After dispatching reigning D3 State Champion Hanover by a score of 4-1 two days before Christmas, the Canton High School Bulldogs returned from their holiday break to take on the Westwood High School Wolverines in the annual Joe Donnelly Cup. Joe was the play-by-play announcer for the Bulldogs boys and girls high school hockey teams on Canton Community Television for over 20 years, and he sadly and suddenly passed away in the winter of 2017. Every year, Canton and Westwood take the ice in a one-game showdown to honor Joe.
Westwood would go up early 1-0 less than one minute into the game. Despite some persistent pressure by the Bulldogs, the Wolverines would take that lead into the locker room after the first period. In the second, goalie Colin Davis came up huge with multiple saves on a Westwood power play to keep the deficit at one goal. With time running out in the period, the Bulldogs would finally break through with two quick strikes of the sticks of linemates Brian Middleton and Colin Blake to take the lead for the first time in the game.
Canton would pull away in the third, with Brendan Tourgee giving the Bulldogs some breathing room after a wrist shot over the shoulder of the Wolverine goalie. Jeff Chaput would ice the game with an empty netter with a minute remaining.
Against Hanover, Middleton, Pat Drury, AJ Thomas and Travis Thomas would all find the back of the net in the victory. Goalie Carson Eagles was outstanding between the pipes making some big saves in the third period to keep Hanover from cutting into the lead.
Canton takes on Wakefield High School of the Middlesex League on Friday at 4:00 PM.