JNP fights hard, falls to WW/EWG

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The Johnston/North Providence Co-op hockey team put a scare into the West Warwick/Exeter-West Greenwich Co-op team on Saturday night at the Smithfield Ice Rink, losing 3-1, but proving it can play with one of the best teams in Division III.

JNP, 10-4, was coming off a six-game win streak, beating Mt. Hope 3-0 the previous night, while WW/EWG, 13-1, dealt Ponaganset its first loss of the year last Friday night by a score of 5-2, so Saturday’s game had the potential to be a let down game for WW/EWG.

“They are one of the top teams in the division and we proved we could skate with them,” said JNP head coach Stephen Morrison. “We played a really good hockey game and it’s going to give our guys a lot of confidence. We not only hung with them, we scared them a little bit and woke them up.”

“Tonight was a let down game,” said WW/EWG head coach Peter Ethier. “We had a good game last night and we had a hard time gaining momentum tonight. Hopefully we can hold on to the number one or two seed and I hope we do not have to play JNP again in the playoffs – they are a tough team and played a hard 45 minutes of hockey. It was an ugly win, but we will take it.”

WW/EWG scored just 1:30 into the opening period on Thomas Pecchia’s first of two goals in the game, sneaking the puck past JNP’s goaltender David Kelly.

Zach Dion gave WW/EWG a 2-0 lead at the 3:41 mark of the first period, which prompted Morrison to call a time out.

“They were pumped up for us,” Morrison said. “We had to take a time out early in the game to get our guys refocused and calmed down.”

Morrison’s team settled down and got on the scoreboard at the 7:41 mark of the second period, when forward Justin Harvey scooped up a rebound from a Nick Threshier shot and found the back of the net on a power play.

“Harvey has a nice eye for the net,” Morrison said. “Our forwards played well tonight.”

The shots on net were even at 14 in the second period, as the visitors took a 2-1 lead into the third period.

Pecchia gave WW/EWG an insurance goal at the 7:57 mark of the third period, but it was the play of its goaltender, Ivan Forcier, 27 saves, that proved to be the difference in the game. He stopped several shots late in the third period when JNP put the pressure on him with three power plays and a 5-on-3 and 6-on-4 advantage after JNP pulled Kelly.

“The last three years Forcier has been the best goaltender in the division,” said Ethier. “His goals against average is 1.2 in his career – he is phenomenal and we are fortunate to have him.”

“We had four penalties and they had eight,” Morrison said. “We had the opportunities. Our guys moved the puck and did their job, but Forcier came up big with some outstanding saves. WW/EWG was hungry to win tonight, they clogged up the middle and did not give us any good shots on goal. They kept us to the outside and we could not penetrate that well.”

Morrison was pleased with the play of Kelly in net, despite the 3-1 loss.

“He is only a freshman and he also played outstanding tonight – he is a hard worker in practice,” Morrison said.

Kelly would record 25 saves in the contest, keeping JNP in the game.

Harvey had a great chance to score late in the game, but he hit the post, which could have been a game changer.

JNP will look to hold on to the third seed in Division III with games against Scituate on March 6, Ponaganset on March 7 and Warwick Vets on March 8.

“The playoffs are a whole new season and anything can happen,” Morrison said.

JNP ‘s defense played well, allowing only three goals to a WW/EWG team that has scored over 100 goals this season, the most in D-III.

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