Coach Kevin Lizotte’s Tigers had a light game schedule over the previous week, with the sole game a rematch against the Fitchburg Red Raiders as part of the third annual “Hockey Day in the ’Burg.” Hockey Day in the ’Burg is a series of hockey games featuring the Fitchburg high school and college teams with proceeds benefiting the Thibeault Family Rehabilitation Trust.
This trust was established for Jake Thibeault, a Fitchburg native who played for the Red Raiders prior to transferring to Milton Academy, after he suffered an on-ice spinal cord injury in the summer of 2021, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Thibeault, currently a sophomore at Babson College, has had a long-term on-and-off-the-ice relationship with the Lizotte family. He visited the Bromfield School Tuesday evening, Jan. 30, before the game with the Red Raiders to share his inspirational story of resilience, perspective, and “no quit” attitude with Tigers players and families.
Conor Glew (right) scores the winning goal against the Fitchburg Red Raiders.(Courtesy photo)
Thibeault’s visit reinforced for the team the lessons of resilience and determination the sport of hockey instills in its players both on and off the ice. On Saturday, Feb. 3, the Tigers and Red Raiders met for the second time this season, following the Tigers’ 3-0 win in December. With a noon matinee faceoff, play in the first period was atypically mellow, with the exception of a 23-second stretch during which each team scored.
The Tigers opened the scoring four minutes into the game during a shift when the defensive pair of Parker School senior Ethan Dangel and Harvard senior Joe Donahue prevented the Red Raiders from clearing the puck from their defensive zone. With the puck forced down from the blue line, Harvard junior Zack Lizotte gained possession in the corner and passed to Littleton sophomore Gavin Werling, who deftly skated between two Red Raiders defensemen before sliding the puck between the goalie’s pads. Following a line change, the Tigers were again able to quickly gain possession in the offensive zone following the faceoff. With a reminder of how quickly momentum can change in hockey, the Red Raiders’ captain blocked a shot at the blue line, sending the puck into the neutral zone where he was able to score on a partial breakaway with a nice backhand shot evening the game at 1-1.
Second period play continued to see the Tigers with more time in the offensive zone, frustrating the Red Raiders, who ended up with a major high-sticking penalty. On the resulting five-minute power play, Harvard sophomore Conor Glew was able to knock in a loose puck from a net-front scramble, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead halfway through the game. For the next period and a half, the majority of play was in the Red Raiders’ defensive zone. The Tigers outshot the Red Raiders 32-12, but neither goalie gave up another goal.
With the 2-1 victory, the Tigers improved to a 7-7 overall record, with a heavy Coughlin Conference schedule over the remaining five games of the regular season.
Brian Piekos is a Littleton/Bromfield/Parker ice hockey parent.
