EPHS Hockey Team in State Finals Tonight!

The East Providence High School Hockey team starts their Division III state championship series Thursday night (March 15th) against Mount Hope High School (Bristol-Warren). The best-of-three game series will be played at Providence College’s Schneider Arena at 8:30 p.m. game two will also be at 8:30 p.m. at Schneider Arena. The townie skaters are returning to the state finals for the first time since 2006 while Mt. Hope is appearing in their 4th consecutive finals. The townies reached the finals after sweeping Tolman High in two straight games. The EP-Tolman series started out at Woonsocket’s Mt. St. Charles Arena. The Townies have not had a home rink since the old Dudley Richards rink on new Road in Rumford closed in the late 1970’s. Richard’s Rink is now the site of the USA Skates building.

The Townies finished off Tolman before a packed house in Pawtucket’s Lynch Arena in an exciting 6-4 victory. According to new Townie head coach Kevin Croke, “Kevin Hall sealed the victory with his third goal of the game, an empty netter with 18 seconds to play. The game was a change of pace from the relatively mild mannered game we played Friday evening at Mount Saint Charles where only three penalties were whistled all night,” blogged Croke. Saturday night the teams combined for a total of 18 penalties. “Our freshman goaltender Marc LaValley was once again called upon to make huge saves to keep the Tigers at bay. LaValley stopped 28 of the 32 Tolman shots he saw,” said Croke. Coach Croke described the action further: “The Townies took an early 1-0 lead 90 seconds into the game on Paul Lukas fourth goal of the series. Kevin Hall and Ryan Barry assisted. The Townies nearly killed a 1:55 penalty, 5 on 3 situation late in the period, but with 14 seconds remaining on the first penalty, the Tigers broke through with their first goal against the Townies in the series. At the end of the first period, the teams were tied at one. Tolman outshot East Providence in the period 9-7.

The game remained exciting and Croke was very happy with the game’s outcome: “Both teams started the third period looking to put the other team away. Just 28 seconds into the period Lukas tallied his second goal of the game and put the Townies up 4-2. Barry and Matt Hall assisted. A complacent center ice faceoff led to a clean offensive zone entry by the Tigers and just 7 seconds after the Townies took a 2 goal lead, Tolman got back to within a goal. On the ensuing center ice face off the Townies returned the favor as Kevin Hall picked up his second goal of the game, and once again gave the Townies a 2 goal cushion.” Coach Croke described the finish in his blog: “With three minutes to play Tolman called a time out to regroup. When play continued Tolman continued it's unrelenting onslaught and LaValley kicked away shot after shot and the Townies defense cleared the puck to Tolman's frustration. The Townies called a timeout with just over a minute remaining to prepare for the Tolman goalie pull. As play began, Tolman gained entry into the Townies zone as the Tolman goalie headed to their bench for an extra attacker. Tolman moved the puck around the Townies zone looking for an opening, which none were found. Tolman moved the puck out to the point and as the Tolman defenseman prepared to take his shot, Kevin Hall filled the shooting lane and blocked the shot. Hall's momentum carried both he and the puck past the Tolman defender leaving him with an empty net breakaway, which he did not miss. Hall's 3rd goal of the game and his fifth of the series clinched the semi final victory.” Follow the Reporter for updates in this championship series.