WOBURN — Saturday afternoon’s first period at O’Brien Ice Rink showed every bit of the 11-day layoff since the Winchester boys hockey team played its last game.
What followed also showed every bit of what makes Winchester a true threat in the league title race, and beyond.
Behind a sensational 29 saves from junior goalie Graham Emerick, two timely goals on penalties and a defensive grind otherwise, the No. 11 Red and Black (4-1) kicked off their Middlesex League Liberty schedule with a bang by edging rival No. 4 Arlington, 2-1.
Junior Max Vozzella’s goal on a penalty shot in the third period proved to be the game-winner, giving Winchester a 2-0 lead before Arlington finally got one past Emerick. The Spy Ponders (3-2) outshot the Red and Black, 30-12, but Winchester showed off its composure for an emotional win in a playoff-like atmosphere.
“Very emotional (win), it’s a big league rival for us,” Winchester head coach Gino Khachadourian said. “That was our first game coming back. We were sluggish in the first period as you could see, but as I think our game speed got back up, we started playing better. … But that’s a good rivalry win, it’s a big league win for us. Every time we play them, it’s always a battle.”
“We love it,” Vozzella added. “Playing Arlington is the best game of the year, every year. Just to get the win means that much more. Beating a top-five team really helps us out a lot, it’s really good for us.”
Perhaps there’s no better time to score your first goal of the season than against an intense rival. Vozzella found himself in that position when he generated a turnover in the neutral zone, getting behind the defense for a breakaway before Arlington committed a penalty to disrupt the chance.
Khachadourian had the choice to take a power play or a penalty shot, and he put confidence in Vozzella. The junior rewarded it with a critical goal for a 2-0 lead with 6:40 left.
“It was my first goal this year, I’ve been looking for it,” Vozzella said. “That’s a really big goal to get me going for the year. It’s really good for us.”
“That just boosted us up,” Khachadourian added. “That was a huge goal.”
Emerick and the defense were clutch in the meantime, staving off most of the waves Arlington brought on the attack. Much of it showed in the first (12-2 shots advantage) and the third (10-3) periods, but Emerick was steady, including a highlight-reel save with 22 seconds left on a grade-A look.
Arlington got one past him on a 6-on-4 power play with 6:10 left that Sean Patterson sniped from the left circle, but Winchester held it 0-for-4 on the Spy Ponders’ other power plays and withstood 2:09 of 6-on-5 play to close it out.
“(Emerick’s) been a guy we can rely on,” Khachadourian said. “He gives us a chance to win every single night, and that’s what you want from your goalie. … He sees the puck well and he’s so poised in there.”
“He stands on his head every game for us,” Vozzella added. “In my opinion, he’s the best goalie in the entire league. He helps us out. Everyone loves him. It’s just amazing what he does for us.”
Action was fierce throughout in a chippy game filled with speed and big hits. The first 19 minutes were scoreless despite five penalties, up until Axel Osborn put Winchester ahead on the power play.
Space was difficult to come by otherwise.
“I thought it was an excellent high school hockey game,” Arlington head coach John Messuri said. “… (Emerick) was excellent (for Winchester).”
