a goal undefeated,” Greenfield’s Mike McGoldrick said. “It was about being the best team when playoffs come around.”
Rousseau did not underplay the importance of the win for Amherst.
“It’s our most meaningful (win) right now,” Rousseau said. “Taking down the other undefeated team in Western Mass. 3A is pretty powerful stuff.”
Bryan Baumann scored for Greenfield, while Kyle Barnes and Hanieski each had one assist. Riley Drew made 22 saves.
Nick Foster (assist) led Amherst with three goals, while Brandon Peritz added two for Amherst. Eli Slovin and Chris Foster (two assists) scored once apiece. Jayden Blackburn, Nick Paul and Carter Beckwith each had one assist. John Hanscom made 17 saves.