WALPOLE — The Ed Burns Coffee Pot tournament has delivered local hockey fans no shortage of highlights.
Joey Ryan, Travis Thomas, Graidy Carr and Ryan Elrick each netted first period goals Sunday, while Shane Kelleher sniped a tally himself later as Canton (14-1-1) rolled to a 5-2 victory over Marshfield in the Brinn Division semifinals.
“I think it was really just trying to get some pucks on net early,” said Canton coach Brian Shuman. “I think that was it. I think sometimes, we have a tendency to start slow, then the offense comes later. We wanted to hit the goalie early, see what happened. Some pucks just found their way into the back of the net.”
Fans were forced to scurry to their seats at the newly-named Cadillac Ice Arena (formerly Rodman Arena), as a pass rolled to an oncoming Ryan in front of the Marshfield net. The junior forward finished a shot off the backhand just 3:21 into play. Less than four minutes later, Thomas buried a shot, only to have Carr find twine with a missile seconds thereafter to make it a 3-0 contest.
With 2:02 to play in the opening period, Ryan fed a pass into traffic. The puck ricocheted off of a defenseman’s stick, and right over to Elrick in front of the crease. The sophomore fired a laser into the cage, as Canton seized commanding 4-0 lead.
“I have two great linemates with Joey and Travis,” Elrick said. “So I know where to be. I know to be high, and I know they’ll find me. I got to my spot, and Joey hit me.”
Despite a sluggish start, Marshfield (11-5-1) did not go quietly. Senior Jack Doherty and Ben Berian each registered their seventh goal of the year respectively in a 16-second span to cap the first period. Suddenly, it was a game again at 4-2.
In the third period, after the puck took a wicked hop in the first two minutes to set up a Bulldogs rush, Kelleher sealed things with a breakaway goal to put Canton up 5-2 with 13:36 left. From there, the school was able to coast to the tournament’s title bout.
“It’s going to be a good game,” said Shuman. “Looking forward to hopefully playing at the Tsongas Center, and having a good venue. It’s a great tournament, and we’re just happy to be in one of the final games.”
Canton will be attempting to win its second championship at the Ed Burns Coffee Pot tournament, its last also coming in the Brinn Division back in 2022.
“I’m excited,” Elrick said. “I think we had a chip on our shoulder, especially not making the top division. So, this is a big game for us next Sunday, and we’re looking forward to it.”