Hopedale’s boys ice hockey squad kept its recent surge alive with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Oliver Ames Saturday, a result that extended the Blue Raiders’ rebound from an ugly midseason skid into a genuine run of form.
The Tigers and Blue Raiders were deadlocked through two periods before Michael McGrath delivered the decisive goal with roughly two minutes remaining in regulation. Hopedale had built its foundation earlier with strikes from Hank Richards and Joshua Balzarini in the first and second periods, and Ricky Nashawaty’s playmaking was on full display, he assisted on all three goals and consistently created seams in Oliver Ames’ defense.
This result is Hopedale’s second straight after the 5-4 win over Westborough last Wednesday and gives the program some breathing room after a brutal five-game losing streak. The win also shows how the Blue Raiders have tightened detail: they absorbed pressure when needed, limited odd-man dangers, and then finished when the chance presented itself down the stretch.
Hopedale now turns right around for another tough outing, traveling to Auburn tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Rockets beat Hopedale 5-3 earlier in the season, so look for the Blue Raiders to bring urgency and extra attention to puck support and special teams as they try to extend their streak to three for the first time this year.
