Flynn Hat Trick Leads Wahconah Past Chicopee in Semis

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The No. 5 Wahconah hockey team defeated No. 1 Chicopee Saturday afternoon in the Division 3-A semi-finals at Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield.

 

After two periods, Wahconah held a 5-2 lead -- a credit to its aggressive defensive play.

 

But Chicopee came out strong in the third period and put in its first goal of the period five minutes, 17 seconds in from Devon Longtin after coming from the penalty box.

 

"We told everybody, we've got five guys on the ice who play defense, we need to know where No. 9 [Longtin] is," Wahconah coach Don Disbrow said. "We also made sure we had some layers if one guy got beat because he's got some skills."

 

Chicopee put in another goal with 6:42 to go in the game from John Baker to make it 5-4, but Wahconah's Dan Flynn responded with a minute left after Chicopee pulled its goalie, making it 6-4.

 

Chicopee scored once more in the final 22 seconds, Longtin sent the puck over Wahconah goalie Nico Romano's shoulder making it a 6-5 game, but Wahconah's defensive pressure was able to hold off Chicopee after it again pulled its keeper.

 

"It was really intense," Romano said. "Longtin had a nice shot, but I just stayed strong and protected the net."

 

Wahconah opened the game with a power play goal 57 seconds in from Nate Lapine; Devan Baittini earned the assist.

 

Lapine put in another with 2:29 to go in the first, assisted from Andrew Beaudoin and Flynn. The defending sectional champs led 2-0 after one period.

 

Wahconah put up 14 shots in the first period and defensively it was able to keep the puck out of its zone and away from Romano.

 

"I just stayed calm and relied on my defense to get all the rebounds cleared that I let out," Romano said.

 

Chicopee started the second period much like Wahconah in the first; 50 seconds in Longtin put the puck in the net. Beaudoin responded less than a minute later for Wahconah.

 

With less than 12 minutes remaining in the second Chicopee scored to make it 3-2. Flynn put in his first of the game with seven minutes to go, assisted by Beaudoin and Mike Marino. He scored once more before the end of the period with a minute and fifty seconds to go leaving it at 5-2 going to the third.

 

"It was the same score I believe, 5-2 going into the third, as last year," Disbrow said. "We know they've got a ton of fire power and we just had to stay focused on our game plan and our task."

 

Wahconah was able to stick to its plan and pull out a 6-5 win. It will face No. 2 Chicopee Comp on Thursday evening in the finals.

 

"We played them once earlier in the season and it didn't go very well," Disbrow said. "They're strong everywhere, probably not as offensive as Chicopee, but they're very strong defensively, so it's going to be a challenge."