SJP Eagles Get Payback In Style with 2-1 Team Win over BC High Eagles

 By: Jason Stellakis and Alex Grondin

In the second Eagle's matchup, the St. John's Prep Eagles traveled to UMass Boston to face the Boston College Highschool Eagles. The last outing between these two teams was a 5-3 win for BCH. Many people who watched that game would tell you that the Prep really beat themselves. In that match at Essex, the Prep turned the puck over multiple times in the slot resulting in BC goals. 

        Yep Today's matchup was filled with penalties, and there were over 10. This meant that no team could create a good flow. The first period ended scoreless, and the Prep seemed like the better team despite a minor shot advantage of 6-4. Heading into the second, the tension was high and both Eagle's were looking to break the deadlock. The Prep ended up scoring first as Cam Umlah netted a Vetere rebound. When Alex spoke with Vetere after the game he asked him if he thought SJP would break the tie and score first. Vetere said, "Ya I feel like we definitely dominated the first period and first half of the second period, we were just waiting for something, for a hop to come our way, we had 2 posts in the first period." Shortly after, the Prep doubled their lead as Will Van Sicklin set up Ben McGilvary on a no-look backhand pass and all McGilvary had to do was bury it. However, just 11 seconds later, sophomore James Marshall would cut the lead in half after he tipped a floating puck that dropped into the back of the Prep's net. Marshall has had Prep's number ever since the first matchup, he was electric in that game and continued to dominate today. The third period was classic Catholic Conference hockey, plenty of pushing and shoving after the whistle and plenty of on and off ice chirps. Despite the BC efforts in the third and outshooting the Prep 7-1, they could not find an equalizer and the Prep improved to 13-2. 

        When Alex spoke to Vetere after the game he asked him about a specific play he made midway through the second. In said play, Vetere had no stick and spread his body like a soccer goalie and stopped a potential chance for BC to take the lead. Alex asked him to break down what happened, Vetere said, "The kid kind of came in, fell on my stick, my stick came loose from my hand, and I saw a shot from the point and you know I'm a baseball player and I have pretty good hand-eye." Alex asked him one more question about today's game. He said despite a big record difference if he felt it would be a close game, Vetere stated, "BC High has always been a strong team, they are absolutely a team we have to compete with.”

        After the game Jason spoke with Cam Umlah about the kind of player he is, and asked him if his "dog mentality" helps him get under opponents skin and if that was his goal, he stated, "Absolutely, I got chirped earlier today about it," he then talked about how he liked Bruins Forward, Brad Marchand's style of play, and he said, "I admire that about [Brad Marchand].” As mentioned previously Umlah broke the deadlock with a rebound goal, Jason asked him if he is a "crash the net" player, Umlah said, "I think so, I think definitely forechecking, getting it back up to the point for quality shots on net, is definitely one of my biggest attributes." Jason spoke to Umlah about the bad blood between the two sides and the numerous penalties today and if the coach spoke to them about it. Umlah seemed as if they were not worried about the penalties and to just move forward. He also said he did not like some of the calls, and being at the game, the refs did have plenty of work to do and so they may have missed a few. 

        St. John's Prep will travel to face Catholic Memorial on Wednesday for yet another Catholic Conference showdown, then on Saturday they will be at home for the annual Derrick Hines game vs. Newburyport Highschool.


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