2011 - 2012
Varsity Final Record
16 - 6 - 0
Prior Game
March 2, 2012
Danvers 0
North Andover 1
Next Game
December 2012
2011 - 2012
JV Final Record
8 - 4 - 3
January 12, 2012
Workmanlike effort leads Danvers hockey past Headers for fifth straight win
Bob Jackson wasn't just spewing hyperbole or coach-speak while praising the Danvers High hockey team that had just defeated his Marblehead squad, 3-1, last night.
Candid as always in his postgame interview under the stands at the Rockett Arena, Jackson merely spoke the facts.
"Danvers doesn't like to lose, and they don't like to lose those on-ice battles," said the veteran Headers coach. "And they have that mental toughness that any good team needs to have.
"Basically, Danvers put themselves in a position where good things can happen — and for them, they did."
While not the prettiest or stylistically impressive showing — that's not how the 2011-12 Danvers hockey team is going to win games, and head coach Kevin Brown would be the first to acknowledge that — the Falcons instead used a dominant second period in which they scored only once, but took control of the game and never let it out of their collective talons.
In winning its fifth straight game, Danvers (now 7-2) allowed a grand total of five shots over the final 30 minutes, shutting down shooting lanes and forcing the Headers off the puck or wide along the boards with tough defense and a commitment to backchecking.
This came after a lethargic first period, in which the Blue-and-White took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission but didn't look particularly clean in doing so.
"We reiterated those things we need to do as a team to be successful between periods, such as playing with structure and discipline," said Brown. "Then we regrouped and had a really good second period.
"We didn't allow many shots at all, which was terrific to see; if you don't have a great offensive night, that still works. We can win a number of different ways, and our kids are seeing that."
So while senior netminder Mike Harper was spectacular at times for Marblehead in stopping 33 shots, Danvers made sure not to allow another goal after the home team's Cam Rowe buried a high snapshot at 11:25 of the first period to tie the game at 1-1.
Just 40 seconds after Rowe's goal, captain J.D. Hodgkins gave Danvers the lead for good by knocking a rebound home. That was their second goal of the period, as junior A.J. Couto had opened the game with a goal 35 seconds in.
Sophomore Matt Flynn's first varsity goal, a pretty one-timer between the circles after third line center Paul D'Orlando cleanly won a draw in the offensive zone, gave the Falcons a bit of breathing room, and the defensive clamps they imposed upon Marblehead (3-5-1) took care of things from there.
Senior Seth Kamens looked good in goal for Danvers in his first game back from suffering a concussion Dec. 27. So did defenseman Nick Strangie, who had an assist and had a fine two-way game.
Jackson wants his young Marblehead squad to continue to adhere to the mantra he and his coaches have been preaching: work harder today than yesterday, take a more businesslike approach to games, and be ready to go the second you hop over the boards.
"We've been working on battling more in practices, doing a lot of 1-on-1 drills and things like that. We want to develop that mental toughness that Danvers has," said Jackson. "That and we still have to play as a team, not worry so much about the individual stuff. We need to find that happy medium."
2011 - 2012 - Game Reports
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