TEWKSBURY — The St. John’s Prep hockey team continues to work through its gauntlet of a schedule, and the latest victim on the Eagles list was another top-ranked team in Austin Prep. Behind goals from four different scorers on the night, St. John’s Prep was able to come away with a 4-1 win on the road at Breakaway Ice Center.
Lynnfield native Will Van Sicklin notched one goal and an assist in the victory for the Eagles, while Jake Vana, Jimmy Ayers and Ben McGilvry each scored a goal in the win. Cole Blaeser added an assist.
The Eagles were on the board in no time at all to start this one, as Van Sicklin slipped a shot into the net from the right circle just 1:12 into the first period. The Lynnfield native nearly doubled up the score in the final minute of the frame, but his shot rang off the post and the Prep took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
St. John’s Prep made it a 2-0 game midway through the second period when Vana picked up a loose puck and roofed it, but Austin Prep quickly answered back to make it a one-goal game again.
After coming up empty on a 5-on-3 opportunity, the Eagles finally cashed in again when Blaeser slipped a feed out front to Ayers for a goal to make it 3-1 going into the third.
Despite Austin Prep carrying the play in the final period and outshooting the Eagles 8-3, St. John’s was able to keep the Cougars off the board and maintain its lead. It all paid off in the final minutes when Van Sicklin found a wide-open McGilvry near center ice, and McGilvry knocked home the empty-net goal to seal the victory for the Eagles.
St. John’s Prep (4-1-0) travels to Xaverian Saturday (7).