Panther’s score MASCAC semi-final victory against Westfield

Marc Tavernese

He/Him

Staff Writer

3/4/24

Saturday night in Plymouth, New Hampshire wasn’t just any good old winter night, but rather a one for revenge and a chance to regain control in the MASCAC as the team that couldn’t be stopped. That was the goal the Plymouth State Panthers had in mind going up against a rival who beat them a few games before the tournament, the Westfield State Owls. 

The Panthers entered the tournament being the top seeded team with a record of (22-2-2) finishing off their regular season with a 5-2 victory over the Salem State Vikings, while Westfield State entering with a (13-12-2) with a win against 5th seeded MASCAC tournament team Framingham State 4-0. 

The game started off quickly for the Panthers, with immediate push into the Owl’s defensive zone for the first 3 minutes of the 1st period, but the Owls returned with equal strength firing off as many shots as the Panthers had done so far. Around 5 minutes into the 1st period though, the Panthers began to really get organized in their attacking zone, and Freshman Patrick O’Connell capitalized with 9:19 left in the 1st putting the Panthers up 1-0. The Panthers would use the momentum from that goal to strengthen their strategy in the attacking zone, having several chances right outside the Owl’s crease several times, and were soon given an opportunity to continue their attack with a power play with just under 5 minutes left in the 1st. The power play would only last 15 seconds, as O’Connell continuing his freshman glory with another goal on Westfield’s #30 Valtteri Valtonen who had begun to struggle with the constant Panther pressure. Unfortunately for him, Senior Anton Jellvik #17 would put the nail in the coffin for his night scoring a goal 15 seconds after O’Connell’s second goal of the night, putting the Panthers up a commanding 3-0 and send Owls  #31 of Kevin Chandler to take over goalie duties for the rest of the night.

The second period would start off interestingly with Westfield State finally putting up a goal on the board thanks to Giancula Marini hoping to gather some sense of a fight for a possible comeback for the Owls. They would continue to be gifted with opportunities as the physicality of the game picked up and the Owls would have a power play at 18:18 left in the 2nd. The Panthers, who had not played much defense throughout the ending of the 1st, reminded the Owls of their equal strength of their lines with an excellent power play kill and soon would be given a power play opportunity with 10:07 left. The Panthers, while quick and fast paced through center ice with shots, would struggle to capitalize as the Owls made critical clearings of the puck to have the Panthers scoreless in this second power play, and for the rest of the second. The period would end with another opportunity for the Owls to show their power play attack, but the Panthers would silence their hopes, forcing them to attempt a miracle run in the 3rd period for any chance to upset the #1 seed.

The 3rd would begin with a 3rd Panther power play, and as many have said “Third Time’s the Charm!” and it would be for the Sophomore #17 Rider McCallum scored the Panthers second power play goal of the night and extended the lead to 4-1 with 13 minutes left in the period. The game’s physical aspect would hit a boiling point not with punches being thrown but hits getting more severe as Panthers began to feel the Owls frustrations in their impacts on the ice. This would result in a Westfield State power play and then a Panther power following the ending of the Owls opportunity. The Owls would struggle to form any strong offensive push into the Panther zone, and with 7:30 left, #9 Ethan Stuckless would give the home crowd one more goal horn blair and an opportunity to make some noise, grabbing the final goal of the night and beating the Owls 5-1. Panthers with their home rink advantage, will now have one more obstacle in their way to becoming MASCAC champions once again, that being the #2 Fitchburg State Falcons; Saturday at 6:00 at Hanway Rink or on the Little East Conference Network website.