By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Westwood High School boys varsity hockey team is on a roll, as the Wolverines (8-1-1, 3-1-1) are unbeaten in their last nine games, having won eight of them.
The Wolverines entered last Wednesday night’s contest with Norton on a five-game win streak, and were able to extend it to six through the stellar goaltending of Justin Anderson. The junior net-minder recorded his second shut out of the season against the Lancers. Meanwhile, senior forwards Trevor Fahey and Ben Shields supplied the offense for Westwood, with Fahey netting two goals on the night and Shields adding some insurance.
Westwood carried their momentum from the 3-0 blanking of Norton into their Saturday night date with undefeated Hopkinton. The Wolverines drew first blood midway through the first period on a power play goal by senior forward Ben Lewis. Sophomore forward Owen Heidelberger added a goal late in the second and the Wolverines took a 2-0 lead into the third period. Unfortunately, the Wolverines fell victim to a miraculous comeback by the Hillers in period three, as Hopkinton was able to net two goals and play spoiler to Westwood’s potential seven-game win streak as the match ended in a 2-2 tie. However, the Wolverines were able to at least salvage a point with the tie and stay within a point of the Hillers in the TVL standings.
The Wolverines were determined to learn from their mistake not let a lead get away from them as they entered their Monday matinee matchup with non-conference opponent, Hanover (7-2-1). The odd 11 a.m. start time seemed to have zero effect on the Wolverines, as they gutted out a 3-2 win over a quality opponent and extended their unbeaten streak to eight.
On Wednesday, the Wolverines traveled to face TVL rival Dover-Sherborn and pulled out a 5-2 victory despite entering the third period tied at one. Aaron Janfaza scored a goal in the first period to knot the game at one and then both teams played lockdown defense until 11:57 to play in the third, when the Westwood offense exploded for four goals coming in a span of just over seven minutes from forwards Trevor Fahey, Ben Lewis, Sam Murphy, and Brian Guarino.
The Westwood boys will look to keep it going when they face off against Holliston on January 28 before traveling to face Ashland on February 4.
