The Minutemen Flames did exactly what they needed to do. Facing a Fox Motor team that was shut out 5-0 by Woodbridge earlier in the tournament, the Flames controlled the game from start to finish and cruised to a 5-2 victory to complete pool play with a perfect 3-0 record. Massachusetts' last team standing at USA Hockey 15U Nationals is heading to the quarterfinals.
The Flames jumped on Fox Motor early with two first-period goals to set the tone. #34 Robert Dekleine opened the scoring at 15:09 with assists from Cullen Gullott and Graham Furness. #88 Owen Frick doubled the lead at 6:46, assisted by Austin Wu and Owen Lundin, and the Flames took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Fox Motor came out with urgency in the second period and scored twice to tie the game at 2-2. But Austin Wu answered with the game-winning goal, set up by Lundin and Frick, to restore the Flames' lead at 3-2 heading into the third. The Flames put the finishing touches on in the third. #81 Landon Roe scored at 3:19 with an assist from Frick, and Gullott added an empty-netter to cap the 5-2 win.
Owen Frick led the way with a goal and two assists for a 3-point night. Austin Wu and Owen Lundin each had a goal and an assist, while Cullen Gullott contributed a goal and an assist of his own. The depth scoring continues to be the story of this Flames team at Nationals - five different goal scorers in this game alone.
The win means the Flames finish atop the Liberty Pool with a perfect 3-0 record: a 3-2 OT win over LA Jr. Kings, a 3-2 shootout win over #4 Woodbridge, and now a 5-2 win over Fox Motor. Three games, three wins, three different ways to get it done.
The Minutemen Flames are the only Massachusetts team still alive at USA Hockey Nationals. Next up: the quarterfinals today against #6 Saints Hockey Club (NY) at 12:15 PM at Depere Ice Arena. Win and they're in the Final Four.
The Flames have shown they can win tight games (OT, shootout) and blow teams out. Now it's single elimination. No margin for error. Massachusetts is counting on them.