TEWKSBURY — Just minutes after stepping off the ice at Breakaway Ice Center, Jim Egan’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.
Monday’s Merrimack Valley Conference matchup transcended the box score.
The storied rivalry between Billerica and Tewksbury motivated the unbeaten Indians to make a statement against the perennial power in a convincing 5-2 win in front of a raucous crowd on the road.
Headlined by a two-goal game from senior sniper Danny Viscione and 39 saves from Stephen MacIntosh, the Indians (12-0-0) embraced the letters on their crest to dethrone Tewksbury (8-2-1) to ultimately remain undefeated and earn their first win against the Redmen since 2018.
“We’ve been playing for ourselves,” said Egan. “This team deserves it. They’ve put in a lot of work together, so they deserve to be playing for themselves but in a game like today, it’s a little bigger than that. It’s a little more than just about us.”
That pregame message was certainly received by his players, including Viscione who continued to wreak havoc on the scoreboard this winter. He potted his 19th and 20th goals of the winter in the triumph.
“It means everything to me,” he said of playing for Billerica. “Not many people in the world get this chance and opportunity to have fun with all of your friends and playing for your town in front of your classmates. We’ve embraced that so well, and it’s been so fun. You can’t have any more fun than this. This is the best.”
Billerica trailed twice early in the contest, but the visitors were quick to respond to Tewksbury’s early jolt in a game where the Redmen held a 41-23 shots on goal advantage.
Tewksbury opened the scoring with 11:37 remaining in the first on a cross-crease feed from Jackson Feudo to Jack Ryan.
But like they did all game, the Indians had the answer. It was none other than Viscione who knotted the game on a rebound in the slot.
And when Tewksbury retook the lead just 1:50 into the middle frame on a highlight reel goal by Kevin Andriolo — deking by his defender before wristing a laser over the glove on the short side — Billerica again had the rebuttal.
This time, they didn’t relinquish any momentum.
Billerica scored four unanswered goals the rest of the way, as Timothy Murphy and John Burns lit the lamp under two minutes apart in the second before Edward Conley and Viscione put the finishing touches on the win in the third.
Viscione and Murphy have been at the center of attention amid Billerica’s impressive start to their campaign. Along with linemate James Columbus, the trio have combined for 76 points just 12 games into their schedule.
Above all, the Indians will return to Hallenborg Ice Pavilion writing a new chapter of the renewed rivalry.
“It’s nice to bring it back,” Egan said. “That was the intention. Let’s go over the border today and bring it back to Billerica. That did feel good. It’s been a while.”