For a third consecutive year, Rye Country Day took the Fairchester Athletic Association trophy in boys’ ice hockey. The Wildcats, No. 2 seed in conference playoffs, won the title game by defeating top-seeded King, 4-1, on Saturday.

 

 

By Melanie Cane

 

For a third consecutive year, Rye Country Day took the Fairchester Athletic Association trophy in boys’ ice hockey.

 

The Wildcats, No. 2 seed in conference playoffs, won the title game by defeating top-seeded King, 4-1, on Saturday.

 

Competition began even before the teams took the ice, when the Vikings proclaimed their right to the Wildcats’ bench. King said since Rye Country Day already enjoyed home ice advantage, they wanted to take the home bench for themselves. But Wildcats’ Coach Erik Kallio held his ground, keeping possession of his team’s bench, in what was a portent of things to come.

 

When the game finally began, the Wildcats came out swinging. Despite a scoreless first period, they were clearly in charge, outshooting King by 18-6 in the opening period. (King goalie Andrew Carlin got pummeled the entire game, saving a total of 45 shots.)

 

“We came out with great energy and carried the play from the start,” Kallio said.

 

After a scoreless first period, Rye finally broke through with a goal by James Kissell on a breakaway that came off a great defensive stop by Billy Grossman. Just 12 seconds later, before the fans even finished cheering, an amazing pass from Zach Coppola to Kyle Halloran gave Rye a two-goal lead.  

 

Kissell added a third score during a scramble in front of the net with eight minutes remaining in the game. King scored its only goal 30 seconds later. And with three seconds left, Will Halloran, Kyle’s brother, iced the victory with an empty-net goal. The win upped the Wildcats’ season record to 16-8-2.