RallyNorth.net

State tournament games are no place for freshmen.

At least until last evening.

The scorching Newburyport hockey team advanced to the Division 2 North quarterfinal with an opening-round 5-1 victory over Saugus at Stoneham Rink. Newburyport freshman Anthony Federico came within 8:20 of a shutout in his first career appearance in a state tournament game. Fellow freshman Gaven LaValley netted two goals | Newburyport's second and third of the game | in a span of 10:28.

PEABODY | The Peabody High hockey team felt it had to come out strong last night against Saugus, which was unbeaten in its last three games.

Peabody coach Mark Leonard emphasized that point, hoping his team could take advantage of the fact that the Sachems were playing their third game in five nights.

SALEM | When a hockey team is as starved for goals as the Marblehead boys had been so far this year, things can get ugly. Any team with that had lit the lamp just twice in their first four games would be prone to gripping their sticks with extra fervor and customary nerves.

Create turnovers and step up the offensive pressure.

That was the type of play that the Gloucester hockey team outlined as their style at the beginning of this season.

The Fishermen stayed true to that style of play in their 5-1 win over Saugus last night at the Talbot Rink. Gloucester received four points from junior captain Josh Salah and the team tallied 38 shots on goal en route to victory.