FOXBORO – The start to the 2018 New England Pro Am Hockey season began on Friday and ended in fine fashion on Sunday afternoon at the Foxboro Sports Center. Pyramid Hockey and Canada West met in the title match of the Jr. A division. While one team had to lose, neither team disappointed as Pyramid Hockey remained as the last team standing by virtue of a 3-1 win.
As the two sides felt each other out through the opening minutes, the game play made it seem as though it was only a matter of time before Canada West would take over. Just as they had in their semifinal matchup against Top Prospects.
Pyramid, however, had different plans. Rather than let the Canada West giant wake, they netted the games first goal. Aaron Szalankiewicz and Thomas Rocco combining for the score at 10:21.
With the scoreboard in their favor, Pyramid soon turned momentum fully and ran their lead to 3-0 over the course of the games next five minutes. Rocco with a score of his own at 13:21 and Szalankiewicz with his second of the day just two minutes later.
Yet, even as they trailed 3-0 in the game’s final minutes, Canada West was not out of the contest. They fiercely dominated play in the attacking zone the final three minutes of
A power play goal from Dom Dumas at 22:51 put West on the board and the comeback trail.
It was an onslaught from that point throughout the final 2:09, yet somehow Pyramid goaltender Connor Close was able to holdfast in the net. Canada West threw every shot they could at Close, but the day was to belong to Pyramid.
Close stood tall, turned all remaining shots away and Pyramid closed out the 2018 Pre-Draft Showcase with a Jr. A championship, 3-1.
2018 Pre-Draft College Open All-Tournament Team
Forwards
Thomas Rocco (Pyramid Hockey), Shawn Kennedy and Connor Beatty (Canada West)
Defense
Connor Senken (Pyramid Hockey) and Sebastien Paquette (Canada West)
Goaltender
Connor Close (Pyramid Hockey)
Most Valuable Player
Natham Smith (Pyramid Hockey)
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