Salmon River boys hockey skates to perfect record against NAC teams

By Andy Gardner.

The Salmon River boys hockey team took a historic win over Malone, completing their NAC slate with a perfect 15-0 record. It’s the first time that’s happened in the history of the program. The Shamrocks boys and girls 2022-23 basketball seasons closed out in Class B semifinals against Gouverneur. In other action, the Blue Devils sat down the Raiders at Massena.

Thursday, Feb. 16, girls basketball semifinal, Gouverneur 80 Salmon River 32 – Tekaieren’t Tabor led the Shamrocks with 10 points as the Wildcats went on to take the Section 10 Class B semifinal game played at Gouverneur. Taya Ransom and Adrienne Brill scored six points each for Salmon River. Courtney Forsythe scored a game high 15 points for the host team. Twelve points came off the hands of Meredith Bush, 10 from Chloe Smith and seven respectively from Elizabeth Riutta, Lia Canell and Reneisa Ricards. In the boys game, the Wildcats won the Class B semifinal over the Shamrocks by a final tally of 84-69.

Tuesday, Feb. 14, boys hockey, Ogdensburg 5 Massena 3 – The Blue Devils scored four unanswered goals during the first and second stanzas to win against the Raiders. Aronhiawaks Rice and Bayley Rochefort scored in the third period for the Raiders, with two assists from Smutz and one helper from Cory Monacelli. OFA goaltender Ty Jacobs saved all 16 scoring changes he faced in the in the middle stanza for a game total of 35 saves. Massena goalie Jake Linstad turned aside 40 shots – 13 in the first period, 14 in the second, and 13 in the third. OFA’s Griffin Wert opening the scoring 3:42 into the first with helpers from Aiden O’Neill and Tegan Frederick. Massena got on the board 1:02 later with Jake Smutz scoring from Thomas Eggleston. Ogdensburg then rallied for four straight goals. Two came from Tyler Sovie, one from Frederick and one from Dylan Irvine. Sovie capitalized from Cam Griffith and scored an unassisted power play goal. Frederick scored unassisted and Irvine scored on a play set up by Nate Woods.

Tuesday, Feb. 14, boys hockey, Salmon River 11 Franklin Academy 3 – The ‘Rocks played a perfect season among Northern Athletic Conference opponents, wrapping it up with a blowout against the Huskies at Tom Cavanaugh Arena in Akwesasne. The host Shamrocks broke open an early score knotted 1-1 with five unanswered goals in the opening frame. It was the first time ever for the Salmon River boys hockey that a team to go undefeated among NAC opponents – 15-0 for this year.

“Even with this program’s storied history, it has never been done before,” Salmon River Head Coach Tim Cook told the Malone Telegram. He played on state championship teams during his high school years at Salmon. “I am proud of the players, and they should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished … Our work is not done, however, and we need to continue on in order to achieve our final goals of a sectional, and hopefully, state championship.”

The Shamrocks scored the 36 seconds into regulation. The Huskies answered three minutes later. Salmon River went on from there to produce five consecutive goals jump ahead 6-1 after 17 minutes of the game. The Shamrocks bumped up to an 8-1 advantage with two early second-period goals. The Huskies came back with their next and final two goals. Salmon River polished off their win with three goals in the closing stanza. Connor Dishaw led SRC’s offense with a hat trick and an assist. Evan Collette (two assists) and Chase Lewis each scored a pair of goals. Carter Johnson (three assists), Kade Cook (one assist), Rylan Adams and Caiden Cartier (one assist) netted respective singletons. Oscar Cook helped set up two scoring plays. Kahontiio “Michael” Lazore, Ryan Bouchey and Dylan Johnson tallied solo helpers. Two goalies spent time in the Salmon net – Ethan Gibson in periods one and two with 21 saves. Xavier Delormier followed in the third, turning aside three shots. Edmund Collins and Tristan Russell each scored a goal with a helper for the Huskies. Brock Spaulding scored one goal. Cameron Perras and Trent Carriero had respective solo assists. The win gives the ‘Rocks a first-round bye for the Section 10 Division II playoffs. They’ll go against the winner of the No. 5 seed at No. 4 at home on Feb. 23.