The Northbridge Rams opened their season at Fitzpatrick Rink in Holyoke with a tightly contested 3-3 tie against Chicopee on Saturday afternoon. It was an anticlimactic finish to a busy game in which the Rams generated 51 shots on net but could not find the game-winner against a disciplined Chicopee side.
Northbridge got contributions up and down the lineup. Adam Hanna Jr. and Caleb Power each netted goals, and Ryan Russo dished out an assist as several players factored into the scoring. The Rams controlled possession in stretches and manufactured chances, but a combination of missed finishes and timely saves kept the final even.
Defensively, there are lessons to be learned: while the offense was productive, Northbridge will want to tighten late-game coverage and limit high-danger chances if it wants to convert shot volume into wins. The schedule turns quickly: the Rams travel to Assabet tomorrow, a team that opened its season with a 6-1 loss to Lunenburg and will be eager to get into the win column.
Check the midweek clash at Assabet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. to see whether Northbridge can turn shot volume into the team’s first win of the season.
