Kelleher scores in overtime to give Concord boys hockey a win against Trinity

CONCORD - Derek Kelleher had a feeling that he was going to score for the Concord High School boys hockey team heading into overtime Wednesday night at Everett Arena.

Kelleher’s feeling came to fruition with 2:08 left in the eight-minute overtime period when he scored a power-play goal to lift the Crimson Tide to a 4-3 victory over Trinity.

The junior forward put home a rebound with a backhanded shot from the backdoor with six seconds remaining on Concord’s lone power play in overtime. Kelleher’s goal came following a Cam Lariviere shot from in front.

“I just saw it and put it in,” Kelleher said.

Concord coach Dunc Walsh said his team wanted to be patient, look for good shots and go to the net for rebounds during the overtime power-play opportunity.

“That’s what you’ve got to do,” Walsh said of Kelleher’s game-winning goal. “You’re not going to score all clean goals. It’s about going to the net and getting the rebounds.”

Concord (5-1) had a 3-1 lead after 30 minutes before the Pioneers (3-2) put together their best period of the game in the third to force overtime.

Trinity junior Jimmy Kosiarski scored on the power play with 3:05 remaining in regulation to knot the score at 3-3. Brandon Boss pulled Trinity within one just 3:11 into the third period.

The only period the Pioneers outshot Concord was the third, finishing the frame with a 12-10 advantage.

“The fact that the guys never quit, that’s an important step for us moving forward,” Trinity coach Mike Connell said.

The Crimson Tide finished with a 46-29 shots advantage. Both Walsh and Connell credited the play of Trinity junior goaltender Ethan Messner, who made 42 saves.

“He’s been playing great all along but I thought he played really well tonight,” Connell said of Messner.

The Crimson Tide struck with two goals over the opening eight minutes of the second period to take two-goal lead into the second intermission.

Concord senior Colin Kastle skated into the offensive zone and scored from the right circle 5:29 into the middle frame to break a 1-1 deadlock. Evan Makris scored in similar fashion at the 7:36 mark of the period to give the Crimson Tide a two-goal cushion.

The Pioneers had difficulty getting into the offensive zone in the second period, mustering just four shots on goal in the frame. Trinity had one shot on goal in the period before testing Concord senior goaltender Spencer Burgess (26 saves) three times on its power play that began at the 11:38 mark.

Concord sophomore Matt Hauschild and Trinity freshman Anthony Dizillo traded goals inside the final minute of the first period to create a 1-1 tie after the opening 15 minutes. Hauschild put home a rebound on Concord’s third power play with 57.3 seconds left in the first period. Dizillo answered with an unassisted tally 25 seconds later.

Concord finished 2-for-7 on the man advantage and 2-for-4 on the penalty kill.

“What really hurt us tonight is you can’t give (Concord) power plays,” Connell said. “You just can’t do it. They’re just too good.”