RallyNorth.net

Wed, Dec 12, 2007 07:30 PM @ Salem (MA)

Team	1	2	3	Final
Peabody	6	2	0	8
Salem (MA)	1	0	1	2

Rodgers powers Peabody's rout of Salem

Wednesday, December, 12 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

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.

Noftle's tally proved to be the first of many last night at Salem State's Rockett Arena as the Tanners blasted host Salem, 8-2, in the season opener for both clubs.

"We came out really strong and took over the game early," said Peabody coach Mark Leonard, who began his 13th year behind the bench in style.

Sophomore Matt Rodgers turned in a superb effort with an eye-popping four goals for the Tanners to go along with an assist. Classmate Andrew Bucci scored twice while junior Elijah Cohen dished out four assists.

It was a difficult debut for the Witches, who found themselves behind by three goals less than six minutes in and trailed 6-1 after after the opening frame | a period in which they were outshot, 20-4.

"We didn't execute. Our systems fell apart in every zone on the ice," said first-year Salem head coach Brian Addesa. "I want to make sure we use this game as a learning experience."

Salem's Adam Maccario broke in and fired a shot through two defenders into the net late in the first period, but Rodgers completed his hat trick just 12 seconds later to extinguish any momentum the Witches might've gathered.

Rodgers scored again 18 seconds into the second and Chris Lavoie's unassisted tally 14 seconds after that made it 8-1. Leonard called off the dogs at that point as the Tanners' top two lines sat out the rest of the contest and the third unit didn't attempt a shot in the third period.

"When you're learning a new system, it's going to get worse before it gets better and that's what these guys are going through right now," said Addesa.

Penalty killing was perhaps the lone bright spot for the Witches, who held the high-powered Peabody attack to 1-for-6 with the man advantage in a physical game that saw plenty of penalty minutes doled out to both sides. The Tanners didn't attempt a shot during a major penalty late in the thrid after Salem's Tyler Daniels was shown the door for a hit from behind.

Salem freshman Zach Holt completed the scoring with 6:29 left to play, beating Tanner freshman backup netminder Mackenzie Shalin (3 saves). First-time Peabody starter Jonathan Camara made seven saves while Salem starter Cody Grondin made 17 saves, and reserve Stan Goodwin stopped all five shots he faced.

"It was a good night for the Tanners | but it's only one night," said Leonard.