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Photo Michael Iacuessa
Norwell's John Collins was unable to handle the puck as Bronson Zawaduk's scored the game-winner with 1:55 remaining to give Harwich/Provincetown a 2-1 victory. |
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Harwich/Provincetown skaters push puck past Norwell
Michael Iacuessa
BANNER CORRESPONDENT
Harwich/Provincetown hockey coach John Danby was not short on praising his team's decision making and hustle after Saturday night's 2-1 victory.
Just seconds after Mike Locke raised his arm thinking a penalty should have been called, he got his head back in the game and stole the puck at mid-ice. That led to Bronson Zawaduk skating in on Norwell goalie John Collins for the game-winning goal with 1:55 to play.
Zawaduk's first shot missed but he was able to stay with the rebound, sticking it in while his momentum carried him away from the net. He never saw the puck go in, but somehow it hit the right post and glided to a rest just inside the left post.
"One puck's width," described Danby.
The victory means the top-seeded Penguins will face Scituate Friday at 6 p.m., again at Bourne's Gallo Arena, in the semifinals of the Div. 3 South Sectional. It was the team's first tourney win since Danby, a former Hartford Whaler, took over the reins three years ago.
"There's no way I can describe the feeling we all have. It's tremendous," said an exuberant Locke afterward. "We are so pumped up. We are a team. We are a unit. Everyone plays a major role."
Norwell, which closes at 13-5-3, was a big obstacle for the Penguins to get past. In addition to having bowed out of the state tournament by losing a continuation of a suspended game to the Clippers two years ago, Norwell was the lone tie this year in Harwich/Provincetown's 19-2-1 record.
The Penguins got a lift at the first break, going up 1-0 with just 27 seconds to play in the opening period. Locke scored, following up a Tim Clarke slap shot. Zawaduk also was credited with an assist.
The euphoria did not last long as Norwell's Paul Snell answered 1:07 into the second.
Zawaduk's game-winning goal came from what Danby described as a near impossible angle.
"I got the pass from Mike Locke and I did the best I could to jam it in there," said Zawaduk. "I've scored a lot of goals this year but tonight is the biggest one for me."
Locke, the only Provincetown High School senior playing hockey this year, scored his 100th point for the season at this game.
Otherwise, strong defense was the style of the evening. Danby credited defensemen Clarke, Jake Morris, Tim Mason and Joey Hopkins for keeping shots away from goaltender Mike DeCosta.
"We've been on the edge the last two years," the coach said, adding that they lost a close game to Wareham in the tourney opener last year as well. "We got over the hump tonight. The kids deserve another chance."
Scituate will skate in Friday as the fourth seed carrying a 14-4-1 mark. It is a deep team, skating four lines, with 11 seniors, including top scorer Chris Travis (22 goals in regular season action). Goaltender Bob Dillon has a 1.71 goals against average.
"It's going to be a battle," predicted Locke.
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PHS Sports
Nauset Sports |
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Mar 10th, 2005