CANTLON: TAFT EDGES SALISBURY 3-2 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

WATERTOWN, CT – In a high-paced, well-played, early-season, prep school clash, the Taft Rhinos defeated the Crimson Knights of Salisbury School on Wednesday afternoon at the Odden Arena.

Taft (2-2) scored two goals in a span of 1:47 to take a 3-1 lead and then behind the sterling goaltending of senior James Donaldson (Kirkland, QC) held off a late, furious Crimson Knights charge in their regular-season opener.

Taft took a 2-1 lead when Zach Tonelli, the youngest son of New York Islanders great, John Tonelli, made a beautiful switch at center ice and cut to the left-wing. The right-handed shot motored down the left-wing and zipped a perfect shot to the far side past Salisbury goalie, Nick Haas, at 12:56.

Junior defenseman, Zack Hahn, (Huntington, NY) from the left point got a screen in front and his shot eluded Haas for a 3-1 lead.

Donaldson immediately saw Crimson Knights crossing left and right. Samuel Deckhut narrowed the lead to just one goal at 16:44 collecting a rebound off a quick shot sequence in front after Donaldson made two saves before the third went past him.

Matt DeBoer, the son of NHL San Jose Sharks head coach, Pete DeBoer, had a golden chance to tie the game before the period ended. He was at the left side of the net and didn’t get all of his shot but Donaldson slid over and got a piece of as well.

In the third period, Salisbury tried all sorts of combinations to get the tying goal, but Donaldson denied them each time.

He stopped DeBoer, and then Michael Fairfax a minute apart in the first two minutes of the period.

Taft’s Henry Molson (Westmount, QC), a Colby College commit, was stopped on a two-on-one on a right-wing bid. Tonelli dove to get at a loose puck in front of the net for Taft, but it just went wide as the Rhinos sought to get the two-goal lead back.

Salisbury, again, peppered Donaldson. Fairfax tried a wraparound and then Deckhut had an attempt with 1:06 to go with Haas pulled for the extra attacker. Donaldson made a glove save on Deckhut’s attempt from the right-wing.

In the first period, the Crimson Knights were buzzing all over the ice with DeBoer, Jarod Crespo, Lucas Mercuri, and Cole Eichler were each turned aside by Donaldson’s blocker, goalie stick, skate, and goalie pads.

DeBoer finally put one past the netminder for a 1-0 lead at 13:34 on the left-wing with a hard collegiate-like wrist shot that came on a turnover that was started by a solid hit by Mercuri along the left-wing boards in the neutral zone.

Taft nearly tied it late twice.

First, Thomas Ricciardelli (New Canaan, CT) with 1:08 left, hit the left post on his right-wing shot. Junior, Max Willard (Oyster Bay, NY) rang it off the crossbar with 32 seconds left.

Early in the second period, Salisbury had superb chances to go up by two goals. Tommy Rooney, Calum Chau, Deckhut, Jacob Quillan, and Bobby Metz, were all turned away by Donaldson.

Each team had a solid defensive play in the game.

For Salisbury, Andrew Casperson came across the ice and made a solid jarring hit on Taft’s Bobby Barrasso of Taft knocking him off the puck. Then the Big Red’s rearguard Connor Colucci (Fairfield, CT) made a nice read and shut down a back door play meant for DeBoer.

NOTES:

Lots of sons of NHL’ers on both rosters.

For the hosting Taft, Nikita Kovalev is the son of ex-New York Ranger Alexei Kovalev, Greenwich, and the aforementioned Tonelli.

Henry Molson is the son of Montreal Canadiens owner Geoffrey Molson.

For Salisbury, they have DeBoer and Liam Guerin, whose father is ex-New Jersey Devil and current Minnesota GM, Bill Guerin.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats head coach Rand Pecknold was in in attendance.

Taft plays again at home Saturday at 7:00 PM against Berkshire School (MAPREP).

Salisbury’s first home game is Saturday against Williston (MAPREP) at 5:00 PM.