EASTHAMPTON – Cal Gworek couldn’t help but smile on Wednesday night.
And for sound reasoning, as the junior recorded four goals and three assists in a game-high seven-point effort to lead the No. 9 Easthampton boys hockey team past No. 10 Agawam by a final score of 7-0 at Lossone Rink.
“I was just trying to get the puck on the net tonight,” Gworek said. “I’m just in my full state (of shock and excitement) now.”
Aside from Gworek, five different individuals recorded at least one point to help the Eagles earn their second consecutive win. Brayden Fennessy was next with one goal and two assists, while Wyatt Hunter (one goal and one assist) and Max Scribner (one goal and one assist) contributed with four of their team’s 17 combined points.
In net, meanwhile, Lewin Coady stopped all five shots faced to ensure Easthampton has outscored its opponents by an impressive margin of 9-0 through its first two games.
Despite a game-high 10 saves from goalie Joe Wilkinson, the Brownies suffered their third consecutive loss. Regardless of that statistic, though, Eagles coach Tim Pfau credited the opposition.
“Agawam didn’t make this easy,” Pfau said. “I will take my hat off to its goalie (Wilkinson) because he made some huge glove saves. He and the team also worked hard in front of him.
“I think they have speed and talent. So the next time we play them will be a good game.”
Through five minutes of action, both teams remained scoreless despite two combined shot attempts for Easthampton. The third time was the charm, though, as the Brownies switched possession below center ice and then Gworek took off.
As the junior glided along the right board with no defenders near, Gworek unleashed a wrister over Wilkinson’s glove side for a top-shelf netter to ensure the Eagles scored first with 9:32 left in the first period.
“It’s crucial to score first at home,” Gworek said. “It just gets the team rolling. I think overall, we had our heads in the game and were getting pucks deep and passing well.”
The fun wasn’t complete, though, as Easthampton regained possession in its zone. And like before, they didn’t miss as Gworek located Scribner for his second-season goal to double the Eagles’ cushion, fewer than three minutes after the previous goal.
Fennessy, meanwhile, recorded one of his three combined points on the secondary assist.
But after scoring only two goals in their season-opening win against Amherst last week, Ryan Curley connected with Gworek along the right point to triple Easthampton’s lead to 3-0 with under three minutes left in the opening period.
Gworek’s third overall point thus far ensured the Eagles scored on three of their opening six shot attempts in about seven combined minutes.
As both teams entered the first intermission, Easthampton maintained a three-goal difference while also outshooting Agawam, 8-1.
Through 22 minutes of action, the Brownies earned multiple prime scoring opportunities as Owen Belden and Hunter were issued back-to-back penalties.
Agawam was unable to capitalize, though, as Coady stopped all three shots he faced on the opposing power-play attempts to keep it a three-possession difference.
But moments after the Brownies failed to score on back-to-back power-play attempts, Braden Parrelli ensured Easthampton an opportunity as he entered the penalty box. And the Eagles’ special teams seized their opportunity, as Gworek earned his first career hat trick with 6:34 left in the second period.
“Cal is a kid who is going to work hard, no matter who we play,” Pfau said. “Shift in and shift out, he will give his 100 percent effort. And to see that pay off tonight was awesome.
“Because the kid always works, has a smile on his face, and never says no. And that’s like the epitome of when you work hard, and good things happen.”
For safe measures, though, Fennessy located Gworek on a breakaway attempt during the final minute of the second period. And the rest was history, as Gworek sent a wrister near the left red face-off circle to extend Easthampton’s cushion to 5-0 with 28.4 seconds left on the clock.
The score marked Gworek’s career-high fourth goal on Fennessy’s second assist of the contest. Through 30 minutes of action, the Eagles maintained a five-goal difference while also outshooting Agawam, 14-4.
In the end, Easthampton recorded back-to-back goals during the final 10 minutes of regulation to seal the outcome. It also marked the Eagles’ first seven-goal performance since their previous win against McCann Tech in February.
Agawam (0-3) will look for its first season win against the Hornets at Olympia Rink on Friday at 7:10 p.m., while Easthampton (2-0) will conclude its three-game homestand against St. Bernard’s on Saturday at 7 p.m.
“I want us to continue building on our system of play,” Pfau said. “And that includes doing the right things, working as a team, communication, and cycling our puck. I don’t expect a win, but I would love to win because St. Bernard’s is a very good team from what I can tell.
“If we can compete with them shift in and shift out, that’s what I want on Saturday. I just want us to come play hard and keep developing for Western Mass.”
