RallyNorth.net

First half analysis: If the Tanners played like they did last Saturday against Gloucester | aggressive, hungry, and with passion for three full periods | all the time, they'd get an A+ grade. Of course, they'd be 12-0-0 if that were the case | something they probably could have been at this point.

Call him Samson on Skates.

With stringy brown hair flying out of the back of his helmet | the kind of hairstyle that was de rigeur in hockey circles two decades ago | Elijah Cohen looks like a player born a couple of generations too late.

PEABODY | Off the ice, Danvers High hockey co-captain Patrick O'Kane is shy yet friendly, quiet yet verbose, controlled yet extremely confident. As a multi-talented musician, he quite literally beats to his own drummer.

It is weeks like this why Peabody High decided to become a member of the Northeastern Conference.

It doesn't get much better over the next four days if you're a Tanners' player, coach or fan. Tonight, they'll host long-time NEC power Danvers (5:15 p.m.) at the McVann-O'Keefe Rink, then travel up Route 128 North Saturday night for a showdown with arguably the state's hottest Division 2 team, unbeaten Gloucester (7 p.m.) at the Talbot Rink.

It is weeks like this why Peabody High decided to become a member of the Northeastern Conference.

It doesn't get much better over the next four days if you're a Tanners' player, coach or fan. Tonight, they'll host long-time NEC power Danvers (5:15 p.m.) at the McVann-O'Keefe Rink, then travel up Route 128 North Saturday night for a showdown with arguably the state's hottest Division 2 team, unbeaten Gloucester (7 p.m.) at the Talbot Rink.

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.

After the first period, Peabody hockey coach Mark Leonard was afraid he was watching the Tanners continue a bad habit they have picked up early this season.

Peabody totally dominated play in the first period against Marblehead last night, but clung to a one-goal lead. Leonard's speech during the first intermission was enough to get things going, however, as the Tanners came out flying, scoring two quick goals on their way to a convincing 8-2 victory at the McVann-O'Keefe Rink.

SALEM | It was a gift that not even Santa Claus could have given Kyle Irving. Only he could get it for himself.

And get it he did.

Irving treated himself to the first 2-goal game of his high school hockey career Saturday afternoon, paving the way for the unbeaten Beverly Panthers to skate past Peabody, 5-2, before a festive crowd at the Rockett Arena.

One game removed from what the Peabody High hockey team felt was one of their poorest performances, they responded with one of the program's best-ever victories last night.

After missing his team's first two games with a groin injury, junior left wing A.J. Parker had a hat trick as the Tanners scored four times in the third period to defeat host Medford, 7-4, at LoConte Rink.

SALEM | It took Peabody High hockey co-captain James Noftle just 46 seconds to score Peabody's first-ever goal in Northeastern Conference play last night at the Rockett Arena.

There were plenty more where that came from.