Published: 2/28/2020 8:32:26 PM
Modified: 2/28/2020 8:32:21 PM
The puck drops today for the Greenfield hockey team, starting its quest for a Division 3A championship at Olympia Ice Arena.
The top-seeded Green Wave (17-3) plays No. 5 South Hadley (11-7-2) at 2 p.m. in West Springfield.
Greenfield has not played in 10 days, which is a dramatic change from the regular season schedule.
“They are itching and scratching,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said. “They are hungry to get back on the ice. We are healthy and prepared and ready to go.”
The Green Wave haven’t changed anything about their practice schedule heading into the the playoffs.
“We have continued our normal practice schedule that we have had all year long,” Bouchard said. “
South Hadley defeated No. 4 Chicopee, 5-2, in the quarterfinals.
“They are a great program,” Bouchard said. “Coach (Larry) Camus does a very good job. They are a highly skilled fast skating team.”
The Tigers won the 3A sectional championship in 2017.
“They are perennial contenders in Division 3A,” Bouchard said. “They play a very similar style to us. But they are not overly physical. So we are looking to go into the game and play Green Wave hockey.”
In a regular season meeting against the Tigers, the Wave won 4-0 on Jan. 25. Four different players scored for Greenfield during the regular season victory over the Tigers.
South Hadley has a senior with 99 points in Mike Mazza.
Matt Brunelle (20 points), Joe Meon (21 points), Mazza (23 points) and Ryan Tucker (21 points) lead the Tigers in scoring this season.
Mazza has 14 assists to lead South Hadley. Tucker leads the team in scoring with 13 goals while Brunelle is second with 12.
“Their first line is very good,” Bouchard said. “We will have to neutralize their first line.”
In net, Anthony Cigal has 430 saves this season for the Tigers.
In the other semifinal in Div. 3A, No. 2 Amherst Regional plays No. 3 Wahconah High School immediately following Greenfield’s game at Olympia.
Wahconah defeated No. 6 Belchertown, 7-1, in its quarterfinal game.
Semifinal winners advance to the Div. 3A championship on March 5 with a time and location to be determined.